Nando’s HYD 2024 announces top 5 finalists in its Screen Dream talent search

The search for the country’s hottest screen designs is nearing completion as Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) has announced its top five finalists for 2024.

Kirsty Moolman, Tanisha Neill, Simphiwe Mlambo, Mpumelelo Nyuswa and Walter Train will now participate in an intensive Laboratory of Learning before one standout candidate is selected to receive ongoing mentorship and business coaching.

Facilitated by Clout/SA, the Nando’s HYD talent search is a biannual staple on South Africa’s design calendar. This time around, entrants were invited to answer a Screen Dream brief to create a screen or room divider that is not only relevant and functional but also decorative and distinct, adding to the overall ambiance of a Nando’s restaurant.

“The HYD programme is dedicated to discovering and nurturing the next generation of South African design talent, helping them advance in their design and entrepreneurial journeys,” says Nando’s design curator Tracy Lynch, who also happens to be Clout/SA’s creative director.

“To support this mission, we wanted to get to know our top 10 a little better. At our introduction and live pitch session, they had the opportunity to meet us and connect with their fellow finalists. They also attended a Central Kitchen design tour, where they learnt about the Nando’s interior design approach and the global marketplace created for curated SA design to flow from South Africa to the world.”

As part of this immersion, all 10 were asked to pitch their designs to a panel of eight judges. The jury included Lynch, Brad O’Neill and Jessica Wheeler of Nando’s SA; Nokuzola Jenness of Clout/SA; previous Nando’s HYD winners Thabisa Mjo of Mash.T Design Studio, Studio Kalki’s Nikhil Tricam and Nindya Bucktowar; and business coach Claude Morris.

Following the live pitching session, the finalists were selected by the judges and will now join the Laboratory of Learning, an intensive mentorship programme led by Morris. During the lab, the finalists will develop prototypes of their screen designs, nurture their talent and develop their entrepreneurial skills.

Based on successful participation and progress in the lab, an overall winner will emerge. The winning designer will go on to participate in intensive one-on-one coaching, providing them with all the necessary skills to make their creative mark and achieve commercial success. The winning screen will potentially be listed on online marketplace, Portal to Africa, a global platform where interior designers from across the world can source uniquely South African furniture.

“Nando’s HYD does more than equip local emerging talent for the marketplace. It’s a way for us to share a different perspective of South Africa through design and creativity,” says Michael Spinks, the property, design and development director at Nando’s SA.

The Nando’s HYD talent search is part of the Nando’s Design Programme, which is committed to identifying and empowering the country’s most exciting emerging designer-makers.