DESIGN+ Disruptions, Realities, Futures

The 18th DEFSA Conference was hosted by Nelson Mandela University in cooperation with AFDA in Gqeberha from 18 to 19 September 2025. This was the second hybrid conference hosted by DEFSA.  The theme of the conference: Design+ Disruptions, Realities, Futures, encouraged exploration of the dynamic intersections of design, education, technology, culture, social change and realities.

DE+AFRIKA+4IR+

DESIGN EDUCATION | AFRIKA | 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

ISBN: 978-0-620-97912-2

The 16th DEFSA Conference challenged design academics to self-reflection, addressing the past, present, and future of design education while considering the fourth industrial revolution in the context of Afrikan scholarship. At the end of a very challenging year in design education due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to reflect on the impact of isolation and teaching in a digital space led naturally to the need to consider the future of design education in relation to the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).

#Decolonise!

The 14th National DEFSA Conference was hosted by Tshwane University of Technology and Inscape Education Group at Freedom Park Pretoria from 27 to 29 September 2017.

Design educators reflected on the call for the decolonisation of education,and  challenged design academics and postgraduate students to scrutinise their educational practice in relation to calls for the decolonisation of higher education. A record of 64 abstracts were submitted, of which 40 were accepted.

Design Cultures: Encultured Design

The 12th National DEFSA Conference took place in September 2013 and was hosted by Vaal University of Technology. 

“Design cultures” refers both to the communities of design, but also to the way in which design shapes community – “to design communities”.