2015 is a very special year for the Design School of Southern Africa (DSSA), a cornerstone of the local design industry, as it celebrates 25 years of providing quality higher education to local up-and-coming designers.

This dynamic and innovative school specialises in fine-tuning the natural talent of young South African designers and equipping them to make their own unique impact on the industry.

Lesley Sternberg, a longstanding arts enthusiast who has been involved in dance, as well as set, costume and lighting design, founded the school in Hatfield in Pretoria, in 1990 after recognising a real need for a private college that could offer education and training across a variety of design disciplines. Since then Sternberg has made it her mission to consistently offer superior education that is relevant to the contemporary needs of the industry.

This year, as it observes its silver jubilee, DSSA has become a South African educational brand with several hundred students, a second campus in Johannesburg and a third in Durban which opened its doors in August 2012. DSSA is a brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), which is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997. The IIE is also internationally accredited by the British Accreditation Council.

DSSA training strikes between natural creative potential and vocational preparedness via academic excellence and industry experience, unlocking student’s individual creative potential and shapes well-rounded, industry-ready designers in Graphic Design, Interior Design, Fashion Design and Art and Design. Small classes allow for an inspirational, adaptable and innovative learning environment, giving students the best possible chance of success in an exciting, challenging industry.

The school harnesses pioneering and challenging teaching techniques in an environment that supports an understanding and awareness of social values and differences. This process focuses on learning through application, with a unique balance of theory and practical skills, to develop an individual voice for students as they solve visual challenges in a creative manner.

Among the many really special success stories the DSSA has achieved over the past 25 years is Tuami Zulu, an interior design graduate, who won the prestigious Parkett Dietrich International Benchmark competition this year with his design and development of a centrepiece outdoor bench that communicates the culture of Southern Africa. Another bright star in the DSSA firmament is Zandile Nkosi, a fashion design graduate, who was named the Sansui Summer Top Young Designer of 2014 for her runway collection. 

For more information, visit the DSSA website.