Nando’s joins the Loeries to celebrate design Design from Africa and the Middle East finally gets the recognition it deserves with the expanded Nando’s Design category at the Loeries in 2019. This year’s category has been extended to recognise design from a much broader range of creative professionals. “We’ve expanded the design category beyond only brand communication to include areas of design such as retail furniture and product design, fabric, wallpaper, lighting, architecture and interior design, and even the design of signage programmes,” says Loeries CEO Andrew Human. He adds that the Loeries has long been recognised as the highest accolade in advertising and brand communication.

“A strong design award has been lacking for our region and this is a great opportunity for all designers to showcase their work and achieve recognition.” Design is woven into the Nando’s DNA, making Nando’s a natural partner for the Design category. “Design and creativity have been an intrinsic part of the Nando’s way of doing business.

Nando’s is the first local brand to collaborate with local designers at the scale it does,” says Deirdre King, Nando’s Brand Experience GM. She adds: “Putting our support behind the design community is important to doing business well. Our PERi-PERi power has charted new paths and careers for many local artists and their art. Putting that same fire behind the extended Design category for the 2019 Loeries gives us a chance to spice things up for the wonderful designers who will imprint their names onto this exciting category. According to Gaby de Abreu, Loeries board member and creative head of Switch Design, the awards are invaluable because they offer a chance for designers to showcase their work to a far greater audience.

“The Nando’s Design category at the Loeries is an opportunity to showcase excellence across disciplines in countries throughout Africa and the Middle East. For independent designers, it’s a unique chance to achieve recognition across the industry, reaching creatives internationally,” says de Abreu. “For a furniture designer working in an independent workshop or a graphic designer outside of the agency network, this year’s Loeries offers a chance to show the world what you’ve achieved,” he adds. The Nando’s Design category at the Loeries is open to designers across all the main disciplines. The entry deadline is 15 May and more information can be found on loeries.com.

About Nando's: While proudly South African, Nando’s is an international flame-grilling, PERi-PERi chicken restaurant group. We offer a twist of Afro-Portuguese with an upmarket and comfortable dining experience. Two friends, Robert Brozin and Fernando Duarte, opened the first Nando’s in 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa. All Nando's PERi-PERi chicken is marinated for 24 hours, locally sourced and never frozen, ensuring our customers only get the finest flavours.

Our unique PERi-PERi recipe includes herbs, spices, garlic, lemon juice and bird’s eye chilli. Nando's authentic PERi -PERi has captivated its customers all over the world, making it the largest South African restaurant group to expand internationally. DEADLINE FOR 2019 LOERIES ENTRIES EXTENDED TO MAY 31 About Loeries Africa Middle East: The Loeries, a non-profit company, is Africa and the Middle East’s premiere initiative that recognises, rewards, inspires and fosters creative excellence in the brand communication industry.

As the highest accolade for creativity and innovation across our region, the Loeries promotes and supports creativity by helping marketers, agencies and consumers appreciate the value of ideas and fresh thinking.

Culminating in the biggest creative gathering in Africa and the Middle East, Loeries Creative Week Durban brings together the best innovative minds from our industry for a festival of networking, inspiring minds and recognising great work. Our region's creative economy is world-class and has great potential to grow and to offer employment both to our talented youth. The growth occurring throughout Africa and the Middle East is very exciting, and a major focus of the Loeries is to increase the standard of brand communication in the region.

Major Partners of the Loeries: DStv Media Sales, Gearhouse Category Partners: AB InBev, Barron, Brand South Africa, Facebook, Gagasi FM, Google, JCDecaux, Nando’s, Tsogo Sun, Woolworths Additional Partners and Official Suppliers: AAA School of Advertising, Antalis South Africa, Aon South Africa, Backsberg, BEE Online, First Source, Fresh RSVP Guest Logistics, Funk Productions, Gallo Images, Grid Worldwide, Hetzner, Mama Creative, Newsclip, Paygate, Rocketseed, Shared Value Initiative, Shift Social Development, Vega School, VQI Communications Nigeria Endorsed by: Association of Communication and Design, Brand Council South Africa, Commercial Producers Association, Creative Circle, EXCA, IAB, South African Institute of Architects, IID Official Media Partners Between 10and5, Bizcommunity.com, Book of Swag, Brand Communicator Nigeria, Business Insider by Pulse, Campaign Middle East, Film & Event Media, Modern Marketing The Redzone. Twitter: @loeries Instagram: Loerieawards Facebook: The Loeries

Distributed on behalf of the Loeries by: Riana Greenblo Communications: 011 3256006

For more information, interview requests or high-res images please contact: Gina McLoughlin: 0113256006 (mornings only)or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Riana Greenblo: +27 82 5675159 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Africa has creative talent to burn. We spoke to African creative leaders about how pan-African showcases like the Loeries, help promote African talent to the world – and why awards like these, inspire brands to be bolder, and do more creative and effective work.

There is a very human voice to African brand communication, as well as a sense of fun. Lesibane Mohale, Group Creative Director of Ogilvy Africa Group, in Ghana, admires the way “humour is weaved into communication messages”. In Africa, “telecommunications brands thrive on humour and simplicity to connect with consumers,” he says.

Many African creatives are driven by a belief that we can tell better stories by taking inspiration from each other, particularly from the unique and diverse creative resources across the continent. Angolan graphic designer Hilma Sassa feels that Africans don't yet fully value their creative industry and its importance in society, making it harder to get noticed, “As a creative, you may have more luck getting noticed beyond your country, and outside the continent, if you share your work on the international stage.”

That sentiment informs the work of the Loeries, the most prestigious creative awards across Africa and the Middle East. “Our mandate is to showcase the best creative work from the continent, of course. But, it’s equally about helping brands find the right creative team to help them realise their business goals,” says Andrew Human, CEO of the Loeries. “Countries such as Brazil and India are great examples of markets that have entered work into international award shows and won by leveraging locally relevant ideas backed by solid local consumer insights,” says Mohale.

“As a continent, we should champion work that feels unapologetically African so that we can showcase to the world what the continent is truly about.”

As Sassa puts it: “I am stimulated by the diversity of work created in Africa, which is deeply inspired by our culture and tradition. That signature makes it unique and different from the things we see out there.” A similar impulse drives Human, who urges more creatives from around the African continent to enter the Loeries. “The Loeries is the only award in Africa that is recognised by the global WARC Report, which makes the Loeries a unique platform for African excellence on the global stage.” Human says the international standing of the Loeries is the result of a commitment to high standards and an independent and objective judging process. “Every year, we host some of the world's top creative leaders to act as jury presidents, coupled with panels of leading experts from throughout the region. Their objectivity and expert insight is part of what makes the Loeries the benchmark.”

“Entrants know that their work is being held to the highest global standards, and it’s a unique opportunity for African creatives to show the world just how good they are.” About  Loeries Africa Middle East:    The Loeries, a non-profit company, is Africa and the Middle East’s premiere initiative that recognises, rewards, inspires and fosters creative excellence in the brand communication industry.

As the highest accolade for creativity and innovation across our region, the Loeries promotes and supports creativity by helping marketers, agencies and consumers appreciate the value of ideas and fresh  thinking.  Culminating in the biggest creative gathering in Africa and the Middle East, Loeries Creative Week Durban brings together the best innovative minds from our industry for a festival of networking, inspiring minds and recognising great work. Our region's creative economy is world-class and has great potential to grow and to offer employment to our talented youth. The growth occurring throughout Africa and the Middle East is very exciting, and a major focus of the Loeries is to increase the standard of brand communication in the region.

DEADLINE FOR 2019 ENTRIES EXTENDED TO 31 MAY
Major Partners: DStv Media Sales, Gearhouse
Category Partners: AB InBev, Barron, Brand South Africa, Facebook, Gagasi FM, Google, JCDecaux, Nando’s, Tsogo Sun, Vodacom, Woolworths

Additional Partners and Official Suppliers:    AAA School of Advertising, Antalis South Africa, Aon South Africa, Backsberg, BEE Online, First     Source, Fresh RSVP Guest Logistics, Funk Productions, Gallo Images, Grid Worldwide, Hetzner,     Mama Creative, Newsclip, Paygate, Rocketseed, Shared Value Initiative, Shift Social Development,  Vega School, VQI Communications Nigeria

Endorsed by:    Association of Communication and Design, Brand Council South Africa, Commercial Producers     Association, Creative Circle, EXCA, IAB, South African Institute of Architects, IID

Official Media Partners    Between 10and5, Bizcommunity.com, Book of Swag, Brand Communicator Nigeria, Business Insider by Pulse, Campaign Middle East, Film & Event Media, Modern Marketing, The Redzone.

-- ENDS --

Twitter: @loeries    Instagram: Loerieawards    Facebook: The Loeries

Distributed on behalf of the  Loeries  by:    Riana Greenblo Communications Date: May 16, 2019

For more information, interview requests or high-res images, please contact: Riana Greenblo on 011 3256006; 0825675159 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Better Living Challenge’s signature Showcase event comprised of lifesize home structures, interactive displays and a programme of lunch-time talks will be taking place this October and November at the Cape Town station forecourt.

The Better Living Challenge Showcase is an interactive event taking place from Tuesday, 28 October to Saturday, 8 November 2014. The exhibition will be officially opened by Premier Helen Zille, MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela (Human Settlements) and MEC Alan Winde (Economic Opportunities) on Thursday, 30 October 2014. There will be lunchtime talks taking place from Wednesday, 29 October 2014. Exhibition opening times are as follows: Monday to Friday from 09H00 – 17H00 and 09H00 – 13H00 on Saturdays.

On show at this event is a display of solutions by the finalists and exhibitors whose projects were entered into the Better Living Challenge. These innovative, affordable and green solutions aim to address some of the problems faced by people living in low-income communities.

Better Living Challenge finalist, James van der Walt’s SolarTurtle solution, will power the entire exhibition off-the-grid at the Cape Town station forecourt. SolarTurtle is a solar-powered energy distribution point securely housed in a 6m shipping container. The container is fitted with a solar battery charging station capable of charging hundreds of battery packs every day. In low-income communities, SolarTurtle functions like a local spaza shop where a local resident will own and operate the SolarTurtle and neighbours will bring their own batteries to be charged, thus providing electricity for the homes . The SolarTurtle prototype can power up to 300 rural households with basic electricity for lights, radios, phones and TVs.

Amongst several other structures being erected at the station forecourt, is an example of a self-build concept that utilises the current sandbag housing technology to work in an incremental way. Known as the UBU Process and entered into the competition by Barry Lewis, the process will commence with the building of a skeleton of a timber frame, clad in zinc prior to the exhibition opening. The incremental part of the build with the sandbags will be done in collaboration with members of a community from Philippi called Sweet Home Farm; an informal settlement that has been in existence since 1996 and has upwards of 17,000 people living in it.

Better Living Challenge has collaborated with Home Innovations Labs to help test some of the solutions in the home. Home-owners from NY147 Street in Gugulethu who implemented these sustainable innovations in their home, have also agreed to assist the Better Living Challenge Showcase as House Hosts at the exhibition on the Cape Town station forecourt.

The Better Living Challenge is a design competition calling for green and affordable products, systems and services, to improve the homes of people living in low-income communities. The Better Living Challenge has been on the hunt to uncover solutions and ideas to improve the lives and homes of people living in low-income areas. Groundbreaking products and innovations that are affordable, well designed and green are being brought to life through this competition.

Alan Winde, Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities, said: “In the spirit of our motto, “Better Together”, we put the challenge out to our residents to come up with innovative, sustainable solutions for low-income housing. The entries we received far outweighed our expectations, and I am looking forward to seeing the winning concepts brought to life in a way that improves livelihoods in our province”.

The Better Living Challenge Selection Panel of 47 industry experts identified 21 finalists and 33 exhibitors – out of an impressive number of 130 total entries received. These solutions to be showcased, embody the aims of the competition. The Panel nominated 3 finalists in the Connected Home category, 7 in the Comfortable Home category and 11 finalists in the Structural Home category. In addition, the Selection Panel identified a further 33 projects of merit that will exhibit as part of the Showcase, but are not in line to win an award. To ensure fairness, the selection process was independently observed by KPMG.

There are 3 grand prizes that each consist of half a million rand’s worth of support services to enable these solutions getting to market. 3 student entries will each receive a R40 000 cash prize. The concept facilitates the concept-to-market value chain for innovative and affordable home improvement solutions. The project is specifically aimed at lower LSM groups, although innovations can apply across various communities.

The Better Living Challenge is project-managed by the Cape Craft + Design Institute (CCDI), on behalf of the Western Cape Government’s 110% Green initiative, which encourages organisations to commit to the Green Economy. The Better Living Challenge is a collaborative project between the public and private sector, and civil society demonstrating that these partnerships work to promote economic development. It is an official project (WDC#204) of the Cape Town World Design Capital 2014 (WDC2014) programme. 

PRESS RELEASE
12 May 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

StateoftheART is proud to present "WILD & STILL: expressions of the landscape", an exhibition of mixed media, digital art, drawing and sculptural pieces by Janet Botes.

At a time of turmoil and ennui within the current political and social landscape of our country, Janet has chosen to explore personal and emotional responses in the context of  our environment. 'Wild & Still' refers to this duality; personal responses of fear versus contemplation and appreciation for nature - whilst  alluding to these characteristics within ourselves, as individuals.

    "the revolution or emancipation of a country starts with the voluntary changing of the individual's mindset" - Vivien Kohler

Janet's work is inspired by her own reaction and relationship to nature - but also informed by happenings and issues in environmental justice and sustainable development. 'Wildness' as referred to in this exhibition represents the sheer power and awe of water - waves crashing onto the beach, a storm raging in the sky. 'Stillness' is encapsulated in the curve of a shell, in the silent beauty of mist and the details of an insect’s wing.

    "I believe that if one can really appreciate or see beauty in all aspects of nature, accept the 'wildness' and create 'stillness' within ourselves, we'd have a more compassionate interaction within our daily lives, and contribute to humanity in a collective revolution" - Janet Botes

Opening 5th June @ 6pm
Introduction by VIP guest Strijdom van der Merwe
Performance Art at 7pm
Artist Walkabout and Performance 14 June at 11am

61 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town.
Gallery hours: 10-5 weekdays, 10-2 Saturdays.

For more information please contact Jennifer on 0724709272 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

BON Hotels, a Cape Town-based company that owns, manages and markets hotels, took on ownership and management of Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club, in Gauteng. BON Hotels’ CEO, Guy Stehlik says he is excited at the prospect of extending the company’s footprint into the area as part of their expansion plan, and this is merely the beginning of their journey into other regions.  

The hotel will be re-named, BON Hotel Riviera on Vaal, and it will be “business-as-usual” but with some minor refurbishments to the facilities. Comments Stehlik, “We look forward to waking her up to her former glory, with a more modern look and feel and a particular focus on providing excellent service to clients, suppliers and most of all, the guests!” 

Having committed to a long-term lease, Guy Stehlik has assigned his task team to immediately implement the BON Hotels’ operating systems and processes. A dedicated sales team will be assigned to promote the property to the various markets working closely with the marketing team. 

For many, Riviera on Vaal brings back wonderful memories and is surrounded by great sentiment.  The 91-room, 5-floor hotel is a converted farmhouse from the 1800’s situated on a bend of the scenic Vaal River. Location is a key decisive factor in the BON evaluation process - Riviera on Vaal is a 45 minute drive from Johannesburg and is well suited to corporate and conference markets, as well as families and leisure travellers, who are looking for a venue that has extensive facilities.  

The BON Hotels team will assess and evaluate immediate refurbishment needs, with a focus on upgrading conference facilities and technology. Currently, three restaurants and a floating restaurant give guests the opportunity to choose from a range of menus, also catering to the four conference venues that accommodate up to 200 people.  

The Riviera on Vaal Country Club is an 18-hole golf course, with a clubhouse steeped in history. The course has been highly recommended by golfers as a fulfilling challenge to play. There is a variety of water sports available, a gym, a spa, picnics, team building and entertainment for the kids, a heli-pad and shuttle service.  

With the financial muscle to take on properties where they can add value, BON Hotels is looking for similar opportunities countrywide. They are currently performing due diligence on properties in Sandton, Rosebank, Cape Town, Umhlanga Rocks and the new “green-shoot” area of Illovo.