The theme ‘We Are The Ancestors’ for our 10th edition is both a tribute to our past and a call to action for the future.
Groundbreaking exhibitions, thought-provoking talks, and a celebration of the diverse creative talents that make Kenya a beacon of innovation.
When the Nairobi Design Week (festival) started in 2015, the word that fueled our vision was “Community.” Ten years later, that word remains at the core of everything we do. As we celebrate a decade of creativity next year, our belief in design as a powerful tool has only strengthened, deepening our commitment to showcasing innovation and the incredible people behind it.
This year we’re excited to celebrate a decade of creativity under the theme “We Are The Ancestors” and invite creatives, individuals, collectives, corporates, SMEs, NGOs, non-profits, funding institutions, cultural institutions, and schools and beyond to apply for our open calls under the following categories:
📅 Dates: 8-16th March 2025
📍 Location: Waterfront Mall, Karen, Nairobi
ACHIENG OWIRA- Achieng Owiro splashes bold color and soulful stories onto canvas celebrating African womanhood with heart, humor, and fierce creative flair.
AFRICA COLLECT TEXTILE - Turning textile trash into treasures, Africa Collect weaves sustainability and community into every thread.Weaving new life from old cloth. IG
AKALA21- Akala 21 transforms discarded tyres into stylish, eco-conscious leather sandals reimagining waste into wearable impact.
AMONDI HILLARY- Amondi Hillary weaves intricate crochet art that tells profound stories, blending tradition and emotion into every stitch.
AMY DECOR & CREATION -Amy Decor and Creation brings African craftsmanship to life with vibrant, handmade accessories from ankara bags and cozy pet blankets to whimsical stuffed animals each piece a celebration of culture and creativity.
AZAADI STUDIOS - She comes from the sea- Discover the elements that brings together east african and south asian cultures that brings a canvas of collaboration between the cultures.
BARBARA WANJIKU - Barbra Wanjiku Njeri crafts vibrant, sustainable decor that bridges Kenya’s ancestral artistry with contemporary design, inviting individuals to reconnect with their cultural roots.
CERAMICA AFRICA- Where timeless African craftsmanship meets contemporary design, Ceramica Africa creates ceramic art that elevates every space.
CIRCLEG - Circleg crafts innovative, prosthetic legs that empower mobility and transform lives with style and sustainability. IG
CREATIVE DNA - Creative DNA is a British Council-powered incubator turning Africa’s boldest fashion talents into global-ready brands rooted in culture, creativity, and sustainability.
DESIGN REPARATIONS - Design Reparations explores how design can heal, disrupt, and rebuild systems by centering marginalized voices. IG
DESIGN WITHOUT BORDERS - Design Without Borders Africa designs people-centered innovations, partnering with communities across Africa to create contextually rooted products, services, and solutions for real-world impact. IG
DOLL HOUSE FASHION - Doll House Fashion celebrates African heritage through handmade, vibrant doll clothing that empowers Kenyan artisans and inspires culturally rich play. IG
DONG ALDRINE ISAIAH - Dong Aldrine Isaiah creates digital masterpieces that merge futuristic elegance with ethereal, otherworldly beauty. His art whisks viewers into surreal, sci‑fi-inspired landscapes, where beauty and imagination blossom.
ENDA- Enda crafts high-performance, Kenyan-designed footwear and apparel that blend culture, style, and unstoppable energy. IG
ENIIYAN LASO - Fy Collection: You are what you wear,explore a fashion brand rooted in African heritage, nature-inspired design, and a timeless celebration of culture, from Nigeria to Kenya.
FLIP FLOPI Flipflopi transforms plastic waste and flip-flops into colorful dhows, furniture, and art championing recycling and circular living along Africa’s coast.
FRAMEWORK DESIGNS - Framework Designs crafts bespoke steel furniture and structures that merge innovative engineering with refined Kenyan design each piece built to shape spaces with style and strength. IG
FRIDAL DESIGNS - Fridal Designs creates bags that double as canvases each uniquely hand-painted to turn everyday accessories into vibrant works of art.
G E U Z A - GEUZA breathes new life into glass bottles, transforming them into chic drinking glasses, elegant vases, and stunning decor.
G&L SOUVENIR - G&L Souvenir crafts unique, handcrafted jewellery that captures the essence of African artistry, offering pieces that are both timeless and contemporary.
GROUNDED - Grounded keeps your home clean and your conscience cleaner with planet-loving, people-safe products made from the best of Africa’s backyard. IG
HAVE A GOOD TRIP - Have a Good Trip crafts destination-inspired streetwear rooted in Nairobi—wearable art made for wanderers powered by bold design and bold journeys. IG
HELLEN AYUGI - Hellen Ayugi crafts radiant digital art where vibrant colors blend seamlessly into captivating compositions, celebrating beauty and emotion in every pixel. IG
HISI STUDIOS - Hisi Studio creates inclusive, sensory fashion designed to empower and connect crafting garments that tell stories through touch, breaking barriers beyond sight.
HUEMA - Huema blends vibrant color, rich culture, and masterful craftsmanship to create bold furniture and designs that bring spaces and stories to life with unforgettable style.
IGC FASHION - IGC is a Ugandan fashion brand that blends Afro-futurism, sustainability, and cultural heritage into bold, sculptural designs. Committed to community empowerment, the brand transforms traditional materials into modern statements of identity and purpose. IG
IMALI CREATES - Imali Creates expresses the fluidity of the human form through abstract, emotive artworks that blend watercolor softness with bold figurative energy.
INDIE WANGA - crafts stunning metalwork that fuses tradition and modern design to transform interiors.
ITF - ITF powers a global movement of transport workers, driving justice, safety, and bold change across industries and borders.
J.A.C STUDIOS - JAC Studios crafts bespoke, handcrafted furniture that seamlessly blends traditional woodworking techniques with contemporary design, creating timeless pieces that elevate any space.
JIPE APPAREL - Jipe Apparel creates timeless, conscious fashion rooted in self-expression, crafted for the bold and free-spirited. IG
JOKENIA DESIGNS - Jo Kenia Designs crafts timeless fashion from reclaimed textiles, blending sustainability with refined Nairobi style.
KASHFOUR AFRIKA - Kashfour Afrika spins vibrant crochet magic into fun, must-have pieces that pop with color and personality!
KAUWRI - Kauwri blends Kenyan heritage with modern elegance ,handcrafted cowrie-inspired brass pieces made sustainably by local artisans. IG
KAVULANI -KavulaniArt ignites your style with vibrant hand-painted art and custom apparel bursting with African soul!
LEON MUCHUGIA - ANCESTRAL FUTURE FORMS - Through his Ancestral Future Forms exhibit, Leon Muchugia sketches a powerful future for Africa where traditional motifs reimagined in digital architecture speak to innovation and heritage.
LIQUID LEMN- Liquid Lemn blends East African flair with bold, gender-fluid fashion where stripes, sustainability, and self-expression collide.
LOLI CREATIONS - Loli Creations crafts vibrant, handcrafted accessories that celebrate Kenyan heritage through stylish, functional designs infused with Maasai-inspired artistry.
LUCKYSTAR - Lucky Star’s work fuses ancestral storytelling with futuristic digital art, creating ethereal, AI-powered visuals that explore identity, culture, and cosmic wonder. IG
MAISHA BY NISRIA - Maisha by Nisria crafts unique upcycled fashion while empowering vulnerable youth through skills training and sustainable opportunities.
MARSABIT X THOMAS BEF STUDIO - Marsabit x Thomas Bef Studio showcases exquisite crafts celebrating the rich heritage of indigenous communities in Marsabit County.
MICHELLE KANYEKI - Michelle Kanyeki uses evocative photography to narrate emotionally textured stories that probe darkness, resilience, and the human spirit. IG
MKHIONDO - Mkihondo Kenya crafts futuristic sisal-woven bags and accessories, expertly blending traditional weaving with modern leather accents for a bold, timeless look.
MPENZIPAPERSTUDIO - Mpenzi Paper Studio specializes in unique, handcrafted wedding invitations that capture the essence and personality of every couple through artful detail.
NAKSHI - Nakshi Glass Studio dazzles by turning recycled glass into vibrant architectural art, custom furniture, and unique jewelry where sustainability meets bold creativity and craftsmanship!
NATURAL MUMS CO - Natural Mums crafts organic, handmade skincare using African ingredients to nourish, soothe, and empower families naturally.
NDUCHU - Nduchu brings minimalistic, colorful art to life through striking paintings and vibrant t-shirt prints that celebrate bold creativity.
NDWIGAR AUDIOFACTORY - Ndwigar is a visionary artist whose evocative paintings reveal his inner emotions, while his website, The AudioFactory, invites visitors to create and experience music in an interactive sonic journey.
NGAMANI - Ngamani shines bright with bold brass jewelry that celebrates African heritage and timeless culture, wear your story with pride!
OGILVY - Ogilvy Africa is a powerhouse creative agency blending bold ideas, tech, and strategy to build iconic brands across the continent. Ogilvy Africa launched HerFolio at Nairobi Design Week, amplifying women creatives across the continent with a bold digital platform for visibility, connection, and creative power.
ONE MILL AND BULL - One Mill and Bull designs travel-ready safari wear and accessories that blend rugged functionality with modern elegance, crafted for explorers who value style in the wild. IG
ROAM - Roam is electrifying Africa’s roads with sleek, locally built electric bikes and buses—powering a cleaner, smarter future on two and four wheels.
RUBO - Rubo_Crafts transforms sturdy ropes into stunning, handcrafted handbags bursting with bold textures and vibrant personality perfect for anyone ready to stand out and make a statement!
RUNGANO RWEDU BY RUMBIDZAI SAMANTHA MATEMACHANI - Handcrafted with precision and care in Zimbabwe, this brand creates distinctive footwear and accessories where no two pieces are ever alike each item is a testament to individuality, artistry, and the timeless value of true craftsmanship.
SWYR - SAMORA X SHADIA - SWYR- Through bold digital art, the exhibitor shines a light on suicide in the Kenyan community turning silence into conversation and pain into powerful visual storytelling.
SCULPT STUDIO - Sculpt Studio shapes everyday rituals into art with bold, handcrafted mugs that stand out in any space.
SEKOYA EAST AFRICA - Sekoya East Africa empowers emerging artists by providing creative entrepreneurship masterclasses, craft workshops, and community art activities, fostering sustainable brands and enriching cultural narratives.
SHABA - Shaba weaves ethical elegance into every accessory, handcrafted from sustainable sisal by Kenyan women artisans, each bag tells a unique story of craft, culture, and conscious purpose. IG
SHANGA NA KANGA - Celebrating African culture through unique, handmade jewelry that tells a story of tradition, creativity, and empowerment.
SHERUSTICA - Sherustica transforms interiors into immersive galleries crafting functional art and bespoke installations that blend utility with sculptural elegance. IG
SLY ARTISTRY- Sly Artistry creates paintings that blend purpose and beauty, transforming emotions into captivating visual narratives.
SMOLART -SMOLArt crafts stunning, hand-carved soapstone art that celebrates Kenyan heritage with every polished detail.
SPRING VALLEY - Spring Valley Coffee: roasting Kenya’s finest beans with heart, soul, and sustainable vibes for the perfect cup every time!
STUDIO VERDE - Studio Verde fosters a dynamic union of art, science, design, technology, and community to spark new knowledge, ideas, and methods that enrich every field. IG
TEESA ADVISORY SERVICES - Teesa empowers women-led businesses in Uganda by offering the first digital course for entrepreneurs focused on planning, agreement, and curriculum creation.
THE VØI - Voi creates bespoke, loom-woven glass bead accessories meticulously crafted pieces where bold color meets intricate design.
TIBEB LEATHER - An Ethiopian leather brand crafting handmade journals, bags, and accessories that blend tradition with timeless craftsmanship.
TIGER TAIL TWISTER - Tiger Tail Twister crafts contemporary jewelry that reimagines African adornment, blending heritage, elegance, and modern craftsmanship in every piece.
TIWAWAS CROTCHET AND ART WORK- Tiwawas brings playful vibes to life with adorable, colorful crochet and artwork that brighten up your wardrobe and space with a burst of fun and personality!
UBUNIFU LAMU - Ubunifu Lamu turns kids’ creativity into colorful magic where art, fashion, and recycled dreams come alive!
USTADI KENYA - Ustadi weaves tradition into every step, creating handcrafted sandals and crochet accessories that showcase African artistry.
VINYA CRAFTS - Vinya crafts vibrant, handwoven bags and baskets that celebrate tradition with a modern twist. IG
WARIDI eyewear - Waridi Eyewear transforms sustainable materials into stylish, handcrafted sunglasses, blending Kenyan artistry with eco-friendly innovation. IG
ZINGRAN - At Zingran, authentic leather meets the soul of Sudanese heritage, where every handcrafted piece whispers stories of culture, fire, and timeless artistry. IG
Here's a TBT of NDW2024, and a deep dive into our theme for 2025.
