It was an interesting time at the just concluded annual event, Design Week Lagos held at the Livesport entertainment center at Lekki Lagos.
This was an idea birthed by an industrious woman, Titi Ogunfere. Since its inception in 2019, Design Week Lagos has become widely recognized, and seen as a rendezvous for many professionals like architects, Interior designers, graphic designers, and furniture designers, not to only showcase their crafts, but to share ideas to consolidate and celebrate the groundbreaking feats that they may have achieved in their different ecosystems, while not being complacent, but as collaborators to project into the future.
This year’s edition was programmed for activation for 4 days which started from 19th- 22 October, 2023. Also, this happens to be HOG furniture Team's debut presence at the event.
On the first day, there was a beehive of activities around the Lekki corridor as HOG furniture Team noticed an array of celebrities, politicians, and technocrats spanning various sectors all converged at the exhibition center as they could not afford to miss what this inter-disciplinary convention would offer the Nation in terms of economic growth.
This year’s edition as witnessed by the HOG team, was robust with well-thought-out programs as the organizers gave no room for imbalances In their approach to concepts, and contents dished out to thousands of visitors at the event.
The beautiful event kick-started in a composite nature as the talk shows were activated, also, the exhibiting space was aggressively catered for. Recognizing the power of networking, the presence of caliber of brands like Actiu Furniture, one of the best furniture companies for top quality office products. AFP Furniture, Intersyle ceramics with her partner, Vodum independently well known for premium tile designs and unique outdoor furniture. Problinds, a household name in manufacturing varieties of window and wall coverings for years delivering to customers choice products regardless of their social class. Also, brands such as Duplexline, Konkere Designs, Precise Lighting, and many others undoubtedly added color to the event. The arrangement at which these exhibitors displayed their quality Art designs, furniture designs, and décor accessories under a cozy atmosphere would spur anyone to buy these beautiful pieces from these respected vendors with beautiful signages.
Simultaneously, the talk show also began with the keynote address with a creative lecture which was delivered by a Nigerian famous architect, filmmaker, and environmentalist, Papa Omotayo. The keynote speaker with his impeccable British accent took the audience through the journey of his career path by detailing his exploits over a decade, the working principles that has guided him so far bringing to the audience consciousness of human values and culture, the elements around us, the need to create a synergy to drive the spiritual, environmental, and socio-economic progress.
He espouses the use of storytelling in designs as he uses it to relate with past and present cultural historic journeys, especially of an aquatic city like Lagos, hence making him a cultural activist. A short film was aired to this effect with the title ‘’gbo odo lo losi odo olokun’’ meaning all rivers came from the source.
With the advent of improved physical infrastructures, the yearning for restructuring of cities to urban centers is now in vogue. The speaker pleads for the use of available resources to create a statement of Art with structures that are environmentally friendly and efficient for human health. One of the examples he cited was the use of bamboo and recycled paper at the down flour of the Whitespace Creative Agency building, and the use of motifs at the façade of house projects.
Also, he never forgot to mention the need for collaboration an idea that propelled him to become a principal at project centers in Lagos where we have like-minds joining hands in curating great and enviable designs. At this point, he left us with the words of Ayi kwei Armah from the beautiful ones are not yet born ‘’Alone, I am nothing. I have nothing. We have power, but we will never know it, we will never see it work unless we come together to make it.
No doubt, as this was going on, the atmosphere became a learning ground for up-and-coming designers and students of architecture from different tertiary institutions in the country as this ‘’untapped shared vision’’ was been reeled out.
Going forward, the caliber of men and women who were selected as panelists and speakers spread around the sub-Saharan and are of great glory to their individual nations.
The next session was with a theme ‘’Designing A world for everyone.’’ This was spearheaded by 3 panelists; Chuka Ihonor, an architect and a principal at ARG studio; Stephanie Adisa, also an architect from studio Elementals; and Papa Omotayo. The moderator, Adebayo Shokunbi however wasted no time asking the panelists questions related to how they have all been able to showcase culture and identity in every of their projects for both private and public. In turn, they mesmerize us the audience with their responses as they never lose touch of their background giving us a plethora of examples of such executed mostly in this country.
Mind you, every session held, came with an intermittent break of at least 10 minutes. In between this leisure time, we had a sumptuous lunch.
This took us to the last session of the day titled ‘’Future Trends in Sustainable Interior Design’’
We had four female industry giants in the ecosystem of interior design as panelists, and namely, Franciose Akinosho, Omoh Anenih, Tinuke Odunfa, while Jacqueline Aki, moderated the session. The moderator was so strategic as she ensured that the audience's attention was captured as she asked us what the word ‘’sustainable’’ really meant. This was done to lay a background for the discuss as it relates to interior design. No doubt, loads of diverse issues were touched as each panelist were so rooted and real with the different perspective they shared. For the topic to find its fulfillment, the discuss developed to the area of Artificial Intelligence{AI} penetrating every work of life. This added to the interesting moment witnessed at the event as the panelists entertained the audience with no sort of pretense with their argument either in support of or against it use.
Tinuke, a graduate of George Washington University in Interior design believes that artificial intelligence should be seen as one’s personal assistance because it saves time and is efficient. However, Akinosho opined as quoted in verbatim ‘’It’s a tool, If you do not know how to use it or what you want to do with it, an intention behind it, it leads you nowhere.’’ For Omoh, she believes Artitifial Intelligence lacks this human connection looking at it from an angle where a client whose personality or lifestyle needs to be studied so as to direct ones part to delivering tangible results or services.
After final words from these panelists, the session was then brought to an end.
Author: Olatunji Olasehan
Olatunji Olasehan, is an educationist by profession but is currently a Merchant recruiter & Affiliate manager at HOG- Home. Office. Garden online marketplace. He just regained his long-time love for writing as he expresses himself in the mood of Art that depicts his nature in a stylish manner towards appreciating his evolving environment.
