V&A Waterfront Makers Landing
Develop a kids food curriculum
We are thankful to collaborators like the V&A Waterfront and Makers Landing who are serious about positively impacting South Africa’s food system by investing in children’s culinary education. Showcased here is a food curriculum we developed for them, aimed at teaching kitchen basics to kids between the ages of 5 and 12 — from appreciating South African flavours to the health benefits of different foods, how kitchen equipment works, the science of baking and everything in between.
V&A Waterfront
Lead curator, Makers Landing
Hannerie was the inaugural lead curator and designer of this purpose-driven space that supports job creation and skills development, a space that champions small businesses and facilitates skills-sharing between credible food experts and budding entrepreneurs. Studio H is still part of the mentorship programme for tenants at Makers Landing, whereby our studio assists food entrepreneurs to scale their businesses.
Photo: Ashleigh Frans
Caesarstone
Design and produce the awards ceremony for the annual Caesarstone Student Designer Competition. This year, students were invited to design a Museum of South African Languages located at the Maropeng in the Cradle of Humankind, becoming a vibrant celebration of linguistic diversity and showcasing the richness, history, and evolution of the numerous languages spoken in South Africa.
The theme came alive through an immersive experience that honoured South Africa’s rich linguistic diversity, expressed creatively through food. Each station celebrated one of South Africa’s 12 official languages, offering a dish that reflected its cultural heritage – from bobotie jaffels to amagwinya and fire-roasted corn to crispy fish fingers. Paying tribute to the Cradle of Humankind – the birthplace of fire – many of the dishes were prepared using traditional fire-cooking methods. The experience concluded on a playful, nostalgic note with a giant jelly and custard installation. Each station featured an interactive sound button in its corresponding language.
Concept, experience design, menu design, culinary curation: Studio H
Food collaborator: Bianca Strydom
Photo moment: Klara van Wyngaarden
Performance: SPIRIT IN MOTION
Graphic design: Spook Design Co.
Thank you to Sello, Norman and the team at Maropeng
Nando’s
Conceptualise a strategy that would celebrate the launch of two new Nando's Bag ‘n Bake flavours.
The new flavours have inspired a selection of #PERiTricks recipes that puts a fresh spin on some of South Africa’s favourite foods and ingredients. And as part of the launch, customers got to discover these recipe tricks at a popup in Braamfontein. Think super fun recipes made in a tumble dryer, air fryer or even with an iron.
As the lead creative agency on the product launch, Studio H was responsible for creating and managing the concept, developing the recipes and directing and producing the recipe video content for the project. The studio collaborated with some of the finest local talent to make this project come to life.
This project was shortlisted for the Loeries Awards 2023. See here.
Concept and production: Studio H
Architect: Stretch Architects
Pattern design: Bonolo Chepape, Lulasclan
Video: Yellow Brick Media
Setbuilding: JMC
Culinary support team: Prue Leith Chefs
Location: 99 Juta
Graphic design: Spook Design Co., Sisanda Nxumalo
Interior photography: Marijke Willems
“Re-member” is our sustainable chair submission for the Decorex chari design project. A repurposed garden chair coated with precious millet flour and hand stitched millet-stuffed pillow in reused kitchen vacuum bag. Giving back millet its seat at the table.
Chair design: Juwan Beyers
Decorex / FOOD XX / Studio H
Design a stand for Studio H at Decorex
In a bid to celebrate women in food, we created an interactive jar swop initiative with donations that went to Ladles of Love, a feeding scheme in Cape Town. The food jar exchange contained donated preserved foods, personal stories and recipes. We wanted to show that a small gesture can make a big difference because donating one jar of food can help alleviate hunger in our immediate community.
The FOOD XX Jar Exxchange also paid homage to traditions of food preservation. For centuries, women have preserved food and their cultural heritage through the age-old tradition of canning, jamming and pickling.
The stand became an exchange hub where anyone – not just women – from all over the peninsula could come to swop a jar of their preserves with a card attached sharing the story and recipe of the food in the jar. Each donor received an empty jar, to keep paying the action forward.
We were overwhelmed by donations from brands such as Bergsoom Pure Foods, who donate 1 000 jars to the project.
Photos: Paris Brummer
Styling: Juwan Beyers
Ten X Collective for Amazon Prime
To celebrate the premiere of Amazon Prime’s Last One Laughing in South Africa, we were asked to design and execute a menu for a South African street food village.
Embracing the opportunity to be boldly innovative with an added element of heritage and humour, we created a menu that came alive with the vibrant and energetic spirit of Amazon’s iconic blue. Canapés were elevated, flavourful treats with a nostalgic twist, packaged as tuckshop snacks – think spiced biltong zoo biscuits and Nik Naks flavoured skhokho crisps. Guests got to co-create their own kotas with a selection of toppings, and choose thick or thin, long or short at the self-service “boerie bar”. The evening ended on a sweet note with “guess the flavour”" soft serve, candy floss a 10-meter-long skopas treat. Everything in bright blue!
Concept, menu design, culinary curation: Studio H
Head chef: Jenny Ward
Food collaborators: Fifi Kusotera, Strone Henry, Charming Chef
Graphic design: Spook Design Co.
FOH Manager: Angelique Smith
Service: Blackjack Events
Event production: Until Until Events
Caesarstone
Design a dinner and awards ceremony for the annual Caesarstone Student Designer Competition that ties into the theme ‘From the Ashes We Rise’, a re-imagining and rebuilding of the home of the South African democracy, the National Assembly, that was destroyed in a fire.
We conceptualised an interactive dinner experience and awards ceremony that truly encapsulated the theme. This inspired live charcoal illustration, a fynbos-infused and fire-cooked meal and an interactive flower installation.
Concept, experience design, menu design, culinary curation: Studio H
Flower installation: Mr Munro
Interactive food installation collaborators: Wild Yeast, The Bread Bar , Charm’s Kitchen, Pienaar and Son, Ukhamba Beerworx
Pre-dessert performance collaborator: Mondvol Soet
Main course and dessert: Eike by Bertus Basson
Live illustration: Spook Design Co, Little Latsky
Photography: Daniela Zondagh
Adidas
We were briefed, alongside six other artists, to re-imagine sustainable footwear for the future for the new adidas concept store in the Waterfront.
As a future food design studio, our approach is deeply rooted in exploring a sustainable future. With our micro mushroom farm, we celebrate mushrooms for their ability to perform the alchemy of transforming agricultural and other organic waste into a nutritious food source. Growing mushrooms is a unique blend of recycling, science and efficacy. This powerful combination makes them one of the most sustainably produced foods in the world.
The interior of the Stan Smith shoe has been converted into a micro mushroom farm and 3-D texture was added to the exterior of the shoe by sculpting fondant and piped royal icing flavoured with dried mushroom powder. The laces are coloured with natural mushroom dye.
Concept, micro mushroom farm and laces: Studio H
Exterior design: Sweet LionHeart (Nikki Symons)
My work "Visnetten” was on show at in The Hague until the end of January 2022 as part of the show “Food For Thought” curated by Diana Wind. Recipe cards attached to embroidered fishing nets tell the story of a broken food system and the invisible people, often women, in that system. Visitors are encouraged to remove the cards with family recipes to expose the embroidery. Also on exhibition is my grandmother and great grandmother’s recipe book that’s been in our family for more than 100 years. Fishing net bags made by Weskusmandjie were for sale in the museum shop.
This project could not have been possible without: Hilda Adams and the women whose story inspired this work.
Embroidery by Keiskamma Art Project: Veronica Betani, Nombulelo Paliso, Bonelwa Paliso, Setyenzwa Mangwana, Esethu Makubalo, Nokuzola Mvaphants, Thabisa Gusha, Fikiswa Madlingozi, Sanela Maxengana
Graphic design: Casper Schutte
Special thanks to: Michaela Howse, Tracy Lee Lynch, Hendrik Coetzee
Museum Rijswijk: DianaArnault, Astrid, Anneke and the rest of the most wonderful, helpful and passionate team of people.
Studio H is aiming to collate the world's biggest database featuring women-owned and women-led food and drinks businesses from South Africa and Africa, nominated by our community and curated by us.
Nominate your favourite women in food.
Photos: Nikki Symons, Sweet LionHeart
Nando's
Create an activation for Nando's Vusa at an Anglo event during Mininig Indaba.
For the Nando’s pop-up at an Anglo event during Mining Indaba 2024, we partnered with Faieez Alexander, the visionary and founder of Fuzzys Koesisters, hailed as the home of Cape Town’s best koesister by KFM. These traditional Cape Malay treats are more than pastries, they symbolise a story of resilience and a rich heritage. We served up Nando's Vusa-infused PERi-koesister ice cream sandwiches in The Residency at Makers Landing. This pop-up restaurant space was designed in collaboration with Clout/SA, a Nandos-led design programme that facilitates collaboration between designers and the hospitality sector.
Anglo event production: True North Event Design
Fabric pattern design: Thandazani Nofingxana
Packaging pattern design: Bonolo Chepape
In a world where teaching healthy eating habits and responsible food choices to children has become more crucial than ever, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our Kids Food Studio digital recipe and activity book. This innovative and engaging document is designed to empower children aged 5 to 12, with essential skills and knowledge (from kitchen basics to the food rainbow), allowing them to foster a positive bond with food from an early age.
Kids Food Studio is more than just a resource; it's a dynamic experience that takes young learners on a food adventure.
Buy the little KIDS FOOD STUDIO recipe and activity book.
Recipes: Rowan Hackley, Kabelo Tala, Juwan Beyers
Graphic design: Casper Schutte
Woolworths
Design an activation that brings Woolworths' immersive digital Farming For The Future campaign to life at Decorex Cape Town.
We designed an 4-day activation aimed to showcase the visionary Farming for the Future campaign. The initiative and its overarching commitment “For Our Collective Tomorrow” intends to herald a new era in farming practices. Through an interactive installation, Decorex visitors were encouraged to make a pledge to reduce their impact on the environment in exchange for an apple.
Visitors were reminded of ways in which they can reduce our impact:
THE TEAM
Concept, design and activation: Studio H
Photos and video: Warren Talmarkes
Vinyls and lifesavers: Longlife Lettering
Thank you: Decorex and Bielle Bellingham
Stand build: Happinest
V&A Waterfront
Create a brand-led activation for Moses Coffee at Makers Landing.
Studio H assisted and mentored the curation of the inaugural African Coffee Expo by Moses Coffee. At this one-day expo and celebration of the best in African Coffee, attendees had the opportunity to interact with local coffee experts and equipment suppliers through expo stands and interactive workshops, while enjoying great coffee, food and beverage pairings and live music.
Festival curation: Moses Lebofa
Festival prodution: JC Landman
Photos: Ashleigh Frans
At the 2022 Food XX Awards, we honoured a group of 19 women from across South Africa - and beyond - for their outstanding contributions to the food and hospitality industry. For this event, the Studio H team designed a neutral canvas that would represent our equality-themed Awards breakfast ceremony. We collaborated with some of our favourite women in food to produce the all-neutral breakfast spread of Wild Yeast edible sourdough cracker plates, Sweet LionHeart regal cakes (bright pink on the inside) and Studio H’s souttert cakes decorated by the SLH team with cream cheese frosting and gold glitter olives, soetkoekie forks and of course Krone Cap Classique to toast our winners.
Programme MC: Khanya Mzongwana
Ayurvedic tea and meditation ceremony: Michele Mistry, Indikaap
Imphepho installation and intention setting: Ukutya
Keynote speech: Mmabatho Molefe, Emazulwini
Continental Connections: Anna Trapido
Event sponsor: Spekko Rice
Venue sponsor: Makers Landing
Awards sponsors: Spekko Rice, Krone, Nando's
Trophy plates: The Detailsmith
Publicity team: Ten X Collective
Social media team: Star Shongwe, Zanie Nxa
Production design: JC Landman
Culinary design: Juwan Beyers
Photos: Daniela Zondagh
Floral design: Mr Munro
Decorex Africa
Host an inspiring media launch for Decorex Africa 2022 with snacks that resonate with designers.
We collaborated with some of our favourite food partners to create an interactive food experience that showcased both form and function. One of our highlights was the customs-shaped banana butters in collaboration with Cream of the Crop Micro Dairy.
Concept: Studio H
Mould design and production: Studio H
Butter and shaping: Cream of the Crop
Photos: Ashleigh Frans
Our team recently gave a talk at 100% Design in Cape Town and Joburg on the Future Talks stages. The food fight-themed talks were an investigation into the ways in which one could use food to draw attention to global problems in our food system, and hopefully find solutions too.
Studio H designed an interactive installation, Don't Feed The Birds, to launch our Millets Report in the Future of Design area at Decorex in Cape Town. We wanted to highlight that millets are mostly only available as bird feed in our supermarket aisles. Our stand navigated visitors through a collection of bird baths by Kassa Studio, that were filled with either bird seeds or millet brownies (for human consumption).
Project Manager: JC Landman
Concept: Hendrik Coetzee, Juwan Beyers
Floor vinyl design: Hoick
Bird Baths: Kassa Studio
Photos: Paris Brummer