In this episode, we chat with Ateh Nkem Atabong, a pharmacist and business development expert originally from Cameroon, now based in Norway. Ateh has a strong connection to Africa and is passionate about driving innovation across various sectors, especially healthcare, agriculture, and logistics. He’s the co-founder and CEO of SAWA AS, an agribusiness company importing high-quality African ingredients to Europe, and the founder of HETA Consult, which focuses on healthcare solutions for the African market. Ateh also holds leadership roles on several boards, including the Norway Cameroon Business Council and African Trade Group. With years of experience in startups and business development, Ateh dives deep into how design thinking can play a crucial role in solving Africa's healthcare challenges and creating sustainable solutions. 

https://www.sawa.no/
https://www.hetaconsult.com/

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Architect Jesse Tukacungurwa is a Registered Architect, with over 15 years of experience in building projects design, project management and supervision. He is the director of design at ONCEPTi Architects in Kampala Uganda; a firm that he started 12 years ago. Jesse holds a Bachelor degree in Architecture from Makerere University in Kampala-Uganda and a Masters degree in Sustainable building Technology from the University of Nottingham. His practice specialises in Sustainable building design aiming to transfer  knowledge and skills on how to bring down the energy load of buildings and create architectural solutions for the African context.

https://www.oncepti.net/about-us/

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Tosin Oshinowo is a Nigerian architect, Designer, Creative Entrepreneur, Culture Enthusiast, History Junkie & Mummy. Tosin holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Kingston University,  a Masters in Urban Design from the Bartlett School of Architecture London and an Architecture Postgraduate Diploma from the Architecture Association, London.

She had her early professional practice in London and Rotterdam before moving to Nigeria. Tosin is the founder and Director of CmDesign Atelier/OSHINOWO STUDIO, an Architectural Design Consultancy firm she set up in 2012 in Nigeria.  It is a collaborative, informed and aspirational design practice that strives to work with people as people and not just as clients; creating places conscious of materiality, light and spatial experience.

In 2017, she founded ILE ILA (House of Lines), a contemporary handmade Nigerian lifestyle furniture line which celebrates her native Yoruba culture and is known for its period- conscious, bold and colorful expressions made in Lagos, Nigeria. 

https://www.oshinowostudio.com/tosin-oshinowo/

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After such a rich first season, Eunice and Penina (co-hosts) sit down and reflect upon key themes such as: the role of identity and knowing ones heritage when designing in the African context; the value of telling our own stories, in our own African way and lens; and how our education system needs to stay relevant to meet the demands of today's landscape;  that emerged from our conversations with our guests. 

A huge thank you to all our guests for sharing their stories and invaluable experiences with us. To all our listeners, we appreciate your support, messages and words of encouragement. We look forward to building upon ideas from season one, in addition to introducing you to a new group of designers and architects living and practicing on the continent and the diaspora.

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Jude Yaw Agboada is a visual communication designer, educator and branding expert from Ghana. He currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri and teaches communication design at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri where he holds a position as the 2019-21 Louis D. Beaumont Artist-in-Residence.

Through his design practice, Jude has worked with clients like Ghana International School, University of Ghana Business School, and GIZ Ghana. Jude uses storytelling and dialogue to explore ways to encourage difficult conversations across cultures. In his practice, Jude explores how people define community, identity and culture via multidisciplinary approaches- ranging from artist books to public installations.

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Website: https://www.myafricanaesthetic.com/

Jude Yaw Agboada is a visual communication designer, educator and branding expert from Ghana. He currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri and teaches communication design at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri where he holds a position as the 2019-21 Louis D. Beaumont Artist-in-Residence.

Through his design practice, Jude has worked with clients like Ghana International School, University of Ghana Business School, and GIZ Ghana. Jude uses storytelling and dialogue to explore ways to encourage difficult conversations across cultures. In his practice, Jude explores how people define community, identity and culture via multidisciplinary approaches- ranging from artist books to public installations.

Support the show

Instagram: @myafricanaesthetic
Website: https://www.myafricanaesthetic.com/

Doreen Adengo is an Architect based in Kampala, Uganda where she runs an architectural firm called Adengo architecture. Much of Doreen’s work is focused on communicating the value of professional design services in African cities.  In a context where non-designers often build their own homes, schools, and other structures, she believes that it’s critical to make the case that architects and urban planners can improve people’s everyday lives, helping cities develop sustainably.

After completing her undergraduate and graduate studies at the Catholic University and Yale respectively, Doreen worked for design firms in London, Washington DC, and New York. She has taught at The New School and Pratt Institute in New York and at Uganda Marty's University, and until recently served as a visiting critic at University of Johannesburg’s Graduate School of Architecture. 

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Abigail Turinayo thrives on Creativity! As a practicing fine artist, who then studied architecture from Makerere University in Kampala Uganda, worked and lived in both Europe and Africa, she is extremely passionate about the role design plays in innovatively creating order and solving many of the world's complexities. She currently serves as Head of Design at Design without Borders, as well as Director on the Board, Africa Office, one of the first of its kind Industrial design studio based in Kampala. 

A core part of her practice is rooted in co-design, a fundamental approach used to effectively respond to people’s needs during the creation of innovative products, services, or spaces. Over the past 7 years she has lead design projects with foundations, public and private sector institutions, humanitarian agencies, and social enterprises; and spoken widely on the value of design in the fast-growing African context. 

Through these collaborations, she has worked on projects such as the redesign of sanitation and housing solutions for slum communities in Kampala; developed financial literacy and reproductive health tools for the empowerment of rural communities in Uganda, and undertaken clinical studies for the introduction of a medical device for effective IV therapy for children.

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Website: https://www.myafricanaesthetic.com/

Abigail thrives on Creativity! As a practicing fine artist, who then studied architecture from Makerere University in Kampala Uganda, worked and lived in both Europe and Africa, she is extremely passionate about the role design plays in innovatively creating order and solving many of the world's complexities. She currently serves as Head of Design at Design without Borders, as well as Director on the Board, Africa Office, one of the first of its kind Industrial design studio based in Kampala. 
A core part of her practice is rooted in co-design, a fundamental approach used to effectively respond to people’s needs during the creation of innovative products, services, or spaces. Over the past 7 years she has lead design projects with foundations, public and private sector institutions, humanitarian agencies, and social enterprises; and spoken widely on the value of design in the fast-growing African context. 
Through these collaborations, she has worked on projects such as the redesign of sanitation and housing solutions for slum communities in Kampala; developed financial literacy and reproductive health tools for the empowerment of rural communities in Uganda, and undertaken clinical studies for the introduction of a medical device for effective IV therapy for children.

Support the show

Instagram: @myafricanaesthetic
Website: https://www.myafricanaesthetic.com/

In this episode, Prof. Mugendi K. M’Rithaa reflects on his time as president of the World Design Organization and his passion for mentoring young African designers, inspired by the legendary Esther Mahlangu. He also discusses the evolving "state of design in Africa" and the need to create homegrown narratives that redefine the African aesthetic—highlighting the significance of "Afrika with a K" vs. "Africa with a C."
As a transdisciplinary designer, educator, and consultant, Prof. M’Rithaa’s work spans areas like Design Thinking, climate change mitigation, and inclusive design. He’s a founding member of the Network of Afrika Designers and has served in various global design networks. Currently, he teaches at Machakos University and leads Holos Creative Solutions, a design consultancy that champions socially conscious, innovative solutions rooted in African culture. Tune in to hear about his inspiring journey and the transformative role of design in shaping Africa’s future.

https://www.hcs-afrika.com/

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