Visi – July 2019

NO

18

he annual Design
Foundation Awards
recognise the industry’s
top achievers in design,
manufacture, commercial success
and innovation. Each of the seven
categories is sponsored by a supporter
of local talent, and this year VISI was
the proud sponsor of the Manufacture
Award, which went to Hotwired Design.
Responsible for bringing countless
designs from concept to life,
manufacturers are often the unsung
heroes. The Design Foundation
commended Hotwired Design, under
the direction of Gareth McArthur, for
the team’s technical proficiency and
willingness to help local artists and
designers give three-dimensional form
to their creative ideas.

Artists Atang

Tshikare and

Stanislaw Trzebinski

have created

pieces with the

help of Hotwired

Design. “We assist

by supplying the

internal structure,”

says Gareth, who

studied Industrial

Design at the Cape

Peninsula University

of Technology.

“The real work lies in

the artist’s hand, in

finishing the piece

and getting the look

and feel they want.

We supply the 3D

canvas; they do the

real work.”

From its premises

in Woodstock,

Hotwired Design

manufactures

props, signage and

architectural elements

with machines to

cut various materials,

including wood, poly-

styrene, engineering plastics

and non-ferrous metals. “We

have a fairly broad material and

process knowledge,” says Gareth.

“We take the idea, be it on paper,

CAD drawing, maquette or model,

and suggest materials or solutions to

achieve their idea on a large scale.”

As for the Design Foundation

Award, Gareth says, “The award

came out of the blue. We

were put forward by

artists and designers

we work with, which showed us that

their appreciation goes beyond the

manufacturing of their products.

It resonated on a personal level.

They made an effort to thank us in

a very special way.”

The goal of the Design Foundation

is to award and nurture new and

established talent in the South African

design industry, through production

funding, equipment subsidies,

mentorships, business advice and

infrastructure assistance. This year was

the first time the public could submit

nominations, a process that will open

once again later this year.

designfoundation.co.za

hotwired.co.za

WORDS

AMELIA BROWN

HOT COMMODITY

Hotwired Design, which specialises in laser and CNC router cutting,

is the recipient of the Design Foundation Manufacturing Award 2019,

sponsored by VISI.

T

The internal structure of a big disco ball.

“WE SUPPLY

THE 3D CANVAS;

THEY DO THE

REAL WORK.”

GARETH MCARTHUR

Stanislaw Trzebinski’s

Extra Terrestrial table.

visi.co.za JUNE/JULY 2019 160

�ISI REASONS