Designing Cape Town’s Creative CBD: 2014 - 2024
As part of Design Week South Africa, the talk "Designing Cape Town’s Creative CBD" will explore how Cape Town can revive the creative energy it experienced as the 2014 World Design Capital. The talk will address how the pandemic impacted the creative sector, closing vital spaces and stifling innovation.
Now, as the city emerges from these challenges, it’s the perfect time to rethink how the CBD can be designed to support and grow our creative economy. Through public spaces, flexible work environments, creative hubs and cultural activation, this talk will explore how creative activation, urban and social design can breathe new life into the city and its creative industries.
Orlando Vincent Truter is a cross-disciplinary Creative Director and Experience Designer, whose work includes major public exhibitions, museums, and immersive commercial spaces. His practice, Orlando.Studio, focuses on fostering community connections and active participation, with notable projects such as Constitution Hill and the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.
Marco Morgan is an urban planner with 17 years of experience in infrastructure, spatial planning, and mobility. He has collaborated with organizations like the Development Action Group and Open Streets Cape Town to promote inclusive urban policies.
Don Albert is a Fulbright scholar and architect with over 20 years of global experience. He has led urban design projects across Beverly Hills, Sydney, and Cape Town, including the new performance hall for Zip Zap Circus and the Peralta Beach Project in Portugal.
Brad Armitage is a Brand Development Strategist with two decades of experience in fintech, hospitality, and urban development. He focuses on sustainable design and community engagement to drive social and environmental impact.
This panel will explore how design, urban planning, and creative strategies can shape a vibrant and resilient creative economy in Cape Town’s CBD.