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Atelier Fifty Five Tapiwa Matsinde African Interior Design Liz Riley Photography

Dedicated to Modern African Design

The ateliers of Africa are overflowing with creativity and ingenuity. atelier | 55 by Tapiwa Matsinde invites you to discover the soul and stories of African design

Our Mission

To support the development of the African design industry and bring the work of talented designers, makers, and creatives from the continent and its diaspora to the attention of local and global audiences.

Atelier Fifty Five by Tapiwa Matsinde African design consultant Liz Riley Photography

Meet Tapiwa

I feel privileged to be a part of what I call the golden era of contemporary African design, a time when we are witnessing a continent-wide, collective, creative reawakening. I celebrate this creative expression by participating in it and working to expand its reach.

I feel privileged to be a part of what I call the golden era of contemporary African design, a time when we are witnessing a continent-wide, collective, creative reawakening. I celebrate this creative expression by participating in it and working to expand its reach.

I feel privileged to be a part of what I call the golden era of contemporary African design, a time when we are witnessing a continent-wide, collective, creative reawakening. I celebrate this creative expression by participating in it and working to expand its reach.

Services

By sharing information – about contemporary African design with curators and collectors; about best business practices with makers and creatives, and making connections between these groups of people, I contribute to the growing, thriving world of modern African design.

Atelier Fifty Five by Tapiwa Matsinde African design Consultancy Liz Riley Photography

Consultancy

Consultancy and Guest-Curation

Consultancy and Guest-Curation for cultural organizations that want a deeper understanding of Africa’s dynamic design and creative landscape.

Atelier Fifty Five by Tapiwa Matsinde Creative Entrepreneurs Liz Riley Photography

Creative Entrepreneurs

Resources for the creative business owner.

Creative business support designed to help growing brands, and fledgling creative business owners expand into new, high-end design and lifestyle markets.

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Power is gained by sharing knowledge not hoarding it

African Proverb

Curated Content

Browse through objects, commentary and perspectives of modern African design, chosen carefully and thoughtfully for you. As important as the creations themselves are the inspiring stories, insights, and profiles that enhance our understanding and appreciation of the work.

Atelier Fifty Five by Tapiwa Matsinde African Design Writing Content Liz Riley Photography

Books, Writing, Publications

Capturing the dynamic African design industry.

We collect information to help us make sense of things, and, to create records of what has happened and is happening. I’m proud to contribute to the collection that chronicles and captures the dynamic African design industry.

We collect information and cushion it with context to help us make sense of things, and, more importantly, to create records of what has happened and is happening. I’m proud to contribute to the collection that chronicles and captures the dynamic African design industry.

Atelier Fifty Five by Tapiwa Matsinde buy African Design Liz Riley Photography

Shop African Design

Beautiful products.

A selection of sophisticated products for contemporary living from some of Africa’s finest design ateliers.

atelier | 55 offers a selection of sophisticated products for contemporary living. Thoughtfully sourced from some of Africa’s finest design ateliers.

Read The Edit, Be Inspired

- The Stool An African Design Classic
  The stool is an African design classic, an iconic example of Africa’s woodcarving traditions. Its iconic shape has, and continues to inspire designers the world over who are drawn to the simplicity of the form. Stools were created for personal, and ceremonial use, whereby elaborately carved and decorated designs were used to signify status, wealth, and prestige. Here’s a look at four designers from across the continent who are taking inspiration from the traditional stool to create elegant furniture collections designed with comforts of modern living in mind. Tekura Furniture brand Tekura draws inspiration from Ghana’s ancient cultures such as those of the legendary Ashanti and Fanti. Tekura reinterprets the local traditional crafts and forms to create innovate furniture collections. Their designs include giving contemporary makeovers to iconic symbols such the legendary Ashanti Stool and Headrest by streamlining and modernising the shapes, which are then adorned with carved patterns. Working with highly-skilled local artisans Tekura’s designs are handcrafted from carefully select pieces of reclaimed wood. Jomo Furniture Furniture and product designer Jomo Tariku, founder of Jomo Furniture is on a mission to convince the furniture world that African designs deserve a place in the mainstream furniture market. Jomo draws from African cultures to inspire his furniture designs and seeks to modernises the traditional forms to give them a place in modern society in a dual role as functional and decorative household items. Dioumpapa Based in Senegal Dioumpapa introduces a new brand of African design. One which combines traditional furniture with a contemporary, sophisticated style and handcrafted crafted with beautiful woods sourced from across the African continent. With his designs Dioumpapa wants to add to Africa’s long woodcarving heritage, continuing the legacy. His designs also serve as a platform for promoting the handicraft skills of the Senegalese craftsmen he works with. Wiid Design Wiid Design in South Africa has turned to organic and recyclable Portuguese cork to create a line of durable user and environmentally friendly stools. Drawing inspiration from a range of sources including conceptual and artistic environments and contemporary cultures Wiid Design has a particular focus on combining traditional handcrafting with modern avant-garde techniques. Used as seating, side tables or for decoration stools a popular piece of furniture in living spaces are the enduring classic of African design. – Tapiwa [Image credits: The images shown are sourced from Tekura, Jomo Furniture, Dioumpapa, WiId Design. If downloaded and used elsewhere please credit accordingly.]... Read more...
- Manage Your Energy Levels To Get More Done In Less Time
  I have a question for you- Do you make listening to your body during your working day a habit, in particular paying attention to your energy levels? If not here’s why you should be doing this. Structuring your day around your energy levels has the benefit of making you more focused and productive. Meaning you get more done in less time. Who wouldn’t want that!!! It makes sense really, but how many of us do this. I certainly didn’t! Despite many years working as a freelancer and entrepreneur, I was still stuck in the corporate 9-5 mindset. I would feel guilty if I didn’t work a full day as dictated by society. Thinking about this, this way of thinking is crazy. The 9-5 was devised for the industrial age, a time when work for the masses involved heavy machinery and lots of hard physical labour. We are in the Information/Technological age, a period that gives us a lot more flexibility around how we choose to work. But are you actively embracing that flexibility? I am guessing that one of the reasons for working for yourself is the freedom of not having a boss looking over your shoulder. As an entrepreneur, you still answer to a boss, but that boss is you. And you get to decide how your time works for you. Whether it’s fitting it around family needs, study or whatever it is that matters to you, to be able to make the time you have work for you you need to know when your energy levels are high and when they are low. Your energy levels influence the way you work, and understanding this will help you match your energy level to the most suitable tasks thereby increasing your productivity and efficiency to get more done in less time. Being productive also means recognising when your energy levels are low and allowing yourself to step away from work for a while – be it a few hours or a few days – to recharge. When working for yourself taking time off can become an afterthought. But we need to take those breaks for our wellbeing and mental health. Because when are rested in mind, body, and spirit we can show up as our best self in our work and lives. Managing your energy levels is a simple process. All you need to do is make a note of how you feel every day, keeping a diary or journaling is great for this. Look for patterns, for example, the post-lunch slump is very real, but whilst the workplace only gives you an hour, setting your own hours means you can allocate more time if you need it. Or perhaps you find that your energy drop for longer periods at certain times of the year for example in August or at the end of the year, so this could be a good time to schedule in vacations, not take on clients, or to work on tasks that require minimal effort. How do you manage your energy levels, I’d love to know. Do share in the comments. – Tapiwa [Image credits: The images shown belongs to Daria Obymaha from Pexels. If downloaded and used elsewhere please credit accordingly.]... Read more...

Atelier Fifty Five by Tapiwa Matsinde Books Quote Liz Riley Photography

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If you can envision it, you can accomplish it.
If you can imagine it, you can reach the heavens!

African proverb