Home Grown, Home Inspired

The G.U.I.D.E- Gida Uno Ile Design Exhibition is an annual showcasing of the samples of genius we have brewing in the country. The exhibition this year ran from the 6^th to the 8^th of July 2016 at the Landmark Event Center. This year was the 4^th year of the exhibition and it has been getting better over time. This year’s theme was ‘Home Grown, Home Inspired,’ and it was amazing to see how each both adapted the theme, creating content worth seeing and talking about.

The event had few pieces that stuck out and resonated with me.

The Entrance was a collaborative effort between interior designers and product designers, interpreting the African Aesthetic in the cafe / lounge area. Carved wooden coffee tables and side chairs, with a mix of Ankara-upholstered furniture created pockets of seating, all the while being enclosed by large ‘X’ box (what I call them) forms made from wood flats, and painted dark brown.

The vibrancy of this space permeates the entire exhibition hall, bringing you past the registration counter (which was incorrectly situated, in my own opinion) and off the booths.

The products were too much to miss. Aso Oke wall sconces, DIY tyre-rubber seats and tables, Ankara bedazzled cushions, a phenomenal Adire area rug, and newspaper / mirror walls.

The talent is rich! A booth sectioned off its space with a partition shelving system that encourages privacy, without a wall.

Among the gurus of the trade was a booth for emerging talent and four of the exhibitors got a chance to showcase their craft, all in unique ways. The first used Ankara and glitter to create art pieces, the second used welded metallic geometric forms to create candle stands, the third specialized in monogrammed cushions, while the forth showed off her ability to style a credenza with accessories and lighting elements. A cast of 4 women, striving for a platform to showcase their talent as emerging (and hopefully recognizable talent in some years).

The show rounded up and hopefully the pictures do justice to what it represents. See you next year, bright and early.