“Every year Design Indaba invites the public to engage with the question of what constitutes beauty through the MBOISA award. More than just an object of visual delight, MBOISA encourage a wider definition of beauty – one that encapsulates attributes such as social significance, economic impact, usability, sustainability and even humour.” – Design Indaba

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Interestingly, this year, MBOISA will be a travelling exhibition.  The Most Beautiful objects will be venturing to every part of the nation beginning at Rosebank Mall in Johannesburg, then Gateway Mall in Durban, and ending at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. The general population can vote in favour of the piece they feel signifies South Africa “beauty” best – that is, in whatever way you choose to interpret the concept of beauty.

Voting closes 19 February at noon. You can vote online or by SMS – see links below.

{Go to the Design Indaba website (here) for a full description of each finalist’s design and to vote!}

So what do you think, see something you like? Who is going to get your vote?

{click on image to enlarge}

Shawl by Laduma Ngxokolo. The Xhosa beadwork-inspired patterns that Laduma translates onto his knitwear have become iconic pieces of fashion from South Africa. His shawl has already been paraded on international catwalks. [To vote SMS MBOISA+LADUMA SHAWL to 40619 at a cost of R1.50 per SMS]

Haroon Gunn-Salie’s first solo exhibition, History After Apartheid. The exhibition focusses on contemporary South Africa and the struggle for social economic justice. Using colour and light, the exhibition sparks debate and dialogue on resistance movements and riot control. [To vote SMS MBOISA+HAROON to 40619 at a cost of R1.50 per SMS]

Bottle 2 Build school initiative. The project’s primary aim is to tackle South Africa’s shortage of classrooms by upcycling plastic water bottles to form the “bricks” needed to build the infrastructure for new schools. [To vote SMS MBOISA+BOTTLE 2 BUILD to 40619 at a cost of R1.50 per SMS]

Skateboard created by Kent Lingeveldt. Every board that leaves the Alpha Longboards workshop is hand cut, shaped, sanded and finished by the founder himself. Each board is unique and many are custom artworks. [To vote SMS MBOISA+LONGBOARD to 40619 at a cost of R1.50 per SMS]

Kassena Town Cabinets by Dokter & Misses. The three cabinets are shaped to resemble mud buildings that together form a “village” of cabinets. Doktor & Misses created the set to look like a small West African town and are hand painted with Kassena-inspired patterning. [To vote SMS MBOISA+KESSENA TOWN to 40619 at a cost of R1.50 per SMS]

Basotho Blanket Classic Starburst Coat by Thabo Makhetha. The Starburst jacket is a classic piece from Thabo Makhetha’s range of garments inspired by the Basotho people. The Coat is a modern interpretation of this traditional South African culture. [To vote SMS MBOISA+STARBURST COAT to 40619 at a cost of R1.50 per SMS]

Vegetarian dish created by Candice Philip, a renowned chef at the Five Hundred Restaurant at the Saxon Hotel. Candice prides herself on her ability to use strange flavours to create unexpected journeys. She has recently created an innovative vegetarian dish that began with a simple pea. Using peas, wasabi, lemon crème and parsnip fudge, she turned peculiar combinations into a well-rounded taste experience. [To vote SMS MBOISA+VEGETARIAN DISH to 40619 at a cost of R1.50 per SMS]

See-Saw-Do social enterprise. The project uses creative injections to transform and enliven classrooms for underprivileged children. This affords them a stimulating environment, which is more conducive to learning. [To vote SMS MBOISA+SEE-SAW-DO to 40619 at a cost of R1.50 per SMS]

Twenty Journey book. The book was created by three South African photographers who set out to visually document the country 20 years into democracy. Sipho Mpongo, Wikus De Wet and Sean Metelerkamp have told the story of a new South Africa through their compelling photo series. [To vote SMS MBOISA+TWENTY JOURNEY to 40619 at a cost of R1.50 per SM

Umthi Hanging Lamp by Meyer Von Wielligh. The inspiration behind the lamp was to take processed wood back to its natural form and appreciate the material in light of its origin. The Umthi Hanging lamp was then designed to resemble the organic lines of tree branches. [To vote SMS MBOISA+UMTHI LAMP to 40619 at a cost of R1.50 per SMS]

{All info and images via Design Indaba}