Open Window

Our Production Design department has successfully wrapped up its Retro Robot costume project, combining nostalgia with activism for the Robot Rights Awareness Protests. Our students crafted each costume with precision, using corrugated cardboard, recycled plastic, and other materials to realise their creative visions.

This project showcased their commitment and ingenuity, with every detail meticulously designed and assembled. Congratulations to all the students for their outstanding work!

We are thrilled to announce that Maria Durand has won First Prize in the MeCad Kitchen Independence Student Design Competition! 👏

Maria's winning design, the Turbo Blend, is a hand mixer crafted specifically to assist those with muscle fatigue and arthritis. Her innovative solution was developed using Solidworks.

Maria received her prize at a special event in Midrand, and we couldn’t be prouder of her achievement. This competition was a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate her creative problem-solving skills and passion for practical design. Congratulations, Maria!✨



Lecturer: Marcha van der Merwe

We’re thrilled to share that Antonio Delgado/van der Merwe has won the Third Prize in the Annual ARMSA Rotational Moulding Competition for Farm Heroes Saga! 🥉

This prestigious competition saw the Industrial Design Departments from TUT, UJ, and Open Window showcasing their talent, and Antonio’s innovative design stood out.

Antonio’s project, a children's gardening set, was created for the ARMSA Sasol Student Design Competition. His design teaches and encourages young gardeners with an all-in-one set featuring tool storage, easy cleaning, and ergonomic features—perfect for rotational moulding. The set’s unique, cost-effective design, which can be manufactured in just one mould, adds to its charm.

Congratulations, Antonio! 🎊👏
https://www.instagram.com/antoniodel.gado/




Lecturer Marcha van der Merwe
https://www.instagram.com/marcha_27395/

Our photography students had the opportunity to photograph elements of design and portraits on location. We want to especially thank Les Labuschangne and his team from Steam Trains for their hospitality and the wonderful atmosphere at this workshop.

Photos by Kyle Carbonell
https://www.instagram.com/_alpha_pix/

Thank you for joining us at the opening of the Exquisite Co**se 8.0 Exhibition! This year’s exhibition showcased the results of our Riso Roulette workshop series, where students, staff, and alumni collaborated at the Open Window Makerspace to create truly innovative pieces.

We were also thrilled to have Black Heidi deliver an electrifying musical performance! We were delighted to see you there!

You can view the catalogue and order form at the link below.
https://www.openwindow.co.za/exquiste-corpse-8-0.../87429/

Hello Creatives!

Don’t forget - our Open Day is happening this Saturday, 7 September from 9:00 - 13:00!

Come meet the talented teams behind our Visual Communication, Film, Animation, and Creative Technologies programs.

Let’s ignite your creativity - both personally and professionally. Where Creativity Moves.

Book your spot now!
Centurion Campus https://uxi.re/2zcr6
Stellenbosch Campus https://uxi.re/5LYl3

The Visual Culture and Research Committee hosted an engaging discussion with Guest Speaker Dr. Tundé Adefioye, in collaboration with the Lecturer Lecture Programme.

Dr. Adefioye delved into how US Black culture shapes our understanding of Black performativity, especially Black masculine posturing. He traced this influence from the enslaved male buck to Uncle Tom—archetypes that still impact expectations today.

His talk spanned notable figures from WEB DuBois and Malcolm X to the Black Panthers and Fela Kuti, and from Grace Jones and Basquiat to Marlon Riggs and Tongue Untied. He also explored the contributions of 2Pac, Buju Banton, Vybez Kartel, Burna Boy, Tyson Beckford, Romelu Lukaku, and even social media fitness influencers.

Dr. Adefioye highlighted how artists like Biggie and Rick Ross challenged these norms and touched on the impact of W.A.P.
In summary, while the portrayal of Black masculinity has evolved, many elements remain deeply rooted. Dr. Adefioye used music videos and theories from Black intersectional feminists to frame this discussion.

A huge thank you to Dr. Tundé Adefioye for the thought-provoking talk and to everyone who attended! 🙌📚

On Saturday, August 12th, our third-year Photography students had the unique opportunity to attend a Fashion Photography workshop led by the acclaimed South African photographer/director and Open Window alumnus Retang Sebeka.

The workshop took place in the vibrant setting of Soweto, Johannesburg. Retang Sebeka, a prominent figure in the South African photography scene, brought a wealth of experience and a distinctive eye for capturing contemporary South African culture through his lens.

With a background in Visual Communication and a diverse portfolio that included work for notable brands and media productions, Sebeka’s expertise in fashion photography was unparalleled. Participants gained hands-on experience in fashion photography, learning essential techniques and creative approaches directly from Retang.

It was an invaluable chance to enhance their skills, engage with a professional in the field, and immerse themselves in the dynamic environment of Soweto. The project was titled Angels at the Doors of Heaven.

Big thanks to Retangs incredible team:
Producer:
Styling:
MUA:
Lighting:
Digital:
Muses:
Lighting gear:
Captured with the A7RIV

https://www.instagram.com/retang_sebeka/

Dear High School Learners,

We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting a variety of workshops in September. Join us at the Open Window, Stellenbosch campus for an opportunity to participate in new and exciting workshops.

Booking link
https://www.openwindow.co.za/high-school-stellenbosch-workshops/88014/

Thank you all for joining us at our recent campus market celebrating q***r creativity and community! We transformed the space into a vibrant night market where q***r artists showcased their amazing work, and we enjoyed a curated selection of short films that highlighted diverse q***r identities.

The evening was filled with fun club-based activities, a delightful wine and cocktail hour to wrap things up, and exciting surprise prizes for those who dazzled us with their outfits. Your presence and support made the event truly special, and we couldn’t have done it without you!

The CT Hackathon is an annual event hosted for all students in the Creative technologies faculty. Students from a variety of disciplines work together, using their knowledge and unique skill sets, in order to conceptualise, design, programme and fabricate a collective project. This year is a collaboration between Animation Arts and Creative Technologies. Students were required to design, program and build their very own classic analogue arcade gaming machines based on a retro-futurism theme.

Thank you to our sponsors Stackworx and Lucky Beard for attending and making the event possible!

Winners 1st Place Team 11
Rouxan Potgieter
Pierre Ferreira
Tarryn-Leigh Tong
Ungerer Hattingh
Ruan Klopper
Enzo De Vittorio
Deneke Snyman
Megan Kruger
Lennon Mupfukudzwa
Emily Fulford
Melissa Van Niekerk
Alexis Gould
Alexia Cahi

Winners 2nd Place Team 4
Maria Durand
Este Rossouw
Anri Krige
Mareli Lourens
Michaela Kemp
Wolf Botha
Robby Atkinson
Theo Khama
Cilla Thabethe
Liora Caplan
Tamryn Steyn
Divan Labuschagne
Thikho Seekoei

Winners 3rd Place Team 8
Christian Krahtz
Onthatile Lesufi
Tamryn de Lange
Bladen Lehnberg
Caitlin Van Der Merwe
Jolyn Barry
Zahra Cassimjee
Brandon Bosman
Helene VD Poel
Caitlin Muller
Mia Wassermann

Lucky Beard - A Global Design Company Stackworx.io

Dear Prospective Student,

Are you ready to turn your storytelling dreams into reality? The Open Window invites you to showcase your creativity and leadership in our exciting scholarship competition!

We’re offering up to four 50% scholarships to cover half of your tuition fees for each year of our three-year degree program. Each scholarship is available for one of our four specializations:

Animation Arts
Creative Technologies
Film Arts
Visual Communication

About the Competition
This year’s theme is “What’s in a Story?” We’re looking for a creative young leader who can demonstrate their visual storytelling prowess. Dive into what makes a story captivating and share your unique perspective on the theme.

Ready to make your mark?
Show us what’s in your story and be in the running for these incredible scholarships. For all the details and to submit your entry see the link below.
https://uxi.re/vwSWz

T&Cs Apply.

We recently held our Honours 'Pecha Kucha Presentation & Exhibition' event, offering a fascinating glimpse into the research topics our Honours students are delving into this year.
In the Pecha Kucha presentations, each student shared a concise overview of their research, following the dynamic Pecha Kucha format of 20 slides, each displayed for 20 seconds.

The presentations were complemented by an exhibition showcasing some of the students' practical work, reflecting their evolving research. We appreciate the support and enthusiasm of all who attended.

A huge thank you to our students and Cosplay Connoisseurs Club for making our medieval-themed social such a fantastic success! Your enthusiasm and creativity in dressing up, dancing, and participating in the games, including the epic pool noodle sword fights, truly made the evening unforgettable. Your spirit and sportsmanship turned the event into a memorable and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

We couldn’t have asked for a better group to bring our medieval adventure to life. Thanks again for all the fun and laughter!

Thanks to Kyle Carbonell for the footage.

The Open Window Film Festival will take place at the Open Window campus from Wednesday 29 November until Saturday 2 December.

All FV300 own-choice films will be screened, plus a curated selection of other films and projects from all Film Arts students (all 5 subjects, and all levels from Certificate to Honours).

The programme (detailed screening and exhibition schedule) will be announced on Friday 24 November. Awards and after-party will happen on Saturday 2 December.