South Africa’s longest-standing design mentorship programme, Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD), has announced the top 10 finalists in its latest talent search. The challenge to emerging designers was to create a linear light fixture suited to any Nando’s restaurant, anywhere in the world.
Managed on behalf of Nando’s by Clout/SA, HYD is a biennial design competition and business accelerator, and one of South Africa’s premier initiatives of its kind. For the past decade, this platform has been instrumental in propelling the careers of emerging creatives by unearthing exceptional talent and introducing local design to Nando’s restaurants globally. Following a legacy of celebrated design focuses for the talent search, from patterns to benches, that have run every two years, the sixth edition challenged creators to redefine contemporary lighting by submitting a concept focused on the sleek geometry of linear lights.
The Selection Process To Unearth The Top 10
The selection process to unearth the top 10 was rigorous. The entries were assessed by a judging panel of almost 20 design-industry leaders and previous HYD winners. The judges included Paula Baúlde Portas, who is Head of Marketing at Maison&Objet in Paris; Thabisa Mjo of Mash.T Design Studio; Nikhil Tricam and Nindya Bucktowar of Studio Kalki; Charl Edwards, Co-founder and Creative Director of Lookbook Studio; Brad O’ Neill, Head of Design and Development at Nando’s South Africa; Tracy Lynch, Curator of the Nando’s Design Programme and Executive Creative Director of Clout/SA; and Michael Cathie, CEO of Nando’s South Africa.
IMAGE: Tracy Lynch, Curator of the Nando’s Design Programme; Paula Baúlde Portas, who is Head of Marketing at Maison&Objet
2026 Finalist Announcement
The finalists were drawn from a competitive pool of nearly 200 submissions and were announced at the start of August 2026. The judges selected concepts by:
-Kgomotso Monnakgotla and Kulani Keagile
IMAGES LEFT TO RIGHT: Kgomotso Monnakgotla and Kulani Keagile
-Chelsea Makin and Rethabile Motaung
IMAGES LEFT TO RIGHT: Chelsea Makin and Rethabile Motaung
-Bianca van Vuuren and Reneilwe Molala
IMAGES LEFT TO RIGHT: Bianca van Vuuren and Reneilwe Molala
-Bradley van Graan and Anele Mkhize
-Ashleigh Witney and Tshegofatso Mako
IMAGES LEFT TO RIGHT: Ashleigh Witney and Tshegofatso Mako
These finalists now head to Nando’s Central Kitchen in Johannesburg, where they’ll pitch their concepts live to the judging panel. Five will be selected to join an intensive mentorship programme, developing prototypes and sharpening their entrepreneurial skills en route to the title of Nando’s Hot Young Designer 2026.
“This shortlisting marks a significant milestone for the designers,” says Lynch. From here, the challenge shifts from concept to physical prototype and commercial realisation, through a focused series of workshops and a business bootcamp facilitated by seasoned Business Coach, Claude Morris, as the dedicated business design mentor.
The winner receives a tailored programme of mentorship, market access, showcasing opportunities and community engagement with South Africa’s premier designers, including a business accelerator programme custom-built to launch their design-focused business. Should their product and production process align, their piece will also be included on the Nando’s Portal to Africa, a global marketplace accessed by the interior designers who design Nando’s Casas in all their markets around the world.
The Impact Nando’s HYD
Although there will be one final winner for this edition, the six previous editions of Nando’s HYD have shown just how impactful the platform is for its finalists, many of whom have gone on to make their mark on the industry within the HYD ecosystem. Beyond mentorship and business-building, HYD connects successful designers to the global marketplace, offering a sales platform unlike any other in the local design industry.
