Young South African designers are invited to create a signature lighting piece for Nando’s restaurants worldwide and accelerate their careers
South Africa’s next design success story could be waiting to be discovered.
Entries have opened for the 2026 edition of the Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) talent search, a competition that has spent the past decade helping emerging creatives turn promising ideas into thriving careers.
This year’s entry period carries special significance, with submissions closing on 16 June, Youth Day, a date that highlights the importance of creating opportunities for young South Africans to develop their talents and build sustainable careers in the creative industries.
Since its launch in 2016, the biennial Nando’s HYD programme has become one of the country’s leading design initiatives. Beyond the competition, it functions as a business accelerator that identifies emerging designer-makers and connects them with mentorship, commercial opportunities, industry networks and exposure on both local and international stages.
