(Published - 1 August 2019)

The CDI is exploring an opportunity for craft producers and designers to develop a small range of themed products for this event.

Thanks to funding from the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), the CDI was able to run a free workshop which was well attended by interested producers. This was a themed product design and creativity workshop designed to stimulate products that could be sourced for the Symposium.

The workshop, which took place at the Two Oceans Aquarium, also saw Professor Mark Gibbons of the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at the University of the Western Cape, and one of the Symposium organisers, present to the attendees on jellyfish with a view to sparking ideas for unique products.

Professor Gibbons is passionate about development, which forms a focus of the upcoming Jellyfish Blooms Symposium.
“I am very excited about the prospect of involving local craft producers in global events such as this, because I see it as a win-win for local entrepreneurs and conference attendees alike,” says Mark.

“We have so much creative talent in Cape Town and jellyfish are such beautiful, ethereal and mysterious subjects that the products developed will be sure to have wider than conference-only appeal,” he adds.

After the workshop, CDI has engaged with the producers to assist them with developing their concepts further, including arranging group meetings to provide feedback and update to them on Symposium developments.

According to Caragh Barwise, the CDI’s product support co-ordinator, the final group session will take place on 29 July, and a week has been set aside in August for further one-on-one appointments and product photography.

“Information on producers and product images will then go onto the Symposium website and Facebook page, and the photos will also be sent to the representatives of the Aquarium and Iziko Museum shops, to see about possible retail uptake,” she adds.

We will keep you posted in future CDI news features on the project’s progress and to announce when the products developed will be live on the website www.jellyfishbloom2019.

This article was posted on the CDI website on July 24, 2019.