Italian Design Day is an annual event dedicated to Italian creativity, innovation, and design genius. In 2026, South Africa will once again host a rich programme of events organised by the Italian Embassy in Pretoria, the Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg, the Consulate of Italy in Cape Town and the Italian Cultural Institute in Pretoria, in collaboration with ICTAF – International Cape Town Art Fair, the Cape Town Furniture Fair, SA Creative Industry Incubator (SACII), and the Department of Architecture and Industrial Design at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
On this occasion, the Institute is pleased to invite Francesca Lanzavecchia, an internationally renowned Italian designer. Her work, which is highly interdisciplinary in nature, combines product design, research, and attention to human needs, exploring the role of design in care, inclusion, and social impact.
We are excited to bring her artistic vision to South Africa and to participate once again in this dynamic platform for artistic dialogue and cultural exchange. Francesca Lanzavecchia will be present at various times during the events:
- Furniture Week Cape Town (TBC)
title to be confirmed
more details will follow
Day: Friday 20th February 2026
Time: 15:00
- ICTAF, Cape Town
Grounded practice and global reach: embracing local knowledge and ecological responsibility through design
This talk explores how designers around the world are shaping a dynamic and pluralistic design language that is deeply rooted in their local contexts but has global resonance. By reinterpreting traditional techniques and embracing collaborative, material-conscious processes, these creatives are not only contributing to the global dialogue on design, but actively redefining its future.
Day: Saturday 21 February 2026
Venue: to be confirmed
Time: 15:00 (https://digital.investeccapetownartfair.co.za/en-US/events/693ae27a6ed847cf71e58c39?date=2026-02-21 )
- SACII, Pretoria
Workshop
more details will follow
Day: Monday, 23 February 2026
Time: 09:00
- Architecture and Industrial Design Department, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Pretoria
Conference at T.U.T
more details will follow
Day: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Time: 09:00
To find out more about the designer’s work: www.francescalanzavecchia.com/about