COTA Celebrates Creativity with Namibia Design Innovation Competition Awards

Windhoek: Young creatives from the College of the Arts(COTA) completed a two week Namibia Design Innovation competition workshop, a programme supported by the European Union.

The College of the Arts had the honour to host the anticipated Namibian Design Innovation Competition Awards ceremony following the completion of the competition workshop. The anticipated event was held on the 20th of August 2025 at the Katutura Community Art Centre. The event was honoured by the presence of Hon. Jennely Matundu, Deputy Minister of Ministry of International Relations And Cooperation Namibia, Her Excellency Ana Beatriz Martins, EU Ambassador to Namibia as well as Ambassadors and diplomatic Leads from EU Member states.

Over 30 students participated in the transformative workshop that challenged them to do more than just design. They were tasked with redefining Namibia’s indigenous aesthetics through a contemporary lens. Hosted in collaboration with the College of the Arts and Omba Arts Trust, the initiative aimed to empower young creatives to explore, preserve and evolve local design narrative. Under the guidance of COTA lecturers and Omba Arts Trust, participants created textile patterns, tote bags and a logo symbolizing the EU-Namibia partnership. The workshop offered students a real taste of the design world, tackling challenges, connecting with industry and exploring careers paths rooted in Namibia tradition.

Tuhafeny Thomas Shiyukifeni, one of the competition winners shared that the concept behind his design was to symbolize unity between Namibia and the EU, two distinct places moving forward hand in hand. With a focus on simplicity, boldness and modernity, the goal was to create something timeless and universally relatable. Reflecting on the win, he expressed joy and pride, especially in making his mother proud, emphasizing that Namibian creativity has a place on global platforms.

“It’s a big motivation to keep pushing, and keep creating a feel,” he added. The competition workshop was described as an inspiring experience not just about designing, but also about exchanging ideas and feeding off the creative energy of others. The teamwork and diverse perspectives made it memorable. As he put it, “COTA, College of the Arts has character behind all its art programs,” a sentiment that clearly shines through in both his work and his journey.

Looking ahead, COTA plans to launch a new training module that blends craft, design and entrepreneurship which will ensure that future creatives will grow from the networks and skills sparked here.