22 FADA ANNUAL REPORT 2023 engagement project named ‘Sustain Her.’ The project’s goal was to recycle fabrics and clothes to design and create recycled menstrual pads for schoolgirls, addressing the issue of period poverty. The design of the pads was led by Ms Zanńe de Meillon, a Lecturer in the department, with construction carried out by fashion students. The ‘Mapula Embroidery Project,’ also spearheaded in Fashion Design, explores the intersection of traditional embroidery techniques with contemporary fashion design, celebrating cultural heritage while fostering creativity and entrepreneurship. The African Reclaimers Organization (ARO) Project is a collaborative effort involving various departments, including Visual Art, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Multimedia, Interior Design, and Fashion Design. This interdisciplinary initiative aims to address environmental challenges and promote sustainability through creative solutions. Jewellery Design collaborated with Sociology on a month-long Marikana Open Studio. The initiative comprised a community workshop focussing on the work done by activists from Marikana and Thembelihle. Under the banner of ‘Environmental Gold,’ the Architecture department plays a pivotal role in fostering ecological awareness and responsible practices. Simultaneously, the Industrial, Interior, and Graphic Design departments collaborate on the Play School Design Intervention Project, contributing their unique perspectives to create innovative and engaging learning spaces. Additionally, the Department of Architecture leads a registered UJ Flagship Community Engagement project involving the creation of socially relevant murals in the neighbouring community of Westbury. This three-year project, headed by Mr Alex Opper, engages Third-year architecture students and is supported by a UJ Teaching and Innovation funding grant. Collaborating with the MMC Community Engagement office in the City of Johannesburg, the project aims to beautify and uplift the community through art. Several murals have already been completed in various sections of Westbury, showcasing the transformative power of creative collaboration and community engagement. setting the stage for potential collaboration in various academic endeavours. Dr Landi Raubenheimer, representing the Design Studies Division, actively participated in a joint symposia in March and April as part of an ongoing project with the University of Cincinnati. The project, titled ‘Arts as a Global Catalyst,’ explores how students can represent their cities through art, adding a global perspective to creative endeavours. A deputation of staff and tutors led by Prof Mark Raymond of the GSA visited the Kingston School of Art in December 2023 as part of an evolving relationship that envisions a range of activities including student and staff exchange and the development of a research initiative. GSA students Olive Phiri (BArch Hons) and Titus Shitataala (MArch) attended the inaugural African Congress of Architectural Students in Kampala in October 2023. The GSA also hosted several distinguished visitors from around the world, significantly enriching academic and cultural exchanges. These included Prof Harriet Harriss (Pratt Institute, NYC, Prof Andrew Clancy (Kingston School of Art, Prof Cruz Garcia and Prof Nathalie Frankowski (Iowa State University) and Margarida Waco (Royal College of Art, London. Ilse Prinsloo and Amanda Breytenbach joined Prof Mpedi in a Vice Chancellor-led delegation to Ghent, Belgium. They visited the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at Ghent University, and the School of Arts at University College Ghent (HoGent), including the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) and the Royal Conservatory. Additional meetings took place in Belgium, including discussions with delegates from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), the LUCA School of Arts in Brussels, and Hasselt University. In Jewellery Design, Faried Nazier presented at Schmuck Fair 2023 in Munich and later participated in an artist residency at Nirox Sculpture Park. Khanya Mthethwa joined a residency in Athens followed by an exhibition at N-Art Gallery. Community Engagement Projects In a joint effort with the NGO Love our City, the Fashion Design department initiated a community
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