Contemporary African design today revolves around showcasing rich traditions and identity and reclaiming disappearing cultural knowledge. Influential, yet largely low-key, names like Kossi Assou continue to shape design, using local traditions as the blueprint for creativity and, in turn, inspiring the next generation of industry leaders.
Below, we spotlight three West African names pushing African design forward.
Mali: Reimagining Form Through Craft
Cheick Diallo is a pioneering designer and architect from Mali. Over the course of his decades-long career, he’s changed the way we view African design. Since the launch of his studio, Cheick has remained committed to working with “ordinary” upcycled materials, including wire and bottle caps, which he transforms into luxurious, unique, and bold creations — pieces that defy gravity, challenge traditional forms, and move beyond regional African design codes.
In addition, his designs inspire new ways of interacting with furniture. For him, it’s about crafting items that don’t exist, while challenging everything we think we know about existing objects. “I’m not saying I’m creating a chair, but rather I’m trying to propose another way of sitting,” he revealed, explaining his creative process to Interior Design. Sleek, curved chairs, unexpected colour, cut-outs, and clever materials are all part of his expressive design language.
Nigeria and Senegal: Designing Cultural Memory
Salù Iwadi Studio was founded in 2023 by creative duo Toluwalase Rufai and Sandia Nassila. Their practice is informed by materiality, craftsmanship, and cultural memory. Each design pays homage to elements of African traditions, transforming lived experiences and customs into global collections.
For instance, their Patewo chair is named after, and inspired by, a historic Yoruba braided hairstyle of the same name. According to the brand, their mission is to blend modern innovation with historical methodologies, creating objects that preserve memory and articulate identity. The duo’s latest collection focuses on lamps and light, and their meaning in Yoruba culture, where they signify hope and ancestral presence.
Togo: A Quiet Force in African Design
You won’t find much about Kossi Assou in the mainstream media. He’s that rare artist whose work is mostly found offline, and is thus celebrated among industry insiders and design enthusiasts. Born in Côte d’Ivoire in 1958, he’s spent decades quietly shifting the continent’s design landscape — and in 2026, the world is finally catching up to his brilliant eye for design.
Working across art, sculpture, and design, Kossi’s work is often exhibited in West Africa and France, and is renowned for its depth and sense of ethereality. Blending metal and wood with fibres, his pieces explore spirituality and common rituals, resulting in fluid shapes and grounded styles that reflect African values.
His role as a mentor and teacher extends into his personal life. His gallery-like home in Togo also serves as a studio, and a space for academics, artists, and visitors who are mesmerised by his thoughtful practice.
