On one side, three innovative young companies selected for their entrepreneurial vision and their ability to transform the way we live and interact with objects. On the other, seven South African designers and studios chosen to represent one of the most promising creative scenes of the moment.

Through these initiatives, Maison&Objet continues its mission: to reveal the talents who will shape the future of decoration, design, and the art of living.

Light Sculpture - AMOEBA_Studio Lloyd ©DR

For the 2026 edition of the Rising Talent Awards, Maison&Objet Pulse celebrates South Africa, a thriving creative territory whose design scene is now shining far beyond the African continent.

Between Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, a new generation of designers is developing singular approaches where cultural heritage, craftsmanship, innovation, and contemporary storytelling converge. Traditional know-how engages in dialogue with new technologies, local materials, and the challenges of tomorrow.

In partnership with Decorex Africa, Maison&Objet assembled an international jury of experts to select the most promising talents from this rapidly evolving creative landscape.

The Rising Talent Awards 2026 winners are:

ASHLEIGH LLOYD - STUDIO LLOYD

Based in Cape Town, Ashleigh Lloyd transforms traditional crochet into monumental lighting pieces. Her work combines artisanal excellence, women's empowerment, and a sculptural approach to light.

OAGENG MANANA & TSHEGOFATSO RAMOTHIBE - MEETLO STUDIO

From Johannesburg, the duo creates contemporary furniture informed by local cultural references and a reflection on memory, functionality, and storytelling.

SIMPHIWE MLAMBO

Interior architect and designer Simphiwe Mlambo creates objects that translate traditional South African craftsmanship into a contemporary language where storytelling plays a central role.

TANISHA NEILL - N I S H

Through N I S H, Tanisha Neill develops a distinctive formal language inspired by her background in contemporary dance. Her work explores movement, rhythm, and the emotional relationship between object and user.

MARTIN TALLIE & ZANI ALBERTS - DEFT STUDIOS

The founding duo of DEFT Studios advocates a sustainable approach to furniture design, where craftsmanship, emotion, and transmission become essential values.

SIYANDA MBELE - PINDA INTERIOR DESIGN

Drawing on both Zulu heritage and contemporary aesthetics, Siyanda Mbele creates graphic and colorful works that celebrate South African cultural identity.

KARLIEN VAN ROOYEN

Talent Craft presented by Ateliers d'Art de France

A former environmental activist turned ceramic artist, Karlien van Rooyen develops a sensitive practice centered on landscape memory, materiality, and the relationship between humans and nature.

Simphiwe Mlambo ©DR

Light and dark brown shelf  DEFT Studios ©DEFT Studios

A stool G I G I

Counter Backless_N I S H ©DR

For its 7th edition, Future On Stage confirms its role as a talent accelerator and a privileged observatory of innovation within the home and lifestyle sector.

Under the presidency of Vincent Lhoste, Managing Director of Maison&Objet, a jury composed of experts in design, retail, trends, and media selected three companies whose approaches illustrate the major transformations shaping the industry today: environmental responsibility, new materialities, innovation in use, and the pursuit of emotion.

The three winners will benefit from exceptional visibility at Maison&Objet Pulse, taking place from September 10-14, 2026, as well as from a dedicated support program.

© Baguette Studio

BAGUETTE STUDIO (France)

Founded in 2025 by Emma Lohner and Philippe Gaud, Baguette Studio reinterprets industrial processes through a handcrafted and circular approach. The duo has notably developed a rotational molding technique using plant-based wax and beeswax to create sculptural lighting pieces. Combining technical innovation, environmental commitment, and object storytelling, the studio offers a new way of thinking about manufacturing.

© Risette

RISETTE (Netherlands)

Founded by César Moncaut following his studies at Design Academy Eindhoven, Risette develops a joyful and interactive universe inspired by Dutch design. Cardboard and paper lamps, corner mirrors, and narrative objects form a creative vocabulary in which color, playfulness, and interaction become central elements of the user experience.

© Lightmass

LIGHTMASS^ (United Kingdom)

Created by Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay, founders of Raw-Edges, LightMass^ explores a new generation of lighting in which light itself becomes material. Through ultra-light structures made from LED bundles and translucent mesh, the collection creates sculptural volumes that redefine space with poetry and minimalism.

Through this selection, Future On Stage illustrates the emergence of a design culture in motion-one that responds to contemporary challenges while offering new aesthetic and functional experiences.

One shared ambition : revealing the talents of tomorrow

Through Future On Stage and the Rising Talent Awards, Maison&Objet more than ever reaffirms its role as an international platform dedicated to discovering, supporting, and promoting the next generation of creators.

Bridging entrepreneurial innovation and the emergence of new international creative scenes, these programs offer a tangible vision of tomorrow's design: more responsible, more open, more experimental, and deeply connected to the major issues shaping our time.

From September 10 to 14, 2026, visitors to Maison&Objet Pulse will have the opportunity to discover these talents at the heart of the Design District and explore the new perspectives they bring to the worlds of home, design, and the art of living.

Contacts Presse
S2H Communication Paris | Miami | Milan | NYC
Sarah Hamon - sarah@s2hcommunication.com

Irene Semeraro - irene@s2hcommunication.com