…reveal how designers can turn culture and creativity into commerce
Imagine walking into a space that does more than just look beautiful. It is designed to keep you healthy, ensure your safety, and use materials that create local jobs and boost your nation’s wealth.
This is the experience and promise African interior designers are vowing to deliver across the continent.
At the inaugural African Interior Design Congress (AIDC), experts gathered to create a new plan for how design can drive massive development. The industry itself is already a powerhouse and growing. The Africa Interior Design Market is projected to grow at a significant CAGR of 6.7 percent from 2025-2032.
Leaders at the congress stressed that Africa must design its own future, starting from the inside out.
The problem of outsourcing
For too long, African countries have relied on imported goods and foreign ideas. This approach often neglects local materials and rich cultural identities. George Washington Karani, President of the African Council of Interior Architects and Designers (ACIAD), spoke clearly on the issue.
“Africa can never be built from outside. Most things that we usually do as Africans, we think about what is coming from outside, importation of furniture, importation of building materials, just importing, and we think that is the best,” he said.
Karani, in his keynote speech, urged Africans to see that what they already have is unique and holds a high value. He said when furniture is imported from countries like China, you are not just bringing in wood, but also their culture, their climate and yours starts to erode.“We have the best materials in the world, why are we importing inferior quality materials?,” he added.
The skills and quality hurdle
Despite a strong love for African products abroad, major gaps exist that slow down growth. Lilian Kiwanuka, President of the Interior Designers Association of Uganda (IDAU), shared her frustration during a panel session at the congress. “The people from the other countries, the non-Africans, already love our stuff, they’ve already started showing it in their shops and it’s not even being made in Africa.”
Speaking on, Kiwanuka highlighted two main obstacles, including the ability to produce goods at a large scale and, more importantly, the lack of quality finishing. Foreign buyers often complain that doors do not close properly, or the product lacks a final polish.
“The tile organization recently reached out to me to help our local tilers do finishing,” she said, showing that industry partners are already searching for solutions.
Titi Ogufere, founder of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria and Co-Convener, AIDC 2025, reinforced the need for technical partners to help close this “huge” skills gap. “We need technical schools, research labs, and cross-border collaboration to train artisans and designers to meet modern demands,” she said.
“Our universities are also stepping in, Ogufere added. “The University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University have introduced Nigeria’s first master’s programs in interior and product design, while partnerships are forming with design schools in Italy, South Africa, and the U.S.”
A new framework for growth
To solve these problems, the AIDC is creating a foundation to guide all designers. This includes new policy work, better education, and strong regulation.
Jacqueline Aki, President of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN) and AIDC Co-Convener, announced the launch of a new ‘charter.’
“This congress is a statement and a step to that initiative,” Aki said. She explained that the charter focuses on the “most basic things that we need to put in place and agree on to move our industry and our profession forward.”
The goal is to move beyond mere beauty and to design spaces that positively “impact the lives of the people who live within those spaces.”
The leaders also called on governments to see interior design as more than decoration. Karani reminded attendees that interior spaces affect people’s health and safety every day.
Similalry, Ogufere charged policymakers to support local production. “We have grass, sand, we have wood, we have all the things we need to be able to prosper, but no one is working on these items,” she noted.
Designing the future we want
The theme of the congress, “Made in Africa shaping industries, shaping futures,” captures the urgent need for action. It means training designers in Africa using African context, not just importing foreign curriculum.
Karani summarised the ultimate benefit of supporting the profession, stating “Interior design as a profession is one of the greatest employers in the world.” He explained that pushing design forward immediately creates jobs for electricians, plumbers, painters, and carpenters.
“By choosing to build from within, African nations can ensure that their homes are healthier, their products are world-class, and their economies grow stronger for generations to come, Karani said.
