Design Week Lagos 2025 celebrates African creativity and innovation, linking design with commerce in a global showcase of art, culture, and craftsmanship
Design Week Lagos 2025 is set to ignite the continent’s creative scene as Africa’s leading festival of design, innovation, and culture returns for another groundbreaking edition.
Scheduled to run from October 23 to 28, the festival will transform Lagos into a city-wide hub of inspiration under the theme “Made in Africa: Shaping Industries, Shaping Futures.”
Since its debut in 2019, Design Week Lagos (DWL) has grown into a global platform spotlighting African design excellence and connecting creativity with commerce.
Founded by Titi Ogufere, DWL continues to position Lagos as Africa’s creative capital, where innovation drives industry, tourism, and transformation.
“Design Week Lagos exists to champion the ingenuity and ambition of Africa’s creative community,” Ogufere said. “Each edition reaffirms our belief that design is a powerful language — one that tells our stories, shapes our economies, and connects Lagos to the global conversation on creativity and innovation.”
Now in its seventh year, DWL 2025 will feature over 100 activations, 20,000 visitors, and more than 250 million media impressions. The festival will include exhibitions, installations, talks, and creative experiences across Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, and Yaba.
Among the highlights are the Made by Design Show, Nigeria’s largest interiors trade exhibition, featuring over 100 premium brands such as Woodstyles, Esorae Homes, ACTIU, Mimz Interiors, and IO Furniture.
The Design Innovation Exhibition will showcase groundbreaking concepts, while the Student Design Competition, organised in partnership with Caverton Marine, challenges young designers to rethink maritime mobility.
The event also includes DWL Talks & Dialogue in Design and Development, bringing together architects, developers, and policymakers.
Featured speakers include Bibi Seck, Victoria Adesanmi, Myles Igwebuike, Yew Kee Cheong (AIA President), and Astrid Hébert (3C Awards).
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, praised the initiative, saying it aligns with Lagos State’s goal of positioning itself as a global destination for creative enterprise.
“Design Week is one of the events that celebrate the hard work of young Nigerians doing great things,” she said.
Similarly, Tola Akerele, General Manager of the Wole Soyinka Centre (formerly National Theatre), commended the organisers for sustaining a platform that continues to showcase Nigerian designers pushing boundaries with materials and ideas.
Supported by the Lagos State Government and the Federal Ministry of Tourism, the festival reinforces the growing influence of design tourism in West Africa, where creativity fuels new industries and global recognition.
With its blend of artistry, commerce, and cultural identity, Design Week Lagos 2025 is not just a festival — it’s a celebration of African design excellence shaping the continent’s creative future.
Business3 years ago
