Laphroaig
Design a sensory tasting kit for the iconic single malt Scotch, Laphroaig.
The sensorial kit links the brand to the peaty hills of Islay through touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight, making for a memorable tasting experience wherever it is presented to the consumer.
Design and production: Studio H
Photography: Daniela Zondagh
Mamakashaka for Spotify Africa
Take the culinary lead for the Spotify Greasy Tunes Popup.
Our studio was commissioned by Mamakashaka to be the culinary lead for the Spotify Greasy Tunes Popup that runs in Braam for the month of July. We designed the menu, set up the kitchen and are in charge of the daily food service in collaboration with Chef Luyanda Sogiba from Lish Foods. We assisted BCKRDS, who designed the CI for the project, to style the food for their campaign shoot.
Menu design: Studio H
Food designer: Juwan Beyers, Studio H
Culinary execution: Jenny Ward, Luyanda Sogiba
CI design: BCKRDS
Creative Director: Wade Moonsamy
Lead agency: Mamakashaka
Project manager: Siba Mosana
Food prep for shoot: Food I Love You, Studio H
Photographer: André Badenhorst
Studio H Project managers: JC Landman, Angelique Smith
Design and curate a Dine & Design event
The inaugural Dine & Design dinner, hosted at Tiny Empire, was the opening of Design Week 2023 and a celebration of 30 years of House & Leisure and Decorex. We wanted all guests to be able to celebrate in one space, but also create a relaxed environment that felt like an intimate dinner party. So guests enjoyed starters and desserts together, and mains was served at various intimate dinner spaces, hosted and created by House & Leisure's team of editors.
Our starter course was an ode to millets. Handmade millet crisps were served in Niknaks packets, symbolising that (due to various complex reasons) maize replaced millet as a staple crop across the continent. The millet crisps were flavoured with maize chip dust made from chips that the guests brought to the dinner.
Main course was served by chef PJ Vadas and the Vadas team from Spier Wine Farm.
The dessert, prepared by the Studio H team, was a banana party - an assortment of banoffee pie, fresh bananas, banana candies, banana perfume and a banana soundtrack.
Host venue: Tiny Empire
Event hosts: House & Leisure, Decorex
Dinner party hosts: Charl Edwards, Bielle Bellingham, Sumien Brink, Karen Dudley, Tracy-Lee Lynch, Stevie Whiteman
Main course: PJ Vadas
Wine: Spier Wine Farm
Floral design: Mr Munro
Concept, starters, dessert: Studio H
Meta Creators Dinner
Design a future food menu for the Meta Creators Dinner
The starters were personalised 3D printed vegan schmear designs, based on questionnaires completed by guests before the event. Each guest received a URL version of their IRL 3D print.
The main course was a flexitarian dish with vegetables as the star and the meat as a side dish. The harissa-grilled cauliflower steak, caramelised cauliflower puree, smoked cep velouté and crispy kale was infused with rosemary smoke, served with a side of lamb noisette and lamb jus.
We intentionally designed dessert with overtly bitter notes – a fynbos soufflé with a juniper and grapefruit ice cream and grapefruit gin digestif. Guests could then sonically season their desserts to make it taste sweeter by listening to the soundtrack supplied.
Commissioned by Clockwork Media
Vegan schmear: Amma’s Creamery
Ugly gin: Pienaar & Son
Graphic design: Spook Design Co.
In a world where teaching healthy eating habits and responsible food choices to children has become more crucial than ever, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our Kids Food Studio digital recipe and activity book. This innovative and engaging document is designed to empower children aged 5 to 12, with essential skills and knowledge (from kitchen basics to the food rainbow), allowing them to foster a positive bond with food from an early age.
Kids Food Studio is more than just a resource; it's a dynamic experience that takes young learners on a food adventure.
Buy the little KIDS FOOD STUDIO recipe and activity book.
Recipes: Rowan Hackley, Kabelo Tala, Juwan Beyers
Graphic design: Casper Schutte
Embassy of Food, Dutch Design Week 2017, Curated by Marije Vogelzang
A speculative project imagining the food system in a world where we have only sea water. This project was named by Dezeen as one of 10 most sustainable future foods at DDW 2017.
Following from the installation, Studio H hosted a number of waterless dinners, which imagined the future of food if the water used for agriculture was sea water. The menu included items like fried ostrich egg, strawberry camel milk ice cream and carrot fruit loops. Paired with this were water wise beverages, such as waterless cocktails and beer brewed with sea water.
Crowd-sourced food design: Hannerie was a speaker at the 2022 Design Summit at 100 Percent Design Africa. As part of her presentation the audience took part in a crowd-sourced food design experiment. The Happy Cake Project in collaboration with Sweet LionHeart, aimed to design the world’s happiest cake. At the Summit we presented a Beta version of the cake for everyone to taste: Kefir and cacao nib chocolate cake with honey and mucuna Swiss meringue buttercream. We asked the audience to design version 2.0 of the cake with us by voting for various options through a cloud-based platform. The audience voted that the next cake would be:
Cake flavours: Dark chocolate (1st choice) and Sourdough honey (2nd option)
Filing and icing: Bee pollen buttercream (1st choice) & Lavender buttercream (2nd option)
Colour: Yellow
Eaten with: Your hands
Listen while eating: Happy by Pharrell Willliams
Caesarstone
Design and produce the awards ceremony for the annual Caesarstone Student Designer Competition. This year, students were invited to create a conceptual and functional design to AMPLIFY an Olympic urban sports centre located in Nantes Park, Athlone.
Battery Park, a vibrant urban park in the heart of Cape Town, served as the venue for the awards ceremony. The theme was brought to life through an immersive experience featuring amplified food and entertainment (including a 10-metre-long irostile, 1-metre-long sosaties and 100L of breyani), interactive elements, and an oversized newspaper showcasing the finalists' entries.
Concept, experience design, menu design, culinary curation: Studio H
Food collaborators: Seven Colours Eatery, Yoraya Nydoo
DJs: Ready D, Kixi
Graphic design: Spook Design Co.
We do in-depth trend and/or flavour presentations based on the reports that we publish. A recent presentation included a flavour immersion presentation to the global staff component of a FMCG foods business. The presentation would include a synopsis of the relevant report(s), designed specifically to the businesses' brands and objectives.
At the 2022 Food XX Awards, we honoured a group of 19 women from across South Africa - and beyond - for their outstanding contributions to the food and hospitality industry. For this event, the Studio H team designed a neutral canvas that would represent our equality-themed Awards breakfast ceremony. We collaborated with some of our favourite women in food to produce the all-neutral breakfast spread of Wild Yeast edible sourdough cracker plates, Sweet LionHeart regal cakes (bright pink on the inside) and Studio H’s souttert cakes decorated by the SLH team with cream cheese frosting and gold glitter olives, soetkoekie forks and of course Krone Cap Classique to toast our winners.
Programme MC: Khanya Mzongwana
Ayurvedic tea and meditation ceremony: Michele Mistry, Indikaap
Imphepho installation and intention setting: Ukutya
Keynote speech: Mmabatho Molefe, Emazulwini
Continental Connections: Anna Trapido
Event sponsor: Spekko Rice
Venue sponsor: Makers Landing
Awards sponsors: Spekko Rice, Krone, Nando's
Trophy plates: The Detailsmith
Publicity team: Ten X Collective
Social media team: Star Shongwe, Zanie Nxa
Production design: JC Landman
Culinary design: Juwan Beyers
Photos: Daniela Zondagh
Floral design: Mr Munro
Sonic seasoning is one of our favourite tools when designing experiences. The term “sonic seasoning” refers to the deliberate matching, or pairing, of sound/music with taste/flavour in order to enhance, or modify, the multisensory tasting experience.
Photos: Alix-Rose Cowie, Jade Ruijzenaars
In December 2023, we at Studio H were thrilled to unveil our 2024/5 Future Food Report during a series of presentations at our Tiny Empire office. As aspiring leaders in culinary innovation, these sessions provided a detailed exploration of upcoming gastronomic trends. Our approach involved comprehensive research, data analysis, and expert insights, all of which were shared with enthusiasm and great OPTIMISM - one of the very prominent themes. The presentations were not only informative but interactive, featuring a flavour museum, a pop-up shop, in-session tastings and a hot sauce workshop. This event underscored our commitment to staying ahead of culinary trends and showcased the dedication we bring to the intricate world of food design.
The team
Concept, experience design, menu design, culinary curation: Studio H
Food collaborators: Ever Peckish, The Fermentary by Sepial, Sweet Lionheart, Two in a Bush, Vinehugger, Lebanese Bakery
Graphic design: Spook Design Co.
Venue: Tiny Empire
A homage to the humble bread basket - a generous gesture set on tables throughout the world. Weaving our ancient relationship with wheat into a timeless tradition of giving.
Originally shot and produced by the Studio H team for Chips! and then syndicated in Jan the Journal vol. 3.
Production and styling: Hendrik Coetzee
Photos: Marloes Haarmans
Kove Collection
Shoot content to launch the new restaurant's menu offering on their website and social media platforms.
Restaurant menu items shot against graphic interior elements in the background. Simple pastry patters on monotone backgrounds to launch the bakery menu.
Production: JC Landman
Photography: Paris Brummer, Warren Talmarkes, Daniela Zondagh
Styling: Juwan Beyers
Anglo American
Create a disruptive future food-led activation.
We baked over 1000 millet cookies to create millet milk tart sandwiches with 3D prints for the Anglo American Mining Indaba Gala Dinner. Let’s join forces in the International Year of Millets and discover the full potential of this ancient grain to feed the world and combat climate change.
Get the recipe.
True North Events
Design and create the most spectacular edible sculptures for FOOD XX Week and our Oranjezicht City Farm takeover weekend.
Breathtaking edible art that exceeded our expectations and wowed the crowds!
Florist: Cameron Munro, Mr Munro Flowers and Tina Cloete, Tina's Floristry
Photos: Christopher James Chandler
“Re-member” is our sustainable chair submission for the Decorex chari design project. A repurposed garden chair coated with precious millet flour and hand stitched millet-stuffed pillow in reused kitchen vacuum bag. Giving back millet its seat at the table.
Chair design: Juwan Beyers
Emazulwini Restaurant
Media launch for new menu
A Millets Celebration that was attended by media and creators to experience the new Emazulwini menu, and a feature and photo shoot included in the Studio H Millets report.
Read part of the feature below.
In celebration of millets, Chef Mmabatho has embarked on a culinary journey that challenges convention. Traditionally associated with humble fare, millets are now at the heart of Emazulwini’s spring menu. It’s a surprising twist that demonstrates the restaurant’s commitment to redefining perceptions about ingredients often dismissed as ‘not fine dining.’ This departure from tradition isn't just about following a trend, it’s an act of creative reinvention. Chef Mmabatho, born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal, has chosen to explore her culinary imagination beyond her childhood recipes. While the flavours and ingredients remain rooted in her family’s culinary traditions, the millet menu allows her to step outside the confines of her own life story.
Emazulwini’s millet-centric menu features three different varieties of millets: pearl millet, fonio, and sorghum. These ancient grains form the basis of a six-course culinary journey that is both a tribute to the past and a vision of a more sustainable future. The menu is meticulously designed to reflect the essence of the spring season, offering dishes that are light, fresh, and vibrant. It’s an embodiment of Emazulwini's philosophy of celebrating the changing seasons and the abundance they bring.
One of the signature dishes, “Lucky's Star,” is a creative tribute to a South African favourite – pilchards in a can. This dish features fried sardines, roasted red pepper, tomato puree, served with a millet and spinach salad composed of pearl millet, fonio, and sorghum. To end the meal on a sweet note, Chef Mmabatho has crafted "An African Love Letter," a dessert that focuses on three foods deeply rooted in Africa but enjoyed worldwide – coffee, chocolate and millet. It takes the form of a millet chocolate tartlet, coffee crémeux, nut crumble, and cardamom and vanilla ice cream, offering a sweet symphony of flavours that pays homage to the continent's culinary legacy.
Read the full feature in our Millets Report.
Photos: Paris Brummer
Copy: JC Landman
Etienne Hanekom for Babylonstoren
One of our all-time favourite designers, Etienne Hanekom, asked us to contribute to the ‘Wine Aroma’ section of the brand new Wine Museum at Babylonstoren.
We worked with Etienne and the Babylonstore wine makers to develop a range of perfumes that represent the key flavour notes of each of their wines.
Decorex Africa
Host an inspiring media launch for Decorex Africa 2022 with snacks that resonate with designers.
We collaborated with some of our favourite food partners to create an interactive food experience that showcased both form and function. One of our highlights was the customs-shaped banana butters in collaboration with Cream of the Crop Micro Dairy.
Concept: Studio H
Mould design and production: Studio H
Butter and shaping: Cream of the Crop
Photos: Ashleigh Frans
Ten X Collective for Amazon Prime
To celebrate the premiere of Amazon Prime’s Last One Laughing in South Africa, we were asked to design and execute a menu for a South African street food village.
Embracing the opportunity to be boldly innovative with an added element of heritage and humour, we created a menu that came alive with the vibrant and energetic spirit of Amazon’s iconic blue. Canapés were elevated, flavourful treats with a nostalgic twist, packaged as tuckshop snacks – think spiced biltong zoo biscuits and Nik Naks flavoured skhokho crisps. Guests got to co-create their own kotas with a selection of toppings, and choose thick or thin, long or short at the self-service “boerie bar”. The evening ended on a sweet note with “guess the flavour”" soft serve, candy floss a 10-meter-long skopas treat. Everything in bright blue!
Concept, menu design, culinary curation: Studio H
Head chef: Jenny Ward
Food collaborators: Fifi Kusotera, Strone Henry, Charming Chef
Graphic design: Spook Design Co.
FOH Manager: Angelique Smith
Service: Blackjack Events
Event production: Until Until Events
100+ Flavours is a report of South Africa’s iconic ingredients, recipes, cooking methods and culinary tools. It showcases the overlapping influences – ancient and modern, urban and rural – that have created regional and cultural variations on shared themes – vetkoek meets magwinya, tšhotlo fuses with fynvleis, and bunny chows become kota and spathlos. The report highlights – in a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand way – the major impact that the ravages of colonialism, apartheid, poverty and dispossession have had on who consumes what, where and how often in South Africa. It also draws attention to the insightful social, economic, political, and psychological local stories that are infused into every spoon of soured sorghum ting and each bite of biltong. There is a tale to be told through every mouthful of mebos and each crunch of madzhulu termites. And there are ancestral acknowledgements in every sip of amasi, boegoebrandewyn and umqombothi.
Concept: Studio H
Copy and research: Dr Anna Trapido
Copy editing, publishing: Hannerie Visser, JC Landman
Styling: Juwan Beyers
Photography: Ashleigh Frans, Daniela Zondagh
Graphic Design: Hoick
Our team recently gave a talk at 100% Design in Cape Town and Joburg on the Future Talks stages. The food fight-themed talks were an investigation into the ways in which one could use food to draw attention to global problems in our food system, and hopefully find solutions too.
WCellar (Woolworths)
Create an immersive in-store display for the redesigned WCellar store in Hout Bay.
An interactive, tactile Masterclass detailing the process of champagne making – from grapes to bubbles, accompanied by an olfactory flavour pairing station.
Concept, Design and Creative Direction: Studio H
Props and styling: Studio H
Basic structure build: Happinest
Installation: Studio H and Happinest
Graphic design: Casper Schutte, Spook
Special thanks: Hendrik Coetzee
FOOD XX, founded by Studio H in 2018, is a movement dedicated to empowering and celebrating women in the food and drinks industry.What is FOOD XX WEEK?Because one day just isn't enough, we've expanded FOOD XX into a four-day programme of epic events and collaborations. FOOD XX WEEK offers an interactive opportunity to celebrate women-owned food & drinks businesses. It will also mark the launch of the FOOD XX City Guides - Studio H’s ever-growing directory of businesses and programmes that highlight women entrepreneurs.
The week culminates with the FOOD XX Market on 29 & 30 July at the Oranjezicht City Farm Market. This iconic (and woman-owned) weekend destination is putting their best femme forward by showcasing their incredible women entrepreneur network. Food enthusiasts can expect a feast for the senses, wine tastings, special menu collaborations, cooking demos, book signings and more. Check out the lineup below and on @fxxd_xx, and visit the socials of the various businesses listed for more info.
This calendar has been specially curated for FOOD XX WEEK and involve layers of collaboration between many businesses:
26 JULY: Preparty at Leo's Wine Bar x Mondvol Soet x Austen Gorden
27 JULY: Intimate book signing with Khanyisa Malabi at JAN Innovation Studio
27 JULY: Getting Bubbly! Genevieve MCC & Ever Peckish collaboration
27 JULY: Sepials Kitchen Workshop - Gochujang and (her famous) Korean Fried Chicken
28 JULY: Popup dinner with Chef Jenny Ward at Hope Distillery cocktail bar, StrangeLove
29 JULY: Utano Kitchen's Vegginista plant-focused cooking class at Makers Landing
29 JULY: Odd Plate Fundraising Lunch with NOSH at Oakfield Farm
29 JULY: Conversations and revival through food with Folio and Food I Love You
30 JULY: Beijing Opera takeover at Acid Wine Bar for Last Sunday Art Brunch celebration
30 JULY: Cocktails vs Food - A heritage-inspired feast at One Park
30 JULY: Book signing with Loubie Rusch at OZCF
30 JULY: Cake creative - build your own cake with The Velvet Cake Co
29 & 30 JULY: FOOD XX at OZCF Market - a spectacular culmination
Pedersen + Lennard
Conceptualise and prepare a lunch menu for a team of designers participating in the Design Week Challenge with a focus on sustainability, recycling and/or up-cycling that captures the essence of collaboration.
STARTER
3D-printed food waste dip served with ‘plastic’ veggie chips and crackers.
MAINS
Collaborative Sosatie: We asked the design team a few fun questions prior to the event to help us create giant sosaties that represent everyone’s favourite ingredients and flavours — one of the highlights included goat meat. These were braaied on site to perfection by Chef Thabisho Sechogela.
Cricket Flour Irostile: Larger-than-usual irostile infused with cricket flour accompanied by cultured butter.
Shake and Rake Salad: Inspired by Fluxus artist Alison Knowles, we recreated her performance ‘Make A Salad’ which was first performed back in 1962. We got the design team involved and hands-on in ‘shaking’ and ‘raking’ (again) a larger-than-life coleslaw.
DESSERT
DIY Trifle: A next gen dessert giving new life to cake off-cuts donated by our baker friends from Crumb Boutique Bakery and Sweet Lion Heart.
DRINK
G&Sea: In collaboration with Pienaar & Son, a reimagined gin and seawater sourced right from the Atlantic Ocean.
Studio H
Chef: Thabisho Sechogela
G&Sea: Pienaar & Son
iRostile: Ou Meul Botrivier
Cultured Butter: Cream of the Crop
Cake Offcuts: Crumb Boutique Bakery and Sweet Lionheart
Photos: Samuel Jordan @samsamsamesam
Thank you Pedersen + Lennard for the inspiring brief and the opportunity to work with your incredible team!
Studio H is aiming to collate the world's biggest database featuring women-owned and women-led food and drinks businesses from South Africa and Africa, nominated by our community and curated by us.
Nominate your favourite women in food.
V&A Waterfront Makers Landing
Create a food-themed installation for Makers Landing
We collaborated with Mikateko Media during the Makers Landing Seafood Fest to design an installation that would highlight the plight of South African fisherwomen.
With UWC PLAAS, Mikateko published a book, Beyond The Blue - Women of the Sea, that documents the lives and livelihoods of 17 women who give a snapshot into the world of fishing rights complexities, entrepreneurship, motherhood, and making a living from the sea.
We combined an installation of portraits from the book with an existing Studio H project, Visnetten, that just returned from The Netherlands. Visnetten was on show at @museumrijswijk in The Hague until the end of January 2022 as part of the show “Food For Thought”. Recipe cards attached to embroidered fishing nets tell the story of a broken food system and the invisible people, often women, in that system. Visitors are encouraged to remove the cards with seafood recipes to expose the embroidery.
Mikateko Media and Koe’sister magazine: Ingrid Jones, Desiree Johnson, Roxanne Holman, Leane Feris
UWC PLAAS: Prof Moenieba Isaacs
Recipes: Koe’sister magazine
Fisher women: Solene Smith, Nadiema Jacobs, Katrina Ahrendse, Sarah Niemand, Betsie Lawrence, Charmaine Daniels, Rose Malan, Fatiema “Poppie” Kok, Michelle Singh, Carmelita Mostert, Rovina Europa, Porche Sebonka, Emily Newman, Mary Hull, Francis Oerson, Sharon Kruger, Taitum-Lee Manual
Embroidery by Keiskamma Art Project: Veronica Betani, Nombulelo Paliso, Bonelwa Paliso, Setyenzwa Mangwana, Esethu Makubalo, Nokuzola Mvaphants, Thabisa Gusha, Fikiswa Madlingozi, Sanela Maxengana
Graphic design: Casper Schutte, Spook Design
Installation concept and design: Studio H
Photos: Daniela Zondagh
By far one of our favourite toys, we use our 3D food printer to create future food menus for clients for a range of activations from intimate dinners to large-scale expos and banquets. Our 3D food printer, the only of its kind in Africa, is a great way to amplify a future-forward strategy.
In the near future, 3D food printing could allow consumers to print food with customised nutritional content, tailored specifically to their individual dietary needs. So, instead of eating something mass-produced, a person could soon consume something designed for their particular needs and tastes, on demand.
Imagine the next ‘ready-to-eat’ meals as cartridges of food printed into shapes determined by downloadable designs.
Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery
Shoot content for the restaurant and bakery, as well as their Festive offerings.
The restaurant and bakery items were photographed against simple but striking backgrounds, using various plates & trays, and pastries to create eye-catching patterns.
Production: JC Landman & Hannerie Visser
Photography: Daniela Zondagh
Styling: Sumien Brink
Sensory FX
Create a mechanism for us to showcase the way in which we develop flavours.
We designed an olfactory experience for Sensory FX to showcase their flavour creation journey in a memorable way. The experience included various olfactory touchpoints and immersive moments. We based our design on research by neuroscientists, proving that stronger memories are formed the more a person participates in a particular activity and the more senses are engaged.
Studio H
Studio H designed an interactive installation, Don't Feed The Birds, to launch our Millets Report in the Future of Design area at Decorex in Cape Town. We wanted to highlight that millets are mostly only available as bird feed in our supermarket aisles. Our stand navigated visitors through a collection of bird baths by Kassa Studio, that were filled with either bird seeds or millet brownies (for human consumption).
Project Manager: JC Landman
Concept: Hendrik Coetzee, Juwan Beyers
Floor vinyl design: Hoick
Bird Baths: Kassa Studio
Photos: Paris Brummer
Moët & Chandon
Studio H has been the lead agency on the Moët & Chandon Golden Tree project for a number of years, driving the structure design and launch events.
In 2017, 2018 and 2019 the tree consisted of 1680 empty champagne bottles that were collected from across the country and carefully re-used to make a 10-meter-high tree by 15 people over 17 days. 15 300 LED lights were used in 26 concentric rows to create the light.
Most recently, in 2021, a new tree design was launched at Nelson Mandela Square. It was an evening as memorable as it was celebratory in the City of Gold, as Moët & Chandon brought its unique savoir-fête to open South Africa’s festive season in style at the Moët & Chandon Golden Tree opening celebration at Tang Restaurant, attended by the country’s leading celebrities and dignitaries.
Festivities began with a musical performance by SAMA winning artist Simmy who entertained guests with her hit song Sonini. As is custom, Moët & Chandon included iconic South Africans in the experience – this year with Zozibini Tunzi, global humanitarian and Miss Universe 2019, alongside SA cricket captain Temba Bavuma. Black Coffee’s brilliant surprise performance ended the evening with an atmosphere few will forget.
The new Moët & Chandon Golden Tree, poised to offer perfect golden reflections of the Sandton skyline, is a sight to behold. Golden baubles adorn the tree’s gleaming metal exterior, while (for the first time) the interior opens to offer guests a truly immersive experience. Expect a show-stopping chandelier, crafted from 1,400 Moët & Chandon bottles, hanging delicately over a custom-designed champagne cork floor.
Concept: Studio H
Architect: Stephen Hitchcock, Stretch Architects
Studio H: Hannerie Visser, JC Landman, Hendrik Coetzee, Elena Schutte
Styling: Klara van Wyngaarden
Logistics: Dirkie van der Merwe, Henk van der Schyf
Reveal moment: Tiaan Schutte
Venues: TANG Sandton, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton City Mall
Staffing: Holla’
Travel: JetSet-Go
Nando’s
Conceptualise a strategy that would celebrate the launch of two new Nando's Bag ‘n Bake flavours.
The new flavours have inspired a selection of #PERiTricks recipes that puts a fresh spin on some of South Africa’s favourite foods and ingredients. And as part of the launch, customers got to discover these recipe tricks at a popup in Braamfontein. Think super fun recipes made in a tumble dryer, air fryer or even with an iron.
As the lead creative agency on the product launch, Studio H was responsible for creating and managing the concept, developing the recipes and directing and producing the recipe video content for the project. The studio collaborated with some of the finest local talent to make this project come to life.
This project was shortlisted for the Loeries Awards 2023. See here.
Concept and production: Studio H
Architect: Stretch Architects
Pattern design: Bonolo Chepape, Lulasclan
Video: Yellow Brick Media
Setbuilding: JMC
Culinary support team: Prue Leith Chefs
Location: 99 Juta
Graphic design: Spook Design Co., Sisanda Nxumalo
Interior photography: Marijke Willems
Laphroaig Taste Trailblazer
Create a brand masterclass for a campaign that aims to create affinity with new whisky drinkers.
A masterclass, immersive sensorial installation and lunch that introduces the brand through tales of peat, salt and fire. Guests interact with a library of sensorial elements that link to the flavour pillars of the whisky, followed by an interactive brand presentation and fire-cooked lunch menu and whisky tasting.
Concept, design and creative direction: Studio H
Venues: Cradle Boutique Hotel, Emazulwini Restaurant
Photos: Brendan Croft, Stacy Hart
V&A Waterfront, Makers Landing
Create an activation for the opening of Makers Landing.
100 Flavours was an interpretation of a what a South African Food Museum could look like. The 100 Flavours exhibition, that ran for six months at Makers Landing in the V&A Waterfront, educated and inspired visitors with a gastronomic journey through South Africa’s iconic ingredients, recipes, cooking methods and culinary tools. Visitors could discover South Africa's edible past amid archaeological evidence of the earliest cooking over fire at Gauteng’s Cradle of Humankind; savour the first feasts with prehistoric Cape West Coast shellfish midden mounds; admire the creativity of the ancient honey hunters depicted in KZN’s San rock art and then marvel in a past-meets-present epicurean experience with a wild flower honey tasting. All the while walking amongst the foundations of the pre-colonial Khoi Camissa trading station.
Concept, production and curation: Studio H
Installation production: Studio H, Ilana Swanepoel
Ingredient sourcing: Studio H and Sisanda Nxumalo
Research and copy: Dr Anna Trapido
Graphic design: Casper Schutte, Spook Design
Photos: Jan Ras, Woolworths Taste Magazine and Ashleigh Frans
Orchard on 25 for Don Julio South Africa
In celebration of World Tequila Month, we were tasked with crafting special media drops for Don Julio.
Delivery of time-sensitive Man in the Hat ice sculptures with a hidden message inside and beautifully crafted tequila box & goodies.
Studio H
Serves: 4
Serves: 4
Serves: 4 - 6
Nando's Grocery
Create a series of videos and stills with influencers to be used as content for the brand website and brand online channels.
A series of conversation-style recipe videos, each video featuring a content creator and a chef cooking a hearty, everyday meal together, inspired by local ingredients and flavours. Content creators include: William KRM, Young Ceezy, Siv Ngesi, Paballo Koza, Nabo Binase and Star Shongwe. Recipe development, video and stills production by Studio H.
Recipes included:
Producers: Hannerie Visser, JC Landman
Recipe developement: Hannerie Visser, Juwan Beyers, Strone Henry, Keletso Motau
Recipe styling: Keletso Motau
Food assistant: Ivan Masiyazi
Videography: Yellow Brick Media, Earl Abrahams
Video production and direction: Studio H
Stills: Daniela Zondagh, Earl Abrahams
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). Millet, an ancient grain, is indigenous to South Africa, and has the potential to play a major role in addressing climate change and food security. The Millets Report includes articles by many experts; from nutritional benefits by Mpho Tshukudu, recipes by Khanya Mzongwana and Tapiwa Guzha, to a humorous column by Dr Anna Trapido, a manifesto for the Sorghum Agenda by Zandile Finxa and a personal essay by Mokgadi Itsweng.
Contributors: Khanya Mzongwana, Tapiwa Guzha, Mpho Tshukudu, Mokgadi Itsweng, Zandile Finxa, Dr Anna Trapido, Lynette Botha
Copy editing: Lynette Botha, JC Landman
Table scapes in millet flour: Hendrik Coetzee
Recipe styling: Khanya Mzongwana
Millet photos styling: Juwan Beyers
Photos: Daniela Zondagh
Our studio moved into new offices with a street-facing window display just before the launch of the 100+ Flavours Report. To amplify the launch, we commissioned Hoick to activate the window space.
“Given the location on Buitenkant Street, it was an opportunity to personally and meaningfully connect with any South African that engaged. We drew inspiration from the democratic medium of classic South African TV, and the visual of screens piled up in Joshua Doore's windows, playing infomercials on repeat. The result was 8 microwave-clad TV screens displaying a selection of rotating dishes, striking a resemblance to nostalgic South African television, as well as the relatable feeling of watching your food as it heats up in the microwave. The broadcasts of rotating plates are interrupted by clips from beloved South African TV shows. A jodetert is interrupted by an Abo Mzala clip, with friends discussing the awkward noisiness of eating skopas at the movies. A skhokho is interrupted by a clip of Ina Paarman mimicking the cry of a refrigerated tomato. A bunny chow is interrupted by an Egoli clip, with Ester and Elsa mistakenly high on weed brownies, hysterically listing everything they want to eat. The window display leads the viewer to an online shop where they are able to purchase the report, but also gives passersby a moment to reflect on South Africa's diverse food culture – to see their own food culture represented, and to indulge in personal sensory memory, free of charge.” – Claire Johnson, co-director, Hoick
Take a stroll past the window at Tiny Empire in Buitenkant Street to see the display IRL.
CI design: Hoick
Window creative direction and concept: Hoick
Videography: Daniela Zondagh
Culinary production and styling: Studio H
Photos: Daniela Zondagh
Masterchef SA Season 4
Studio H was tasked to prepare contestants for the show during the two weeks leading up to production as well as with producing specialist challenges for the show.
My work "Visnetten” was on show at in The Hague until the end of January 2022 as part of the show “Food For Thought” curated by Diana Wind. Recipe cards attached to embroidered fishing nets tell the story of a broken food system and the invisible people, often women, in that system. Visitors are encouraged to remove the cards with family recipes to expose the embroidery. Also on exhibition is my grandmother and great grandmother’s recipe book that’s been in our family for more than 100 years. Fishing net bags made by Weskusmandjie were for sale in the museum shop.
This project could not have been possible without: Hilda Adams and the women whose story inspired this work.
Embroidery by Keiskamma Art Project: Veronica Betani, Nombulelo Paliso, Bonelwa Paliso, Setyenzwa Mangwana, Esethu Makubalo, Nokuzola Mvaphants, Thabisa Gusha, Fikiswa Madlingozi, Sanela Maxengana
Graphic design: Casper Schutte
Special thanks to: Michaela Howse, Tracy Lee Lynch, Hendrik Coetzee
Museum Rijswijk: DianaArnault, Astrid, Anneke and the rest of the most wonderful, helpful and passionate team of people.
Laphroaig
Create a media drop for Laphroaig.
Eau de Laphroaig – Studio H conceptualised and developed Eau de Laphroaig, a bespoke fragrance that is an ode to the peaty shores of Islay, home of Laphroaig whisky. For the bottles, we collaborated with Cape Town-based ceramicists Vorster & Braye to design a hand-crafted ceramic decanter that complements the gentle earthy notes of the perfume, and we worked with Spook design on the linen-covered packaging.
Voster and Braye
Juwan Beyers
JC Landman
Retha Ericsson
Casper Schutte, Spook
Photos and videos: Daniela Zondagh, Juwan Beyers
Atmosphere for BBC Lifestyle
When Atmosphere Communications sent a brief with all our favourite things: 🎂 + 📺 + Siba = Bake Off!
Ready Steady Bake!
Casper Schutte, Spook Design Co. helped us turn Siba Mtongana and Paul Hartmann into iced cookies
Sweet Lionheart baked the cookies and curated the baking kits
Naeema Page, The Cookie Chef designed and iced the cookies of dreams (she also has the steadiest hands in the business)
Decorex / FOOD XX / Studio H
Design a stand for Studio H at Decorex
In a bid to celebrate women in food, we created an interactive jar swop initiative with donations that went to Ladles of Love, a feeding scheme in Cape Town. The food jar exchange contained donated preserved foods, personal stories and recipes. We wanted to show that a small gesture can make a big difference because donating one jar of food can help alleviate hunger in our immediate community.
The FOOD XX Jar Exxchange also paid homage to traditions of food preservation. For centuries, women have preserved food and their cultural heritage through the age-old tradition of canning, jamming and pickling.
The stand became an exchange hub where anyone – not just women – from all over the peninsula could come to swop a jar of their preserves with a card attached sharing the story and recipe of the food in the jar. Each donor received an empty jar, to keep paying the action forward.
We were overwhelmed by donations from brands such as Bergsoom Pure Foods, who donate 1 000 jars to the project.
Photos: Paris Brummer
Styling: Juwan Beyers
Adidas
We were briefed, alongside six other artists, to re-imagine sustainable footwear for the future for the new adidas concept store in the Waterfront.
As a future food design studio, our approach is deeply rooted in exploring a sustainable future. With our micro mushroom farm, we celebrate mushrooms for their ability to perform the alchemy of transforming agricultural and other organic waste into a nutritious food source. Growing mushrooms is a unique blend of recycling, science and efficacy. This powerful combination makes them one of the most sustainably produced foods in the world.
The interior of the Stan Smith shoe has been converted into a micro mushroom farm and 3-D texture was added to the exterior of the shoe by sculpting fondant and piped royal icing flavoured with dried mushroom powder. The laces are coloured with natural mushroom dye.
Concept, micro mushroom farm and laces: Studio H
Exterior design: Sweet LionHeart (Nikki Symons)
Scape Magazine
Create three installations (including something to eat and drink) for the SCAPE Trade Show that tie in with the overarching theme of ‘What If’, where we will be pushing the boundaries of convention, unravelling the threads of possibility, and weaving narratives that bridge the gap between the fantastical and the tangible.
G&Sea
What if you could harvest or drink sea water? SCAPE & Studio H in collaboration with Pienaar & Son presents G&Sea, a salty and delicious cocktail of origin the Atlantic Ocean. This concept challenges our palate and perception, exploring the fusion of taste, sustainability, and culinary creativity through a speculative scenario of a world where consuming sea water becomes a normal part of our diets. G&Sea sparks a dialogue about a future where our culinary boundaries know no bounds, inviting us to taste the unimaginable.
Veggie Lights
What if vegetables could power lights? SCAPE & Studio H in collaboration with Mr Munro explore the possibilities of a world in which ordinary fruit and vegetables could power our grid. Imagine these seemingly ordinary pantry staples become extraordinary power sources for generations to come.
Coffee Sausage
What if we could eat our coffee? SCAPE & Studio H in collaboration with Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants present a breakfast alternative of coffee-infused sausages. Picture a world where your morning ritual takes on a whole new dimension – a daily dose of energy isn't just sipped, but savoured as a culinary delight, allowing us to reimagine our culinary traditions.
Nando's
Create a series of content for Nando's social channels (stills and video) amplifying the launch of two new Nando's Bag 'n Bake flavours.
In tandem with the launch of the Nando's #PERiTricks activation, Studio H produced content (stills and video) to support the launch of the two new Bag 'n Bake flavours. Content was published across Nando's social channels (Youtube shorts, Tiktok, Instagram, brand website) with a range of digital and IRL recipe cards. Aimed at a younger demographic, we added some non-traditional ways of cooking, should you not have access to a full kitchen as a student. Aligned with the brand's deep South African roots, all recipes celebrate local flavours, with recipe names giving a nod to iconic pop culture moments.
Some of the recipes featured are "Private Skool Skopas" (a play on Rice Krispies treats) made in a tumble dryer, "A Boerie is a plan" made with a steam iron, "iMover and Shaker", a shake-shake slaw recipe made by shaking ingredients in the Bag 'n Bake bag.
Concept and production: Studio H
Recipe development: Studio H, Keletso Motau, Strone Henry
Recipe styling: Keletso Motau
Videos: Yellow Brick Media
Stills photography: Daniela Zondagh
V&A Waterfront
Lead curator, Makers Landing
Hannerie was the inaugural lead curator and designer of this purpose-driven space that supports job creation and skills development, a space that champions small businesses and facilitates skills-sharing between credible food experts and budding entrepreneurs. Studio H is still part of the mentorship programme for tenants at Makers Landing, whereby our studio assists food entrepreneurs to scale their businesses.
Photo: Ashleigh Frans
V&A Waterfront
Studio H designed a residency programme and pop-up space at Makers Landing, introducing the next generation of chefs with a popup restaurant concept which invites rising stars to take up residency in a bigger restaurant space, giving them an opportunity to get a taste of running a full-scale restaurant.
Restaurant design: CLOUT
Interior architect: Walter Train, Tracy-Lee Lynch
Photos: Paris Brummer
Photos: Nikki Symons, Sweet LionHeart
Kove Collection
Shoot content to launch the new restaurant's menu offering on their website and social media platforms.
Menu items shot against moody restaurant interior backdrop.
Styling: Juwan Beyers, Studio H
Photos: Daniela Zondagh
Caesarstone
Design a dinner and awards ceremony for the annual Caesarstone Student Designer Competition that ties into the theme ‘From the Ashes We Rise’, a re-imagining and rebuilding of the home of the South African democracy, the National Assembly, that was destroyed in a fire.
We conceptualised an interactive dinner experience and awards ceremony that truly encapsulated the theme. This inspired live charcoal illustration, a fynbos-infused and fire-cooked meal and an interactive flower installation.
Concept, experience design, menu design, culinary curation: Studio H
Flower installation: Mr Munro
Interactive food installation collaborators: Wild Yeast, The Bread Bar , Charm’s Kitchen, Pienaar and Son, Ukhamba Beerworx
Pre-dessert performance collaborator: Mondvol Soet
Main course and dessert: Eike by Bertus Basson
Live illustration: Spook Design Co, Little Latsky
Photography: Daniela Zondagh
M-Net
Conceptualise a dinner for the MasterChef South Africa sponsons and guests for Earth Hour 2021.
Amidst accelerating climate change and staggering biodiversity loss, Earth Hour continues to inspire millions of people to take action for our planet and nature. Every year, at 20:30 on the last Saturday of March, supporters in over 190 countries and territories unite, taking action on and raising awareness of the issues facing our one home.
With MasterChef South Africa’s commitment to sustainability and the environment, it was only apt to host the official sponsor’s dinner on Earth Hour 2022. This dinner was attended by 80 of the main sponsors, associated sponsors, contestants and judges, DStv Rewards Winners, production agency and members of the media. The dinner was prepared by Chefs Mmabatho Molefe and Bertus Basson, and the canapés were served on ‘Shellegance’ by local artist Lucie De Moyencourt.
Venue: Makers Landing
Sponsors: M-Net, DStv Rewards, Pick ‘n Pay, V&A Waterfront, Makers Landing
Associated sponsors: @home, Hisense
Chefs: Eike by Bertus Basson, Mmabatho Molefe, Emazulwini
Canapé plates: Lucie de Moyencourt
Dutch Design Week
We used residue water from fermented foods from around the world as perfumes, accompanied by printer-generated food insults to encapsulate the concept that, at the core, we all eat the same.
Residue waters from traditional fermented dishes, that are deemed worthless, were packaged as a range of high-end perfumes. They highlight how valuable the microbes in foods are to the human body. This range of anti-perfumes, representing countries from around the world, was accompanied by a food insults* printer to draw attention to the fact that often, horribly, cultures are ridiculed for their most precious and proudest national dishes. This interactive installation, where visitors are encouraged to smell and taste the anti-perfumes, serves as a reminder that we all eat the same.
All the insults were gathered from actual Youtube footage.
V&A Waterfront Makers Landing
Develop a kids food curriculum
We are thankful to collaborators like the V&A Waterfront and Makers Landing who are serious about positively impacting South Africa’s food system by investing in children’s culinary education. Showcased here is a food curriculum we developed for them, aimed at teaching kitchen basics to kids between the ages of 5 and 12 — from appreciating South African flavours to the health benefits of different foods, how kitchen equipment works, the science of baking and everything in between.
V&A Waterfront
Create a brand-led activation for Moses Coffee at Makers Landing.
Studio H assisted and mentored the curation of the inaugural African Coffee Expo by Moses Coffee. At this one-day expo and celebration of the best in African Coffee, attendees had the opportunity to interact with local coffee experts and equipment suppliers through expo stands and interactive workshops, while enjoying great coffee, food and beverage pairings and live music.
Festival curation: Moses Lebofa
Festival prodution: JC Landman
Photos: Ashleigh Frans