Mr
Thabo Nkosi
Collab lead based in Durban.
What Thabo looks after day to day
Mr Thabo Nkosi is the Collab lead at Creation Africa, based in Durban. His days are filled with moving between the studio floor and regional partners, arranging joint fabrication work or fielding queries from designers looking to adapt our standard forms. He often starts the morning in the Durban humidity, sorting which pieces need to go out for finishing to a local powder-coater or which timber for a new run of Baobab Lamps is ready for transport up to Woodstock in a bakkie. Thabo keeps the conversation going between local artisans and the main atelier, making sure raw brass for Maker Mark orders is sourced on time, and visiting small workshops from Amanzimtoti to Pietermaritzburg to check joinery for the next batch of Studio Benches.
How Thabo works with clients and makers
On project requests for items like Karoo Screens or Foyer Plinths, Thabo is the one who connects with interior architects, especially when a space calls for a tweak on our usual height or a different powder-coat shade to match a Lowveld lodge entrance. He takes the client’s sketches or mood boards, sits with our Durban partners and then brings back a physical sample or offcut for feedback. Thabo also manages collaborative projects with local ceramicists for custom Studio Jigs, working hands-on with clay at the potter’s wheel to test new shapes. If a hospitality client from Ballito needs a set of Veld Trays in a custom oak finish, Thabo organises the workshop visit and arranges delivery once everything passes his quality check.
When to ask for Thabo by name
Contact Thabo when you need something out of the ordinary, or you want to involve a local Durban or KZN craftsperson in the making process. He is the go-to for collaborations that mix our standard forms with a regional twist, or when a project requires a hands-on site visit in the province. If your subject line mentions Baobab Lamp colour customisation, joint ceramic commissions, or anything involving a new partnership or third-party artisan, put Thabo’s name up front and the email will reach him. His direct insight into our KZN channels and his knack for troubleshooting means your request won’t get lost.
- Custom finishes or sizes for Veld Tray, Studio Bench or Karoo Screen
- Collaboration ideas with Durban-based artists or makers
- Site visits, installation queries or material sourcing in KZN
- Requests involving joint projects with local foundries or woodworking studios