Johannesburg, 17 August 2022: South Africa’s biggest QSR brand, KFC, is teaming up with the University of Johannesburg in a collaborative design programme for second and third-year students. The collaboration termed, The KFC Creative MASHup will see students from the Faculty of Art Design and Architecture (FADA) participate in several unique design projects to support their dreams and elevate the young creatives.
KFC’s commitment to feeding people’s potential will once again be realised as the students seize the opportunity to develop design solutions for KFC that include interior design and associated design ideas. Inspired by local and international hospitality and retail design trends, Interior Design students will present proposals to modify the existing quick-service restaurant to provide a customer experience that supports a digitally-savvy consumer culture while keeping the distinctly KFC brand.
Supporting the design of the interior, the Graphic Design students will engage with the wayfinding and signage design, while the Industrial Design students will design unique fixtures, fittings and furniture items to complement the interior.
To further accentuate the brand in the design solution, the Fashion Design students will design attire for the front-of-house employees that will offer a modern representation of the iconic KFC brand. The design process will entail careful consideration of the functional needs of a quick-service restaurant whilst ensuring that the final creation is innovative and unique.
“KFC recognises the importance of investing in the youth of South Africa and providing them with platforms to showcase their truest ambitions and talent. We believe now more than ever; there is a greater need to focus on creating opportunities, training and upliftment programmes that enrich the lives of many – the KFC creative MASHup will be one of the many ways that we believe we can get involved,” Grant Macpherson, KFC Marketing Director.
When asked about what the collaboration means to the university, Mrs Ilse Prinsloo, the Head of the Department of Interior Design, said, “This multidisciplinary collaboration between the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Johannesburg and KFC is an opportunity for students to build on existing skills and knowledge. It gives us great pleasure as an institution of learning to bring together communities that share a passion for design, education, and youth culture. It provides students with exposure to the realistic expectations and challenges associated with quick-service restaurant design of a well-known global brand while they engage with problem-based learning that connects to real-world issues. Globally, quick-service restaurants are developing new, modernised restaurant concepts that prioritise a digital-forward and contactless customer experience to meet the challenges of the current socio-economic climate. The student briefs align to these contextual trends and challenges.”
Over and above this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the young designers stand a chance to win a mentorship programme with local South African illustration studio Yay Abe, founded by Russell Abrahams, an individual who has previously collaborated with sought-after fashion brands such as H&M.
“We look forward to seeing the creative executions from the students showcasing their talent. We hope this project is the first of many more to come in the collaboration with UJ and potentially expand to other design faculties,” concludes Grant Macpherson, KFC Marketing Director.
