Creative direction
Heritage Creative Direction
The Ninevites provides creative direction for brands and projects that want to draw on heritage with authenticity and modern design sensibility. Led by founder and designer Nkuli Mlangeni-Berg, we shape the concept, visual language and story behind products, collections and campaigns.
What heritage creative direction includes
- Concept and narrative. Defining the story your product or campaign tells and the heritage behind it.
- Visual language. Pattern, colour, material and form direction rooted in Southern African design traditions.
- Product and collection direction. Guiding textile, homeware and lifestyle collections from concept to launch.
- Collaboration management. Bringing artists, artisans and brands together around a shared vision.
Design rooted in heritage. Crafted for the future.
Since 2012, The Ninevites has worked across product design, brand collaborations, commissions and education. Our work has been featured in House & Leisure, Mail & Guardian, Wanted and Cool Hunting, and our Sankara rug won Design Indaba’s Most Beautiful Object in South Africa. Explore our brand collaborations or our mohair rug collection to see the approach in practice.
Authentic
Direction grounded in research and cultural knowledge.
Contemporary
Heritage translated into modern, desirable design.
End to end
From concept through to production and storytelling.
Need creative direction for a heritage project?
Tell us about your brand and ambitions.
Frequently asked questions
What is heritage creative direction?
It is creative leadership that draws on cultural heritage, history and tradition to shape a brand, product or campaign in a way that feels authentic and contemporary.
Do you work with agencies?
Yes. We can work alongside your agency or in house team as a specialist creative partner.
Can you produce the products as well?
Yes. For textiles we can take a project from direction through to handcrafted production.