South Africa’s design scene is set to shine brighter after Nando’s announced the top 10 finalists in its 2026 Hot Young Designer (HYD) LINEAR LIGHTS competition.

Nearly 200 entries were submitted for this year’s competition, which challenged emerging designers to create a linear light fixture suitable for any Nando’s restaurant around the world.

The biennial Hot Young Designer programme, managed on behalf of Nando’s by Clout/SA, has spent the past decade helping emerging South African creatives develop their careers while showcasing local design internationally.

The 10 finalists are Kgomotso Monnakgotla, Kulani Keagile, Chelsea Makin, Rethabile Motaung, Bianca van Vuuren, Reneilwe Molala, Bradley van Graan, Anele Mkhize, Ashleigh Witney and Tshegofatso Mako.

Their designs were selected from the competitive field by a judging panel of almost 20 design-industry leaders and previous HYD winners. The judges included representatives from international design platform Maison&Objet in Paris, Mash.T Design Studio, Studio Kalki and Nando’s South Africa.

The finalists will now head to Nando’s Central Kitchen in Johannesburg, where they will pitch their concepts to the judging panel. Five will be selected to take part in the next stage of the competition.

The selected designers will develop their concepts into physical prototypes through a series of workshops, while also sharpening their entrepreneurial and business skills through a dedicated business bootcamp.

The programme will be facilitated by business coach Claude Morris, who will serve as the designers’ business design mentor.

Tracy Lynch, curator of the Nando’s Design Programme and executive creative director of Clout/SA, said being shortlisted was a significant milestone for the finalists.

The competition will now shift from concept development to prototype creation and commercialisation, allowing the designers to turn their ideas into viable products.

The eventual winner will receive a tailored business accelerator programme designed to support the growth of their design-focused business. The prize also includes mentorship, market access, showcasing opportunities and engagement with established South African designers.

If the winning product and its production process meet the requirements, the design could also be included on Nando’s Portal to Africa, a global marketplace used by interior designers who create Nando’s restaurants around the world.

Although only one designer will ultimately be crowned Nando’s Hot Young Designer 2026, previous editions have helped numerous finalists establish themselves in the design industry.

Over the past decade, the programme has become a platform for developing emerging talent while creating opportunities for South African designers to reach international markets.

The 2026 finalists now face the challenge of transforming their creative concepts into prototypes that could eventually make their way into Nando’s restaurants around the world.