The Jewellery and Gemstone Association of Africa (JGAA) unveiled the winners of its Design Dynamic Competition at GemGenève 2026, showcasing the diversity of contemporary African jewellery design. The competition invited designers from across Africa and the African diaspora to reinterpret the future of jewellery through the lens of birdlife, movement, colour, and symbolism.
Winning Projects
The winning projects were selected across three categories: Computer Assisted Design (CAD), Celebrating the Art of Gouache, and Hand Rendered Design. The concepts drew inspiration from some of Africa’s most remarkable bird species, resulting in designs rich in narrative, cultural meaning, and technical creativity.
Founded in 2024 by Longo Mulaisho-Zinsner, the JGAA was established to support the growth, visibility, and professional development of Africa’s jewellery and gemstone sector. Design Dynamic builds on that mission by creating opportunities for emerging and established designers to present their work on an international stage while celebrating African creativity through contemporary design.
Computer Assisted Design
The CAD category demonstrated how digital design tools can translate the natural world into ambitious contemporary jewellery concepts. Nomonde Zwane, a freelance jewellery designer from Eswatini, was one of the winners in this category. Her inspiration was the Hoopoe, known locally as uMzolozolo, a bird instantly recognisable by its fan-shaped crest and long curved beak.
Another winner in the CAD category was Brazilian designer Eduardo Moreno Nery Vieira, who participated as part of the African diaspora. His inspiration came from the Purple-crested Turaco, a spectacular bird native to eastern and southern Africa known for its iridescent green plumage, vivid purple crest, and flashes of crimson revealed only in flight.
Celebrating the Art of Gouache
One of the most distinctive aspects of Design Dynamic was its decision to celebrate gouache, the traditional medium that has long served as the visual language of jewellery design.
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Hand Rendered Design
The Hand Rendered Design category highlighted the enduring power of drawing as a tool for storytelling.
For Mulaisho-Zinsner, Design Dynamic is as much about visibility as it is about artistry. The JGAA’s vision is to see a truly dynamic African jewellery and gemstone industry — one that reflects the diversity, creativity, and brilliance already alive within it. The winning concepts are now moving into production, with the JGAA’s growing network of sponsors and partners, including Moyo by Piat and Maison Piat, whose gemstones will be incorporated into some of the creations.
The next chapter of Design Dynamic will see these ideas transformed into finished jewels, bringing together designers, gemstone partners, and manufacturers to realise the winning visions. This development will likely have a significant impact on the people involved in the African jewellery and gemstone industry, as it provides a platform for them to showcase their talents and connect with a global audience.
The winning designs reveal the extraordinary breadth of talent emerging from Africa and its diaspora. While united by a common theme, each designer approached the brief from a unique perspective, drawing on personal histories, cultural traditions, local ecosystems, and individual creative voices. The completed creations will reveal how those ideas translate from paper and screen into reality — and how the JGAA’s ambition to bring African talent to a global audience continues to take shape.
They will continue to support the growth of the industry.
