EXPERIENCES
Experiences that ground us in deeper connection - within and without.
Nelson Mandela Childrens Hospital
EXPERIENCE DESIGN, WAYFINDING
Orlando was part of the team designing the interior visitor experience & wayfinding for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital - a dedicated pediatric facility serving the children of Southern Africa.
The design approach resulted in a biophilia (nature) inspired navigation system and environmental design solutions like wallpapers, graphic elements for visitor engagement. Wards were divided into natural terrains - cloud, sun, leaf, mountain to create a less stressful environment that promotes wellbeing and healing.
ARTS RESEARCH AFRICA
CREATIVE DIRECTION & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Orlando was engaged to develop the design strategy, identity and experience design to create a platform where Africans can collectively explore and define Artistic Research in Africa.
The ARA ( ARTS RESEARCH AFRICA ) project, sponsored by Mellon Foundation and hosted at WITS University called for the design of unique minimal visual identity, branding strategy, communication campaign material, a unique facebook driven community platform as well as live conference activation experiences. Now 5 years on, ARA has offered bursaries, developed a podcast and extended their reach through conference experiences.
CASCO
LAND
EXPERIENCE DESIGN, PRODUCTION
Orlando engages alternative design methodologies to explore public space. One of his ongoing collaborations with Dutch artists collaborative Cascoland has explored marginal communities throughout South Africa from Johannesburg to Durban, bringing cross disciplinary teams of artists, designers, architects and community together to create interventions in public space.
Cascoland projects/interventions/artworks are tools to be used by participants and audiences rather than artworks to be exhibited. Cascoland interventions aim to challenge and change perceptions and create awareness, not only within communities of participants and audiences, but with planners, designers, organisations and authorities as well.
FAKUGESI DIGITAL ARTS FESTIVAL
EXPERIENCE DESIGN, CREATIVE DIRECTION
Orlando was engaged over a 5 year period to deliver the visual strategy, identity and experience design for the annual Fakugesi festival celebrating the creative and digital innovation cultures of Africa.
Fak'ugesi Festival, which means “Switch it on” or “add power” offered an opportunity to develop and edgy creative direction and a brand strategy that focused on the experiential activation of the brand including - facilitated experiences like an annual call for community engaged poster design and the digital art curator bootcamp to engage African creatives in the digital innovation ecosystem in Braamfontein, Johannesburg and across the continent.
MSF & Resilience Engage
DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Orlando develops digital chat for impact experiences that explores deeper connection to enable resilience for individuals and communities. The ResiliencEngage project saw the creation of a Whatsapp based resilience chat service to inspire resilience and mental wellness for humanitarian workers in the field. Developed in collaboration with MSF Doctors without borders the app brought resilience practices to over 60 Southern African humanitarian field workers aiding them in combatting the moral injury, trauma exposure and non stop stress of their daily service to humanity.
Orlando went on to develop & design ways in which to bring the core philosophy of MSF Southern Africa to life. Together they co-created a localised visual language and localisation strategy that rolled out across the continent.
The project culminated in the development of a Whats App chat based digital support service complete with educational animations promoting resilience practices for Emergency services organizations and International Humanitarian organizations.
TRANSFORM FUTURE CITIES
EXPERIENCE DESIGN, CREATIVE DIRECTION, CURATION
Orlando curated and designed the international traveling VR exhibition showcasing the role of over 257 Local government stakeholders in the transformation of South African Cities.
The project saw the development on an interactive VR led exhibition along with custom interactive structures integrating 3D printed models of future city visions, that brought to life future urban visions of Local Government across 257 municipalities in South Africa.
The exhibition was awarded best traveling exhibition in SA by the South African Local Government Association ( SALGA) and the South African Cities Network ( SACN ).
RAW MODULAR DESIGN THINKING
EXPERIENCE DESIGN, DESIGN RESEARCH
Orlando worked with RAW to research and explore a new modular approach to conventional design thinking. The process resulted in the development of new modular design thinking methods applied to compact living structures and training experiences that bring the design research to life.
Orlando supported RAW in the development of training experiences to bing modular design thinking to life. Raw welcomed a group of 15 Architecture students from the University of Pretoria for a Plywood Design and Construction learning experience. The aim of the experience was to familiarise the students with the processes around designing and manufacturing with plywood by using contemporary modular design and machining techniques. This course is envisioned to be the first in a series of training experiences – taking the students from a basic understanding of material, modular design and manufacturing to creating parametric systems that aid in the design of multiple-use structures.
FOREST THERAPY AFRICA
CREATIVE DIRECTION & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Orlando founded and runs Africa’s first forest bathing organisation dedicated to facilitating nature connection retreats, training in forest bathing methodologies and unique experiences that enable individuals and communities to tune into the healing power of nature.
Forest therapy Africa has it’s origins in the ancient mist-belt forests of Dargle in the Kwazulu Natal Midlands. It is inspired by both traditional wisdom, and the Japanese art of Shinrin Yoku or Forest Bathing which enables us to access the healing power of the forest , body, mind and soul.
Embodiment Workshops
FACILITATED INDIVIDUAL & GROUP SESSIONS
BODY Work
Align and harmonise the body.
Combines Zen Shiatsu a 'soft form' of acupressure, Alexander Technique alignments and energy balancing techniques.
SOUND Work
Clear & balance the body
Combines Gong, Tibetan sound healing and vibrational medicine techniques.
NATURE Work
Tune in and experience the healing power of nature.
Combines traditional African wisdom and Japanese Forest Bathing (Shinrin Yoku) techniques, training and retreats.