Why Design is the Fuel for Africa’s Innovation

Design-led industrialisation in Africa

Dr. Kenneth Ssemwogerere challenges a common assumption about Africa’s industrial future: industrialisation is not primarily a policy problem; it is a design problem.
Drawing on his expertise in industrial design, manufacturing systems, and product development, he explains why successful industrialisation begins long before production starts. From product design and manufacturing processes to skills development and industrial capability, Dr. Ssemwogerere explores the often-overlooked link between ideas and finished products.
This conversation offers a practical and thought-provoking perspective on why factories alone are not enough, why design is a form of industrial infrastructure, and what Africa must do to build competitive, self-sustaining manufacturing systems.
Watch to discover why the countries that manufacture successfully do not just make things, they design them.

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