The Cultural Dilemma: Unlearning and Relearning

Two ideas have been ingrained in our culture as Africans: "Don’t blow your own trumpet" and "Be grateful and content with the little you have." While humility and gratitude are valuable traits, these beliefs have, in many ways, stifled our growth. We are sitting on immense potential, yet our comfort zones are holding us back. Our reluctance to showcase our skills, challenge the status quo, and demand better opportunities is a self-inflicted limitation. It’s time to shift our perspective.

The Kampala Design Podcast exists to challenge this narrative. It’s a wake-up call—a space where we push boundaries, rethink what is possible, and remind ourselves that what we have now is only a fraction of what we can achieve. Here, everything is considered design: the way we think, solve problems, and build our futures.

The Trigger: A One-Sided Narrative

Have you ever noticed that when African designers move abroad, they suddenly become vocal about their experiences? They start blogs, YouTube channels, and social media accounts documenting their journey, eager to share insights about new cultures, industries, and work ethics. While this is valuable, it also begs the question—why do we only seem to gain a voice when we leave? Why aren’t we telling our stories from where we are?

Despite the challenges we face—limited opportunities, structural inefficiencies, and economic constraints—our home countries have much to offer. Our culture, creativity, and resilience make us uniquely positioned to innovate. But we need to mobilize, collaborate, and showcase what’s happening on the ground. That’s exactly what this podcast aims to do.

Introducing the Kampala Design Podcast

The Kampala Design Podcast is here to build confident designers—designers who can compete for international gigs, think more strategically about solving local problems, and elevate the design industry in East Africa.

This podcast isn’t just about theory; it’s about action. We’ll have conversations with seasoned designers, industry leaders, and those navigating different design landscapes—from startups to government institutions to global corporations. We’ll dissect what it takes to thrive as a designer in Africa and beyond, how to break into international markets, and how to use design to drive meaningful change in our communities.

So, if you’re a designer looking to level up, an entrepreneur seeking to integrate design thinking into your business, or simply someone passionate about innovation, you’re in the right place.

Welcome to the Kampala Design Podcast—your gateway to East Africa through the lens of design.