The Craft and Design Institute

The CDI is a craft and design sector development agency with a mission to develop capable people and build responsible creative enterprises trading within local and international markets.

The CDI is a non-profit company with over 20 years of success in developing creative people, small businesses and the craft and design sector at large in South Africa. The CDI is a catalytic agent of change in the sector, and passionate about developing appropriately skilled, resourced and digitally proficient practitioners who can successfully leverage opportunities for growth and development.

The CDI currently supports over 5 500 businesses and individuals in the South African craft and design sector. The small businesses supported by the CDI range from start-ups to exporting enterprises and are based all over South Africa – from rural towns to urban centres. CDI’s services help these businesses develop the right product/service for the right market using appropriate business and production systems; and facilitates national and international market opportunities to help them grow.

Three core programmes are:

• Product Support
  Provides an environment in which designers and craft producers can further develop their existing products or prototype new products.
• Business Support
  Helps craft producers and designers to develop skills in creativity, business and production management, and marketing.
• Market Support
  Assists designers and craft producers to define and reach their targeted markets.