Studio Something Something Is Rethinking Community-Led Design

Few studio names leave as much room for possibility as Studio Something Something. As its deliberately open-ended name suggests, the Johannesburg-based practice resists definition through a single discipline or aesthetic, allowing architecture, interiors and product design to exist in constant dialogue. “When I started the company, I had no clue what its form and shape would become,” says Jade Hutchinson, Founding Director. “I have always been a multidisciplinary designer, dabbling in spatial design, product design, art and making. The name itself reflects curiosity and possibility.” That philosophy extends to the studio’s visual identity. What began as a temporary scribble became its permanent logo. “It embodied the way we work: sketching, testing, questioning, refi ning and allowing ideas to evolve through iteration,” she says. “It reflects the beauty of process rather than perfection.”

This openness is particularly evident in the studio’s growing body of work in Uganda. In collaboration with Kampalabased Localworks Design & Build, it has undertaken projects spanning hospitality and education, including The Akili School, a purpose-driven boarding secondary school shaped by local knowledge, craftsmanship and materials.

“We saw this as an opportunity to create an environment that feels inherently Ugandan,” says Hutchinson. Rather than arriving with predetermined solutions, the studio prioritises observation, visiting workshops and learning how materials are traditionally used. “There’s a resourcefulness and craftsmanship born from making the most of what is available, and that mindset closely aligns with our own values around sustainability, circular design and creating with intention.”

Looking ahead, Studio Something Something hopes to continue dissolving boundaries between architecture, interiors, industrial design and craft. “We want Studio Something Something to be known not only for the spaces we create, but for the communities, partnerships and creative ecosystems we help build along the way,” Hutchinson concludes.

Credits

Text by Shai Rama

Images: Supplied