THE COUNCIL for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the Eastern Cape is establishing itself at the cutting edge of South African design with the launch of a Cultural/Craft Design Industries Unit based in Port Elizabeth. “By focussing on craft and cultural industries, the CSIR is actively involved in a wide range of community development and SMME development programmes in partnership with its integrative network of service providers and partners, to transfer knowledge to people, so that they can help themselves in becoming self-supporting," says CSIR business development manager Johan le Roux. The unit is being promoted by a set of chairs - or ten “soul seats” – which will be exhibited nationally to “epitomise how successfully tribal crafts can be reinterpreted to meet today's design needs and create a look that successfully marries South African’s diversified ethnic composition,” he says. “The CSIR recognises South African crafters and their ability to use indigenous knowledge to create, innovate and reconcile tradition with the contemporary,” says the unit’s Josef Greeff. “It salutes contributors to the Cultural/Craft Industries Design Unit – anthropologists, crafters and designers from the various provinces who have shared their wealth of skill, knowledge and experience to create a truly new South African signature in the decorating world.” The new unit will also blaze a trail for contemporary South African design in soft furnishings, ceramics, jewellery, crafts, graphics, industry and textile design. The CSIR is the largest research and development and implementation technology agency in Africa with a track record spanning more than 50 years. Structured around eight distinct business areas, it delivers innovative technology solutions.