The Design Den reality show debuts to boost industrialisation, creative economy

Nigerian designers, makers, and manufacturers are in for a thrilling and engaging experience as The Design Den, a bold initiative, debuts on YouTube to empower creative entrepreneurs with financial backing, business strategy, and mentorship to scale into global markets.

The Design Den is the first-of-its-kind initiative focused on industrialising, financing and supporting designers to build an entire ecosystem where creativity meets capital and industry.

The five seasons show inspired by Design Week Lagos in collaboration with WoodHall Capital will transform design into a structured, investment-worthy sector that can drive economic growth across Africa.

Nigeria’s creative industry has long been seen as an important cultural force, and the arrival of Design Den would showcase design as a major driver of economic growth, contributing significantly to GDP, exports, and job creation.

The show, no doubt, would offer eventual winners access to tailored financing models, from venture capital to structured loans and grants; winners will also get the opportunity to shift from small-scale, handmade production to high-quality, mass manufacturing that can compete globally.

Titi Ogufere, founder of Design Week Lagos, said the design industry cannot thrive on talent and creativity alone; it needs a network of financial institutions, manufacturers, and investors committed to building a sustainable design economy.

According to Ogufere, the collaboration with WoodHall Capital will provide structured funding for designers, makers, and manufacturers, ensuring they have the resources to scale their businesses, invest in production facilities, and expand their market reach.

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She said that The Design Den is not just an initiative; it is a movement to create an industrialised design sector that attracts investment, fosters innovation, and positions Africa as a leader in global design and manufacturing.

Ogufere further said the programme was more than just a show, and that it would offer contestants financial literacy, market access, global visibility and market feedback data on the scalability of their ideas.

According to her, the role of design in economic evolution and its impact on industrialisation entails access to financing for Nigerian creatives and design-led manufacturing businesses, adding that there is also the need to build a sustainable, globally competitive “Made in Nigeria” brand.

She called on industry stakeholders, policymakers, and investors to be part of a pivotal conversation that will shape the future of Nigeria’s design economy.

Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, founder/ chief executive officer of WoodHall Capital said the decision to collaborate with design week Lagos on the show was to take this conversation beyond mere exhibition to building a narrative that showcases Nigerian designers to the world by providing access to capital, that they can develop some of the prototypes of their innovations.

Hunponu-Wusu said that to showcase African designs to the world and speed up industrialisation, funding has to start by Africans for Africans.

According to her, WoodHall, under the partnership, will help the eventual winner or winners gain market access, find off-takers and guide them through from the concept to design stage.

“This partnership will bridge the gap between design innovation and industrialisation, ensuring that Nigerian creatives and design-led manufacturing businesses receive the support they need to move from concept to commercial success, from local production to global recognition,” Hunponu-Wusu said.