Dakota Design is an international
award-winning design and interior architectural practice.
We have a passion for creating memorable experiences that surprise and delight both our clients and their customers. From bustling retail outlets to tranquil luxury safari lodges and spas, our aim is to imagine the best experience we can and then bring it to life.
We believe design should be rooted in a firm understanding of our clients’ goals, the essence of their brands and the needs of their customers.
Our practice is known for delivering real-world solutions designed to meet 21st-century challenges.
Services
- Architecture
- Interior Architecture
- Interior Design
- Interior Decoration
- Project Co-ordination
- Consultancy
Sectors
- Retail
- Commercial
- Hospitality + Leisure
- Corporate
- Residential
Design
- Full turnkey solutions
- Trend research
- Concept Design
- Space planning
- Hospitality design
- Guest room design
- Public space design
- Customer circulation
- Retail space planning
- Merchandise planning + adjacencies
- Visual Merchandise planning
- FF+E Specification
- Wayfinding
- Graphics and Signage
- Visual Merchandise communication
- 3D Visualisation
Documentation
- Cost management
- Technical documentation
- Shop drawings
- Consultant liaison
- FF+E specification and sourcing
- Value engineering
Co-ordination
- Project administration
- Project management
- Site management
- Site administration
- Site Surveys
- FF+E procurement
- Lease compliance
- Landlord submissions/liaison
- Council submissions/approvals /OC
- Interior construction
- Shop fit commission, supervision and installation
- Logistics management
Internationally, our designs can be found in numerous business sectors including retail, hospitality, leisure, corporate and finance. Our team brings together individuals skilled in a number of diverse disciplines, from a background in architecture and interior architecture to brand marketing, retail design and project administration.
From hotels for international operators in Sandton and Lagos to flagship, boutique and national retail roll-outs for international fashion, jewellery and lifestyle brands, our broad skill set allows us to take on a wide range of projects within the retail and hospitality industries.
Brand
expression
Passion
for design
Integrated
design
Our Interior Architecture and Interior Decoration divisions work synergistically to ensure our projects dovetail seamlessly to produce results that are far greater than the sum of their parts.
So, if like so many of our clients you want to work with a team that knows how to deliver innovative designs that make a significant and measurable contribution to your bottom line, then please give us a call or drop us a mail.
Process
Explore
Brief
During the briefing phase, we will immerse ourselves in your Brand as well as gain a thorough understanding of the business drivers behind your brief. This is often an opportunity for us to add real value by sharing insight born of hard nosed business experience.
Excite + Create
Concept Design
Design Development
Specification + Signage
Our award-winning creative teams, whose design experience spans the globe from New York to Japan, know that we work in an industry where you're only as good as your last project. It's this knowledge and the desire to continue to be the best that ensures that you get the very latest thinking on every project we undertake for you.
Define + Refine
CAD Drawings
Working Drawings
Prototypes + Sourcing
This phase is critical as it represents the point where the design vision is translated into a blueprint on which all manufacturing and construction will be based. The accuracy of this translation not only affects the look + feel of the design, but by implication also the timings and budget. We insist that the lead conceptual designer works closely with the CAD team to ensure a faithful interpretation of the concept. We also work with our manufacturing partners to develop, prototype and value engineer our designs for your sign-off prior to going to production.
Facilitate
Project Administration
Occupational Certification
Landlord Submissions etc.
Project administration is about being super organised before, during and after manufacture, and construction. It's about knowing which of a hundred documents needs to be submitted to whom and by when. It's about building relationships through excellent communication. We take the headache out of project administration by keeping it entirely in-house. All you need to do is sign the tenancy agreement and we take care of the rest.
Manifest
Build + Install
Execution is everything. Even the best designs can only be realised through masterful execution. All the effort that has gone into getting the designs to this point hinges on the quality of the build phase. That is why we prefer to offer a Full Turnkey service. One where we take on the responsibility for delivering your vision from concept through to the handing over of the keys.
Incorporate
Review + Refine
We develop flagship concepts which are often rolled out nationally and internationally. As part of this process we will value engineer the designs to suit the profiles of individual roll-out sites. Thereby delivering fit-for-purpose solutions designed to suit location specific budgets.
A significant proportion of our income is from repeat business. Our clients know that design is an iterative process and as part of our service, we make a point of continually reviewing and refreshing our designs . This allows us to incorporate the feedback we receive and to ensure that the designs remain current and relevant.
Clients
Agricultural
- Agrico
Bookshops
- CUM Books
- Exclusive Books
- Van Schaik Books
Consumer Electronics
- Dion Wired
- HiFi Corporation
- Incredible Connection
- Vertu
Corporate
- Busby Offices
- Cotton On Head Office
- Gottschalk Attorneys
- M&T Office Building
- Saro Head Office Nigeria
Cosmetics
- Clarins
- L'Oreal
- Lancôme
Duty Free
- Ango Duty Free
- Big Five Duty Free
- Capi Duty Free
- Circle Way Trading
- Gebr. Heinemann
- Paradise Mauritius Duty Free
- Paragon Duty Free
- Tourvest
- Uganda Duty Free
Fashion
- Banana Republic
- Exact
- Eyami
- Fabiani
- FCUK
- GAP
- Keedo
- Levisons
- Oaktree
- Old Khaki
- Poetry
- Pringle of Scotland
- Stuttafords
- Ted Baker London
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Tread+Miller
- Zinotti
Grocery
- Market Square
- Pick n Pay
Homeware
- @home
Hospitality + Leisure
- Legacy Group
- Mirage Leisure & Development
- Portugal Private Penthouse
- Rani Resorts
- Rescon Properties
- Rezidor Hotel Group
- Ridgeway
- Sabi Sabi
- Seychelles Private Villa
- Southpoint Properties
- Sovereign Hotels
- Sun International
- Tecnocarro S.A.
Jewellery
- American Swiss Jewellers
- Arthur Kaplan Jewellers
- Dennis Collins
- HDL
- Makgala Jewellers
- Sterns
- World’s Finest
Lifestyle & Entertainment
- Boss Gaming
- Cape Union Mart
- Carrol Boyes
- Decathlon
- Nu Metro Cinemas
- Terenzos
- Trek Cycles
- Viva Cinemas
- Wellness Warehouse
Restaurants
- 011 by The Baron
- Casa Bella
- Chai Tang
- Fratelli Foods
- Harbour House
- La Parada
- Old Town Italian Restaurant
- Panarottis
- Remos Italian Restaurant
- Root 44
- The Dutch Bar & Restaurant
- Tiger's Milk
- Vinny’s Bistro
Telecommunications
- Vodacom
Training and Education
- Edge Business School Campuses
- Gordons Institute of Business Science
- Unilever
Workwear
- Javlin Workwear
Awards
2023
- INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY AWARDS
- Best Hotel Suite Interior - South Africa - Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge Amber Villa - 5 Star Award Winner
- Best Retail Interior - South Africa - Poetry Store Tyger Valley - 5 Star Award Winner
2020
- INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY AWARDS
- Hotel Interior South Africa - Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge - Award Winner
- RETAIL DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
- Retail Store Design - Cape Union Mart Fourways - Finalist
- CANAL WALK - RETAIL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
- Best New Store (Anchor) - Cape Union Mart - Winner
- Best New Store (Women's Fashion) - Poetry - Winner
2019
- INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY AWARDS
- Best Retail Interior South Africa - Dion Wired - Winner
2018
- INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY AWARDS
- Best Retail Interior South Africa - Exclusive Books Ballito Junction - Winner
- Best Leisure Interior South Africa - Sally Williams Melrose Arch - Winner
2017
- RETAIL DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT (RDDA) AWARDS
- Category D - Store Design - Exclusive Books Ballito Junction - Winner
- Category D - Restaurant Design - 011 Daifern by The Baron - Commendation
2016
- CANAL WALK - RETAIL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
- Best New Store - Tread+Miller Shoes
- Best Refurbishment - Old Khaki
- RETAIL DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
- Category D - Store & Restaurant Design - Tread+Miller Shoes - Commendation
- Category D - Store & Restaurant Design - Casa Bella Restaurant - Finalist
- INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY AWARDS
- Retail Interior South Africa - Tread+Miller Shoes - Highly Commended
- Retail Interior South Africa - Casa Bella Restaurant - Highly Commended
2014
- RETAIL DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
- Category D - Store & Restaurant Design - Remo's Maximilliano Restaurant - Winner
- INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY AWARDS
- Best Retail Interior South Africa - Remo's Maximilliano Restaurant - Highly Commended
- Best Retail Interior South Africa - Old Khaki - Highly Commended
2013
- SAPOA
- Innovation Excellence Award - Refurbishment Development - The Maslow Hotel
- INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY AWARDS
- Best Retail Interior South Africa - Big 5 Duty Free - OR Tambo - Winner
- Best Retail Interior South Africa - Cape Union Mart - Highly Commended
- Best Retail Interior South Africa - HiFi Corporation - Highly Commended
- Best Hotel Renovation/Refurbishment South Africa - The Maslow Hotel - Winner
- Best Hotel Renovation/Refurbishment Africa - The Maslow Hotel - Winner