UJ Professors

This month, we’re exploring the dynamic crossroads of food, design, and storytelling—where culture, creativity, and connection intersect. From the way we plate a dish to the narratives embedded in packaging, food is more than sustenance; it’s a living expression of history, identity, and innovation.

We’re thrilled to welcome four incredible speakers who each bring a unique perspective to this conversation:

• Rozina Vavetsi (New York Institute of Technology) is an award-winning designer, educator, and Associate Professor at the with a passion for human-centered design. With an extensive career in design strategy, she has influenced global creative practices by integrating technology, storytelling, and cultural narratives into visual communication. Her work highlights how design shapes our understanding of the world and fosters meaningful connections between people and ideas.

• Mxolisi Masina (University of Johannesburg) is an acclaimed chef, skills developer, and indigenous food researcher at the University of Johannesburg’s School of Tourism and Hospitality. A bronze medalist in the ‘93 Taste of Canada Culinary Olympiad, he has spent over 30 years in the hospitality industry**, championing African food heritage and sustainable culinary practices. His research focuses on indigenous ingredients and food traditions, exploring how they can inform modern gastronomy.

• Dr. Roela Hattingh (University of Johannesburg) is a writer, strategist, and lecturer whose work explores the interplay between language, food, and cultural narratives. With a background in communication and semiotics, she examines how food shapes personal and collective identities. Her research and storytelling reveal the poetic and symbolic connections we have with what we eat, creating a deeper understanding of food as a form of communication.

• Deirdre Pretorius (University of Johannesburg) is a design historian and professor in the Graphic Design Department at the University of Johannesburg. Her research spans contemporary and historical visual culture, focusing on topics like political party logos, war posters, and the evolution of South African graphic design. As an academic and curator, she explores how visual storytelling captures history, identity, and ideology, influencing our perception of culture across generations.

Join us as these thought leaders unpack how design influences the way we eat, experience, and connect—bridging past and present through flavors, forms, and stories.