People, Spaces & Stories
A creative platform rooted in the belief that design is more than aesthetics. We document the stories behind spaces, connect creatives across the continent, and champion intentional design thinking rooted in African context and culture.
Our Story
Design Diary began as a simple idea: what if there was a space where African designers could share their real stories — not the polished portfolio versions, but the honest ones? The late nights reworking a client brief. The supplier who didn't deliver. The moment a room finally came together.
In 2024, we launched as Spaces & Stories, a podcast recorded in a small studio in Kampala. The first season was raw, unscripted, and deeply personal. We talked to interior designers, architects, and creatives about their work, their struggles, and their vision for what African design could become.
The response surprised us. Designers from Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, and Cape Town reached out. They wanted to be part of the conversation. They wanted to share their own stories. They wanted to connect with other creatives who understood the unique challenges of designing in African contexts — where supply chains are unpredictable, where clients often don't understand the value of design, and where the line between global inspiration and cultural authenticity is something you navigate every single day.
In 2026, Spaces & Stories became Design Diary — a full creative platform with a podcast, a designer directory, written features, project case studies, and a growing community of creatives across the continent. The name changed, but the mission didn't: to document, connect, and inspire.
Our Beliefs
Every space tells a story about the people who inhabit it. Our job is to make sure those stories are told with intention.
We don't need permission to define what African design looks like. The most exciting work is already happening — it just needs a bigger stage.
The African design industry grows when we share knowledge, refer clients, and celebrate each other's work.
Real projects have real problems. We'd rather show the messy truth than a curated fantasy.
What We Do
Long-form conversations with designers, architects, and creatives. Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
Written features and visual stories of the spaces we inhabit and the people who shape them.
Detailed project breakdowns and case studies. The vision, the process, the reality.
A searchable directory of interior designers, architects, and spatial creatives across Africa.
A space for apartment tours, project submissions, collaborations, and creative connections.
Guides, material libraries, and digital products for designers at every stage.
The People
Founder & Creative Director
Benjamin is an interior designer and creative director based in Kampala. He started Design Diary to build the platform he wished existed — a space where African designers could share real stories, connect across borders, and shape the conversation about design on the continent.
Co-Founder & Head of Content
Ashley brings the editorial voice and creative vision to Design Diary. From podcast production to written features, she ensures every piece of content tells a story worth hearing — with honesty, warmth, and intention.
The Journey
The idea for a design podcast in Kampala is born.
Spaces & Stories launches. First 6 episodes recorded in a bedroom studio.
First apartment tour filmed. Designers from Kenya and Nigeria reach out.
Expanded to cover 5 East African countries. First live event in Kampala.
100th designer joins the community. Second podcast season launches.
Rebrand from Spaces & Stories to Design Diary.
Website and designer directory launch. New podcast season begins.
Building Africa's most trusted design media platform.
"Design Diary aims to become a trusted African design media platform that documents stories, shapes conversations, and inspires intentional design thinking for years to come."
We're not building a magazine. We're building a movement.
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Whether you want to collaborate, share a story, or just say hello — we'd love to hear from you.
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