IQOQO
Initiated in 2020 by The French Embassy and the French Institute in South Africa (IFAS), IQOQO is a reference platform for South Africa’s Creative and Cultural Industries.
The idea behind IQOQO is to offer a digital platform for local and international audiences who would like to gain a full understanding of how these industries are structured, who the relevant players are, and which players to contact for different types of projects.
The brief
The French Embassy and the French Institute in South Africa (IFAS) approached Breinstorm Brand Architects (BBA) to conceptualise and execute a project that would facilitate connections between South Africa and the global North, particularly in the creative industry.
From here IQOQO was born – a platform focused on nine creative sectors, namely animation, architecture, design, fashion, film, gaming, museums, visual arts and XR (virtual reality). BBA was tasked to set up partnerships between IFAS and the following institutions in the development of IQOQO: The South African Museums Association (SAMA), the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO), and Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC)
The transformation
IQOQO training sessions
A series of virtual and in-person training sessions was hosted across South Africa to expose new people to the IQOQO network, and guide them in the process of registering their profiles.
IQOQO website and profiles
To create a space to connect, interact and communicate across international borders, the IQOQO website provides a platform for creatives to join the network by registering a profile, and to be findable on the IQOQO website.
IQOQO Sessions
The IQOQO Sessions are a series of talks and panel discussions focused on addressing the challenges and innovations in the creative industries in South Africa.
The validation of purpose
60+
Steering and technical committee members
9
Initial research articles launched focused on each creative sector
9
IQOQO Sessions talks held