Laurie Wiid van Heerden established his studio, Wiid Design, in Cape Town in 2013. Often working collaboratively with other artists and across a wide variety of materials, Laurie's product range spans furniture, lighting, tableware and collectible objects that combine specialist manufacturing with handcrafting. The studio has become well-known for its innovative use of cork in high-end product design, architecture and large-scale production manufacturing. Recognised as an African 'ambassador' for cork by Portuguese producer Amorim, Laurie has pushed the boundaries of the material to achieve a number of world 'firsts' - including the world's largest cork pendant light and cork cabinet, both of which have been exhibited by Southern Guild.