ASHLEY VAN DER WALT | PRINCIPAL DESIGNER
“For every minute spent in organising, an hour is earned.”
Since joining Fox Browne Creative, I’ve grown to principal designer, leading the team of designers in the Cape Town studio. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working on lodges, private bush homes, and villas from conception to completion, all in remote and remarkable locations.
Projects I’ve contributed to include the award-winning andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in Namibia, the luxurious Sirai Beach in Kilifi, a private bush home in Sabi Sand, and more recently, Daunara Safari Camp in Botswana — although I have touched many more over the years. I strive for excellence and precision in all aspects of design and love seeing these spaces come to life in context — shaped by landscape, light, and purpose.
Holistic design from the outset is essential to creating authenticity, and that’s where the real magic lies — integrating interiors with architecture, operations, and guest experience. At heart, I’m a minimalist, drawn to simple, organic forms that make space for stillness, texture, and light. Travel fuels my curiosity — I’m always looking, learning, and drawing inspiration from the places and cultures I encounter. I’m passionate about every aspect of design: interiors, hospitality, product, architectural, and landscaping. And while I aim to excel in design… I’d rather not in Excel.
When I’m not crafting presentations or designing spaces, I’m the resident tea-maker — which, if you ask the team, is probably my most consistent design contribution of all.