Donald Nxumalo, The Room Remembers Everything
In this episode of Listen To Your Footsteps, Kojo Baffoe sits down with celebrated interior designer and creative director Donald Nxumalo for a rich, reflective conversation that redefines what it means to “design a space.”The conversation takes listeners through a journey of identity, business ethics, cultural narrative, and the sacred connection between people and the spaces they inhabit. It is at once deeply personal and universally relatable, a masterclass in how interiors become an extension of selfhood.Donald’s design philosophy is simple but profound: every space has a story to tell because every person has a story worth honouring. In his words, a well-designed home is not just functional; it’s “a mirror of who you are and a quiet act of dignity.” His reflections range from renovating his mother’s home to manifest her worth to designing multi-million rand properties for a wide spectrum of clients with the same reverence and care.Donald talks about designing with empathy, his transformations are emotional, generational, and cultural. For Donald, design is healing.Donald shares the reality of being an African designer today. He speaks candidly about the tension of expectations, constantly being asked to “show Africa” in a very specific aesthetic way, while navigating the global stage as a contemporary, globally-minded African creative. “We are more than a look,” he explains. “To reduce it to a look is myopic.”They also unpack the complexities of being personality-led in business. For Donald, brand identity is not a PR strategy, it’s a mirror of values. “If I’m consistent, honest, and intentional, then my company reflects that. Visual language is a brand language,” he asserts. This idea becomes central to the conversation: how you show up matters. Not just online. But in how you answer the phone, in how you price integrity. In how you honour people’s time and trust.The conversation looks into Donald’s early years, how he taught himself design before even studying it, how a chance reality TV show launched his career, and how a project with a wealthy South African family introduced him to luxury design at scale. It’s not about glossy finishes and marble, it’s about listening to people. Learning how they live. Understanding that success is not only in the aesthetics, but in the emotional safety a room can offer.Kojo and Donald reflect on the world of publishing, digital media, and building a reputation in an era where validation is democratised through the internet. Donald credits platforms like Destiny Man for giving him visibility, but also acknowledges the power of showing up consistently, even when nobody is watching. “You could just come to work, do your job, and one day someone in Windsor Castle calls you,” he laughs, referencing a surreal moment where a past client in London recognised him and hired him via Instagram.The episode is a reminder that legacy isn’t loud. That impact is often quiet. And that beauty, when done with care, can echo across continents.Whether you’re a creative entrepreneur, an aspiring designer, a business owner, or someone just trying to live with more intentionality, this conversation will resonate. It speaks to the heart of building a life and a brand with values at the centre.Listen to Donald Nxumalo, The Room Remembers Everything, now. And walk away seeing your own space, and your own story, with new eyes.You can find the latest from Donald on LinkedIn, Instagram and check out donaldnxumalo.africa For more on my book Listen To Your Footsteps, go to https://kojobaffoe.com/book/Subscribe: To Watch/Listen nowTo the Zebra Culture Newsletter now.Recorded at Spotify Africa Joburg StudioShow Music by Kweku 'Taygo' BaffoeProduced by Ayob Vania
South Africa