Moroccan modern
Decorex Africa has announced Moroccan design brand LRNCE as its 2026 Designer of the Year, recognising a practice that has spent more than a decade shaping conversations around contemporary craft through time-honoured making processes.
Founded by Laurence Leenaert in 2013 and now run alongside her husband, Ayoub Boualam, LRNCE has grown from a small ceramics project into an internationally recognised multidisciplinary design practice spanning objects, interiors and hospitality experiences. The Marrakech-based studio’s portfolio includes collaborations with Maison D’ORSAY and Parīlio Hotel, as well as its own Rosemary riad in Marrakech.
Working with iron, clay, plaster, wood and other raw materials, LRNCE’s aesthetic brings Moroccan craftsmanship into a contemporary context while allowing the hand of the maker to remain visible in every piece. This considered approach has helped establish the studio as an influential voice in global design.
– Laurence Leenaert
The studio’s philosophy aligns closely with Decorex Africa’s 2026 theme, The Soft Life, which explores design’s shift towards balance, intentional living and spaces that restore rather than simply perform.
Reflecting the brand’s growing international influence, LRNCE exhibited at Decorex Cape Town from 25 to 28 June 2026, and will be at Decorex Joburg at the Sandton Convention Centre from 30 July to 2 August 2026. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience a selection of the studio’s furniture and lifestyle pieces, showcasing how centuries-old artisanal techniques continue to inform contemporary design.
As Decorex Africa Executive Creative Director Garreth van Niekerk explains, this year’s decision to spotlight a single designer across both cities reflects the scale of LRNCE’s contribution to the design industry. “LRNCE is a name you can’t escape when talking about design in Africa,” he says. “They really are defining what the future looks like.”
