Ntokozo Kunene

Ntokozo Fuzunina Kunene is a costume and production designer from Vosloorus in Johannesburg, South Africa.

From a young age, she was fascinated by storytelling and reading, discovering the power of imagination and the ability of stories to shape perception. She sees film and theatre as collaborative imaginative ventures, where creativity thrives in dialogue with others. She enjoys working with artists from diverse backgrounds to bring new stories and perspectives to life, blending research, visual artistry, and cultural insight to create authentic and compelling designs

Her career includes collaborations with high-profile international artists, including Spike Lee, André Holland, Sandra Oh, Jin Ha, Pauletta Washington, and Isaiah Seret. She has contributed her expertise to theatres in the United States, such as The Public Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, and The Atlantic Theatre, gaining experience across stage and screen. She assisted her mentor Akin McKenzie as Researcher and Assistant Production Designer on the award-winning film The Woman King, which featured Thuso Mbedu and Viola Davis. These experiences have strengthened her skills in conceptual development, material sourcing, costume construction, and visual storytelling.

Fuzunina Kunene holds an MFA in Design for Stage and Film from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, a Fashion Design qualification from Istituto Marangoni in London, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics, Business Finance, and Law from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Her multidisciplinary training allowed her to combine artistic vision with strategic planning and professional project management, making her a versatile and highly skilled designer.

She has committed to supporting and resourcing local South African designers and creatives through her agency, Umsiko Creative Agency. Her work is guided by the belief that human stories are limitless and that design has the power to shape narratives, evoke emotion, and bridge cultural understanding.