Remembering Wayne Coughlan (1963–2023)

We are heartbroken to learn that Wayne Coughlan passed away at home in South Africa on 9 September. A lecturer in the Design Department at Cape Town Peninsula University of Technology, he mentored and inspired a generation of emerging designers.

Wayne meeting the IxDA Regional Coordinators at Interaction 13 in Toronto. L-R: Santiago Bustelo (Argentina), Kim Lenox, Board Member (United States), Birgit Geiberger Boersma (Netherlands), Tonia Bartz (United States), Sudhindra V (India/Australia) and Wayne Coughlan (South Africa).

Wayne served as an IxDA volunteer for ten years, beginning with Interaction 13 in Toronto. He was the first Regional Coordinator for Africa and the Middle East. Under his tenure, Wayne stewarded IxDA’s growth in the region, making connections across the continent. The community grew from two to more than 20 active local groups in 14 countries.

Wayne made many friends throughout the IxDA community and is fondly remembered. There is a celebration of life planned on 5 October in Cape Town.

Wayne and the Regional Coordinators at Interaction 20 in Milan, Italy. L-R — Seated: Kiat Lim (Singapore), Eduardo Aguayo (Chile), Filip Szymczak (Ireland), Virginia Cagwin (United States), Lisa Railey (Australia). Standing: Jack Moffett (United States), Otto Virta (Finland), Erico Fileno (Brazil), Birgit Geiberger Boersma, Board Member (Netherlands), Wayne Coughlan (South Africa)

If you’d like to contribute to remembering Wayne, you can send photos or a short recorded message to photos@cullis.co.za. Written tributes can be posted on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/coughlanw.

The ceremony will be recorded and a YouTube link posted when available.