A Creative Collaboration: Max on Top & Design Time

At Max on Top, we’ve always believed that design isn’t just about making things look beautiful—it’s about telling a story through materials, textures and thoughtful execution.

So when Design Time invited us to be part of their jewellery store design challenge, we couldn’t have been more excited.
We had the absolute pleasure of working with their talented third-year interior design students as they tackled a bold, real-world brief: to design a jewellery retail space that was not only creative and conceptually strong, but had to be well-specified and visually compelling.

Each of the eleven student groups came up with something completely unique, drawing inspiration from the natural world—earthy tones, fluid forms, striking contrasts. We were genuinely blown away by the creativity, depth of thought and attention to detail that went into each concept.

As part of the brief, students were encouraged to use as many Max on Top products as possible—and it was incredible to see how they brought our surfaces to life. From subtle neutrals to bold statement pieces, their use of our materials was thoughtful, imaginative and often surprising in the best way.
Here’s a quick spotlight on some of the standout designs:

• RE/NU (Group 4): Inspired by the states of matter—solid, liquid, gas—this winning concept felt ethereal and grounded all at once.

RE/NU (Group 4): Inspired by the states of matter—solid, liquid, gas—this winning concept felt ethereal and grounded all at once.

VEGA VITAE (Group 3): A jewellery store reimagined in bold red onyx tones—a space with presence and personality.

VEGA VITAE (Group 3): A jewellery store reimagined in bold red onyx tones—a space with presence and personality.

NUBA (Group 6): A golden-hued store that felt luxurious and inviting from the moment you stepped in.

NUBA (Group 6): A golden-hued store that felt luxurious and inviting from the moment you stepped in.

NACRE (Group 9): A modern take on the pearl jewellery store—delicate, yet undeniably current.

NACRE (Group 9): A modern take on the pearl jewellery store—delicate, yet undeniably current.

CRONOS (Group 11): A time-honoured concept, drawing from the myth of Chronos, the Greek god of time.

CRONOS (Group 11): A time-honoured concept, drawing from the myth of Chronos, the Greek god of time.

The Winning Concept

While RE/NU took home top honours, we honestly believe every group delivered something special. The ideas were bold, the materials were used beautifully, and the passion behind each concept was evident.

Thank you to the wonderful team at Design Time for letting us be part of this. And to the students: we loved seeing your creative minds at work. It was a real privilege to be part of this journey with you, and we can’t wait to see what you do next.

Explore more at www.maxontop.co.za