Last summer, Melbourne-based multidisciplinary designer Sandra Githinji crafted an artful homage to Nigeria with Little Lagos. The design of the restaurant in Sydney’s Newtown neighborhood not only channels West African cuisine through a color palette inspired by capsicums, chili peppers, and tomatoes, but also the distinctive craftsmanship of the Nigerian metropolis. Textiles like indigo-dyed cotton transport diners to the bustling markets of Lagos. “The project came to me at a time when I was enthralled by African architectural history,” Githinji says. “It gave me the opportunity to engage with African history and culture and celebrate our authenticity by bringing forward old artisanship.”