DESIGNING NOUGHTS + CROSSES
WORLDS APART
Production designer Shane Bunce
What was your main inspiration for the African Empire?
We got the initial inspiration from the Mali Empire, circa 1652. We didn’t model Aprica exclusively on one African nation, though, but tried more to express what an African Empire might be like, drawing inspiration from many African nations, from the Nubians to the Malians. We also drew hugely on two “history of the world” and “Initial inspiration and Ideas” documents written and compiled by historian Kibwe Tavares. Those two compilations were my Old and New Testaments.
Filming took place in South Africa. How did that feed into the series’ look?
Well, one thing I played on is the
