Pattern & Texture by Essence

16 January 2012

What is “African Design”?

The DCCD Danish Center for Culture and Development with funding from DANIDA Danish International Development Agency is supporting a 36month program called DNA Design Africa Network. The project regroups 30 inspiring designers from 15 African countries. The aim is to promote designers’ work and encourage collaboration between designers and the industry. The program is said to revolutionize the global perception of “African design”. The global perception of design is often linked to style. In general, product design is blurred as it crosses various creative boundaries. In Africa, the term design refers mostly to decorative, seductive products. A product is considered as “African” based on its color, pattern or texture, etc. Products made with natural fibers or wax fabrics are often grouped under “African design” because they are made by Africans in Africa. They are often linked to style and also labeled as “ethnic” to decorate spaces. I think this is linked to a mindset about the African continent. The continent is expected to make beautiful artifacts to bring different, “ethnic” touches to western interiors for instance. Many African governments have deficient public policies and as a result NGOs Non Governmental Organizations gradually fill the void by defining social, cultural programs for countries. Many programs have been designed for crafts and design and the DNA program’s approach is similar; it is also said ”to be inclusive with the alliance of partners such as African government bodies, retail partners and a wide range of NGOs”.

I think based on the history of design in other countries; we could benefit from experiences that are more meaningful especially in fields such as health or education. Apart from promoting “African design” in the global market, design should also be a problem-solving tool. But it seems that in Africa we still confine design in style. The potential risk is to specialize design to feed a niche market and never tackle real life issues. Apart from style, fantasy, I think time has come to address the lack of design schools or formal design education. And gradually project design in new paths to develop and implement solutions for our societies; solutions for social, cultural, political needs.

... brought by f a t i

3 January 2012

PUMA 2012 african football kits

country: ivory coast
artist: ernest düku
footballer: yaya toure

country: cameroon
artist: barthélémy toguo
footballer: samuel eto'o

country: namibia
artist: hentie van der merwe
footballer: bradley wermann

The ten collaborating artists who are part of PUMA.creative's creative network program

"Through sport and lifestyle company PUMA's creative african network program, ten artists were commissioned to design the artwork for the 2012 football kits of ten partnering african national football teams: algeria, burkina faso, cameroon, gabon, ghana, ivory coast, namibia, senegal, south africa and togo.The exhibition held at the Design Museum of London celebrates africa's unique visual identity and culture. on display, alongside the official football kits are the artists’ original artwork and concept sketches, providing a documentation of what went into the final design. it is a celebration of sport and how different african cultures and histories can be reflected in both art and sportswear design. here is look at the individual kits and the artists' statements behind the influences of the final designs.”

... brought by Designboom

Courtesy
Designboom

28 December 2011

SENEGAL: Graphic Design & Politics

Yilmaz Aysan for Malick Noel Seck, Political Prisoner

Senegalese group fighting back bad governance, injustice and corruption

Singer Princesse Erika for Malick Noel Seck’s liberation

Y’EN A MARRE, Senegalese movement

Senegal has been lately a scene for social and political demonstrations. He last couple of years, people suffered from power shortcuts that resulted to social tensions across the country. June 23rd 2011 was marked by the withdrawal of a bill of law when Abdoulaye Wade backed down to change elections rules. The last couple of months have been dominated by speculations and debates over the validity of President Abdoulaye Wade’s third term bid. The leader of Convergence Socialistes Malick Noel Seck was one of the first to actually bring forward the debate over Wade’s unconstitutional candidacy with a letter addressed to the President of the Constitutional Council. He was then condemned to two months in jail over contempt of court and death threats. His letter has successfully created debates over Wade’s candidacy. But this month, Wade was chosen as the candidate of the Democratic Senegalese Party (PDS). For its campaign, the party has invested in posters, slogans, T-shirts etc. As we are two months ahead of the elections, several candidates have used various means to demonstrate their opinions. Hence graphic design has developed in Senegal a political role to denounce issues, actions, to convince and galvanize masses. This arrives at a time where threats, intimidations are rampant against the opposition and they still dominate the headlines. Few days ago a group of supporters supposedly related to the President’s party have attacked a local council and as a result one dead and three injured. This circumstance will open up a new playground for graphic designers to create a range of products that denounce the political crisis in Senegal. People seem to understand the powerful role of design and its impact in the political fields and how design can be used to promote information, unconditional free speech and build movement for the masses.