Traditional African Art Forms: Sources of inspiration for graphic design

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2013-08-22
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Abstract
African traditional art forms possess rich, diverse aesthetic properties as well as unique characteristics which served as inspiration to modern art pioneers such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Georges Braque. Out of this experience came the birth of art movements such as Cubism and Expressionism. However, these unique cultural artifacts have not been fully explored and used by contemporary Ghanaian artists. African graphic designers in their search for inspiration barely consider traditional African art forms as sources of inspiration to solve design problems. This research employed the descriptive technique of qualitative research methodology to focus on the nexus between culture and graphic design. The findings reveal the relationship between African aesthetics and graphic design as evidenced in the works produced by student graphic designers of the Department of Communication Design, KNUST. The study also showcases the awareness of traditional African art forms as inspiration through creating an alternative method for designers, using culturally inspired creativity in solving design problems. The student participants were motivated by the aesthetic appearance and symbolism of their referent art forms in the production of graphic design.
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A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (African Art and Culture),
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