Crafting the design: Connecting the changing societies through local designs that impact on global markets

Abstract

In the contemporary world of global mass consumption, the products and services are becoming increasingly similar and at the same time the human demands for the same have been evolving to more personal or emotional connection with the objects. The technological advances have offered their limited answer to this, and it seems going to the basics of art and craft ideals may offer other alternatives. This paper explores the nature and practice of art and craft ideals as practised by local communities, study their socio-cultural and economic contexts, and explore their potentialities for application in contemporary design. The decorative arts in Africa has been explored extensively and applied in variegated ways in the contemporary design and consumer world, the success of which would have benefitted from a deeper and truer interpretation of local contexts. The Botswana arts and crafts scene has been largely unexplored and as such their inspirational potentialities in design remain untapped and at best a curious passing reference. Two iconic art and craft references in particular have been identified as typical to Botswana, and these are used and practiced by different communities, especially women, across the country. The references studied are the Lekgapho design as found on the traditional houses and mural decorations and the basketry art deco. The arts and crafts references are then used to inspire innovate new forms, styles, and other influences into design practices such as textiles and fashion, as well as furniture products.