Platform_Architecture_and_Design_1.pdf

PATHFINDERS
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Ph. Hamed Ouattara
a vision of design as the key to innovation and development. These objectives are
shared by other important initiatives that are gaining increasing amounts of space
and attention among both the public and professionals alike, such as “100% Design
South Africa”, planned for Johannesburg in August 2015 simultaneously with
Decorex Joburg with the presence of some of the biggest names on the local scene
and a series of “incubator stands” for up-and-coming designers.
To all this can be added the “All Africa Design Forum” series of conferences. Africa
is not just South Africa: many interesting voices can be heard from other countries
such as Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Burkina Faso. In an attempt to recreate a
common identity and encourage partnerships and exchange between designers from
East, West and South Africa with a view to sharing visions, aesthetics and experiences,
DNA – Design Network Africa was created which includes designers such as Joseph
Nii Noi Douwuona (Ghana), Boubacar Doumbia (Mali), Hamed Ouattara (Burkina
Faso), Babacar M’Bodj Niang (Senegal) and Adèle Dejak, born in Nigeria and with
roots in Kenya, up to the most well-known, Cheick Diallo from Mali.
Amidst this complexity of expressions, the common element is still the desire and
the need to overcome the cliché “ethnic” design, which still influences the general
understanding and perception of this creativity “made in Africa”, to which should
be added design “made for Africa”, a vast chapter still waiting to be explored. A case
of prepositions, but more of approach and vision.