A fusion of traditional African and Chinese craft design methods and techniques to inform a range of interior children’s products

Abstract

In today’s world of mass production, many traditional craft expressions are being forgotten and techniques are getting lost. Thereby, this research proposes to deal with selected traditional African textile design and Chinese folk (fabric) craftwork technique, in order to create unique children’s products. As a designer of Chinese origin studying in South Africa, I have been drawn to Africa’s traditional material culture. I have designed some interior products for children, which combined two different traditional cultures; African and Chinese. My research focuses on the importance of cultural specificity amidst globalisation trends that affect design, and how the development of a range of design products based on the fusion of the two different traditional craft techniques can effectively be marketed locally and in China. The research methodology is exploratory; field work was conducted in China and South Africa and the theoretical component dovetails with the practicum to inform an iterative process of design, development, and prototype production.