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Research Article
Cultural Evolution in Clay: A Comparative Analysis of Indigenous Pottery Trajectories in Northern Ghana and South Korea
Kwabena Darko Akuamoah*
,
Peter Atakuma Agbodza
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
1-10
Received:
30 November 2025
Accepted:
20 December 2025
Published:
19 January 2026
Abstract: This study explores the contrasting evolutionary trajectories and preservation outcomes of indigenous pottery traditions in Northern Ghana and South Korea from the mid-1970s to the present. Pottery, a transformative Neolithic innovation, embodies both cultural identity and utilitarian value. Yet, modernisation, globalisation, and shifting social priorities pose significant threats to its continuity. Unlike much scholarship that treats traditions in isolation, this research adopts a cross-cultural comparative framework to theories mechanisms of cultural evolution. It juxtaposes Northern Ghana’s community-based, ritual-oriented model now strained by urbanisation and economic displacement with South Korea’s institutionalised, state-driven approach, which integrates technological innovation and heritage policy to foster resilience. Through this design, the study highlights the socio-political, economic, and institutional conditions shaping the sustainability of intangible cultural heritage. Findings reveal how modernity differently impacts artistic practice, economic viability, and identity preservation across contexts. By clarifying these dynamics, the research contributes to theoretical models of cultural evolution while offering practical insights for heritage policy. Ultimately, it underscores the need for adaptive strategies that balance tradition and innovation, ensuring indigenous crafts remain vital cultural resources in a rapidly globalising world.
Abstract: This study explores the contrasting evolutionary trajectories and preservation outcomes of indigenous pottery traditions in Northern Ghana and South Korea from the mid-1970s to the present. Pottery, a transformative Neolithic innovation, embodies both cultural identity and utilitarian value. Yet, modernisation, globalisation, and shifting social pr...
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Research Article
Collage as a Sustainable Environmental Practice - Centred on Nigerian Female Avant-Garde Artist Osague
Akprara Amos Osakor*
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
11-18
Received:
1 December 2025
Accepted:
22 December 2025
Published:
19 January 2026
Abstract: This paper discusses recycling of “off-cut” fabrics as materials for mixed-media collage-making activities centred on Osague Osagiede Paulina; the Nigerian Female avant-garde artist. With the aid of the internet, journals, books and others, the collage activities of some female artists - Sienna Martz, Kara Williams, Wangechi Mutu and, Njideka Akunyili Crosby - were studied to point out some related patterns, similarities of concept and materiality to Osague’s. For the purpose of this study, the Judgemental sampling technique was used in selecting sixteen (16) mixed-media collages from Osague’s oeuvres. Those selected were analysed revealing some of the philosophy and passion underpinnings her creating collages based on her childhood memories. The descriptive/narrative readings of the (16) collages - as visual-data - was achieved with the following themes - playful times; alone and together and, so on. In conclusion, this paper is of the view that Osague’s collages are significant contributions in narration of the “story” of a resolute artist who, being female, faces a number of challenges masked in social-constraints; of identity; emotional abuses; depravity and others. This paper recommends the collage-making approaches of this artist should be adopted by knowledge seekers in art and design as a resource material in teaching, learning and research in sustainable environmental practices.
Abstract: This paper discusses recycling of “off-cut” fabrics as materials for mixed-media collage-making activities centred on Osague Osagiede Paulina; the Nigerian Female avant-garde artist. With the aid of the internet, journals, books and others, the collage activities of some female artists - Sienna Martz, Kara Williams, Wangechi Mutu and, Njideka Akuny...
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Research Article
The Role of Lookbook-Centric Graphic Communication Design in Shaping Marketing Strategies for Ghana's Fashion Industry
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
19-29
Received:
16 September 2025
Accepted:
10 October 2025
Published:
10 March 2026
Abstract: This study investigates the strategic role of lookbooks in shaping the global brand identity of Ghanaian fashion labels through graphic communication design. Situated within the context of a rapidly expanding but resource-constrained fashion industry, the research sought to understand how design-driven marketing tools can elevate cultural storytelling and enhance international competitiveness. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating practice-led inquiry—comprising studio-based design analysis, observation, and artifact evaluation—with a quantitative online survey administered to fashion designers, brand managers, photographers, and consumers. The practice-led component enabled a critical exploration of creative processes, stylistic decisions, and cultural symbolism in lookbook production, while the survey captured perceptions of brand identity, awareness, and consumer engagement. Findings reveal that the fusion of traditional Ghanaian motifs such as kente and adinkra with contemporary graphic design principles enriches visual storytelling, fosters authenticity, and strengthens emotional connections with global audiences. Despite these advantages, several challenges persist, including limited financial resources, inadequate professional expertise in design, and insufficient integration of lookbooks within broader marketing strategies. The study underscores the under-explored but vital role of lookbooks in emerging economies, particularly in positioning cultural identity on the global stage. It recommends holistic design approaches, cost-effective production methods, multi-channel dissemination strategies, and capacity-building initiatives as pathways to enhancing the global visibility and competitiveness of Ghanaian fashion brands.
Abstract: This study investigates the strategic role of lookbooks in shaping the global brand identity of Ghanaian fashion labels through graphic communication design. Situated within the context of a rapidly expanding but resource-constrained fashion industry, the research sought to understand how design-driven marketing tools can elevate cultural storytell...
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Case Report
Rethinking Basic Design Education for an Unfolding World: Beyond Modernist Foundations
Arun Mascarenhas*
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
30-38
Received:
7 March 2026
Accepted:
16 March 2026
Published:
30 March 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajad.20261101.14
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Abstract: Basic Design has historically served as the epistemic and pedagogical foundation of the design education. Emerging from the Bauhaus and later systematized through the Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm (HfG Ulm). Basic Design pedagogy emphasizes rationality and formal reduction, establishing visual order, formal logic, and rational problem-solving as the core competencies of the designer. While these foundations were critical in shaping modern design education, they were conceived within a worldview that assumed relative stability, predictability, and optimism regarding technology. This paper argues that such assumptions are increasingly incompatible with the realities faced by contemporary design graduates, who must operate within complex, uncertain, and contested socio-ecological systems. From a design educator's perspective, this paper explores the constraints posed by proponents of ‘basic design’ at the IDC School of Design, provocatively questioning whether today's Basic Design pedagogy remains "basic" in its most meaningful sense. It advocates for the reimagining of Basic Design as a diverse, adaptable, and ethically grounded pedagogical space. Drawing on critical design theory, systems thinking, and contemporary debates in design education, this study calls for a shift in foundational pedagogy from a narrow, form-centric approach grounded in modernist thinking to one that embraces complexity-oriented literacy, ethical reflexivity, and openness to emergence. This reconceptualization does not depart from foundational principles but is an essential expansion to address the complex challenges of an evolving world.
Abstract: Basic Design has historically served as the epistemic and pedagogical foundation of the design education. Emerging from the Bauhaus and later systematized through the Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm (HfG Ulm). Basic Design pedagogy emphasizes rationality and formal reduction, establishing visual order, formal logic, and rational problem-solving as th...
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