Bridging the gap between Afrodesign and the Western world using 3D

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For months,  one thing I have strived to achieve is including a sense of culture in my art, but they seem corny, shallow, and untrue. But, recently I got talking with a friend about a wide range of arts and its varieties from music to films, architectural designs, and paintings, to the use of AI to enhance various forms of art.

One of the most interesting aspects for me was architecture and interior design and it got me thinking of new ways to explore.

Fortunately, I stumbled upon this lecture from Shane V Charles about bridging the gap between cultural identity and designs, and how Africa has influenced the majority of Western design but isn’t talked about because of its Eurocentric nature. One design that caught my eye is Central African design, which emphasizes a connection to nature with the use of trees, bricks, mud in organic shapes, and many more.

But this particular art is based on East African designs, which are heavily influenced by minimalist design tendencies, using subdue palettes and natural materials. Countries from this region like Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda are on the top 50 list of striving design influences globally.

Many argue that these countries should sit at the very top of the list but again the popularity of the Eurocentric nature of modern-day Western design outshines it, e.g. African patterns used for furniture fabrics or our furniture style adapted for minimalist consumption by Western brands, etc.

My current aim is to bridge the gap between the Afro-design culture and the Western world without diluting it, I would start with 3d designs, using notable architectural references, patterns, artifacts, etc. then expand into broader forms like fashion and design, colors, and its representations, etc.

Welcome on the ride

A major inspiration for the building was Architect Mariam Kamara.