Editorial, Keynotes and Speeches

Abstract

Africa Design Review Journal, Vol. 1, No.3, November 2022

Welcome to the third issue of volume one of the “Africa Design Review Journal”. This volume
culminated from the proceeding of an internal conference held between 10th and 11th February 2022 in
Nairobi. The conference was hosted by Professor Lilac Osanjo, a lecturer in the Department of Art and
Design. It was hosted by the faculty of the Built Environment and Design of the University of Nairobi.
The conference brought together design students, researchers, employers, professionals, policy
makers and stakeholders to reflect on the theme ‘Evolution of African visual design in the digital world’.
Under three broad themes of visual reality, the future and the power to influence, these broad themes
point at a need to anchor African art and design on a strong cultural grounding and repository. This was
in cognizance of the fact that African collective collaboration is critical for growth of the arts, design and
the creative sector.
The diversity of papers herein will enrich your understanding of African realties of development
of art and design. It will also inform on the myriad ways African art and design is evolving in the digital
era to accommodate new realties and technologies. The guest editor ably captured the full spirit of the
conference and presented issues in a very clear and open format for your consumption. I wish to thank
her most sincerely for accepting my invite to be the guest editor for this current issue having being the
best informed on the topics and the spirit of the conference and African visual design in the digital world.
Once more, welcome to the 3rd issue.
Samuel M. Maina, PhD
Editor