Africa Design Review Journal

Africa Design Review Journal Editorial

Samuel M. Maina — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 1 of the Africa Design Review Journal, where we continue to explore and analyze critical facets of design, education, and innovation within the African context. In this edition, we delve into a diverse array of topics that encapsulate the evolving landscape of design and its intersection with education, technology, ethics, and societal needs.

Our journey begins with a visionary discourse on "The Future of Interior Design Education" by Dr. Henry Mukhwana Wanakuta from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, USA. Dr. Wanakuta's insights promise to illuminate the pathways toward shaping the next generation of interior designers amidst the changing dynamics of the field.

Continuing our exploration, we traverse through the educational domain with "An Investigation into the Utilization of Technology by School Counsellors in Public Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya." Authored by Daniel M. Mmbwanga and esteemed colleagues from Moi University and the University of Nairobi, this study offers crucial insights into the integration of technology within educational counseling frameworks.

In the realm of urban development and regulation, "Ethical Considerations in Building Regulations in Kenya" presents a thought-provoking analysis by Kigara Kamweru and his co-authors, shedding light on the ethical imperatives that underpin building practices and governance in Kenya.

Shifting our focus to innovative solutions in housing, "Coconut Shell Flooring for Affordable Housing in Kenya" presents a compelling case for sustainable and cost-effective housing solutions, authored by Amreen Nazir and Samuel M. Maina from the University of Nairobi.

Furthermore, our exploration extends to the realm of graphic design with "A Comprehensive Analysis of Graphic Design Strategies in Small Furniture Enterprise Advertising in Nairobi County, Kenya" authored by Adams Namayi, PhD. This study provides valuable insights into the strategic nuances of graphic design within the context of small enterprise advertising.

Lastly, in a world increasingly shaped by remote work, "Telecommuting & Working from Home in Kenya: A Thematic Literature Review" authored by Akello Odundo and Dr. Francisca Odundo, along with Dr. Joyce Akach, offers a comprehensive examination of the thematic landscape surrounding remote work practices in Kenya.

As we embark on this intellectual journey, we invite our readers to engage deeply with the rich discourse of insights presented in this volume. May these scholarly contributions ignite conversations, inspire innovations, and pave the way for transformative advancements within the realms of design, education, and beyond.

Thank you for joining us in this exploration of African design excellence.

Sincerely,

Samuel M Maina PhD, IDR, OGW

The University of Nairobi

February 2024

Africa Design Review Journal Issue 1 Vol. 5

Samuel M. Maina — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Founding Engineers Return: Alumni Class of 1971-1975 visit Faculty of Engineering

The Africa Design Review Journal (double-blind) peer rеviеԝed and open аcceѕѕ) is a pioneering publication dedicated to exploring the multifaceted dimensions of design and its profound impact on society. In a continent teeming with talent, innovation, and cultural richness, our journal serves as a guiding light for scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts alike, providing a platform to delve into critical issues, celebrate creativity, and drive positive change.

At our core, we are committed to rigorous research, innovation, and the promotion of inclusive design practices. Recognizing design as more than aesthetics, we acknowledge its potency in addressing pressing challenges and shaping our communities' future. With a focus on cross-cutting design issues, we aim to unravel complexities, foster dialogue, and inspire action across various disciplines.

From contemporary design trends to sustainable solutions and initiatives addressing poverty alleviation, climate change, and inclusive design, our journal embraces a spectrum of themes reflective of Africa's dynamic design landscape. By showcasing groundbreaking research, innovative projects, and diverse voices, we seek to ignite meaningful conversations and foster tangible impact locally and globally.

As stewards of design excellence, we advocate for sustainability, equity, and social responsibility. Through collaborative efforts, we strive to carve a path towards a more equitable, resilient, and inclusive future, where design serves as a catalyst for positive social change and environmental stewardship.

In this fifth issue of volume one, we invite you to embark on a journey of discovery, exploration, and enlightenment. Join us as we delve into creativity, innovation, and design excellence, celebrating the ingenuity of African designers and scholars while pushing the boundaries of design's evolving landscape.

To our esteemed Referees, contributors, reviewers, readers, and supporters, we extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering commitment to advancing design in Africa and beyond. Your dedication, expertise, and passion drive our journal forward, shaping it into a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Together, let us embrace the transformative power of design, harnessing its potential to create a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come. Welcome to the Africa Design Review Journal—a catalyst for innovation, a champion of creativity, and a beacon of hope for a world re-imagined through the lens of design.

THE FUTURE OF INTERIOR DESIGN EDUCATION

Henry Mukhwana Wanakuta — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The discipline of interior design is not immune to the winds of change in the ever-changing area of design. Future interior designers' education must change to suit the demands of this dynamic profession as society and technology develop. This study examines the potential and problems influencing interior design education going forward, going into great detail into concepts like digitalization, sustainability, interdisciplinary cooperation, pedagogical innovation, and cultural diversity.

This research paper examines the challenges and opportunities posed by the rapidly changing landscape of interior design education. It examines the role of digitalization, digitalization of teaching methods and technologies, and the importance of sustainability in future curricula. It also examines the principles of eco-conscious design, the use of sustainable materials and green building practices, and the role of interdisciplinary collaboration and cultural diversity in the field of interior design.

In the context of interdisciplinary collaboration, the paper highlights the growing importance of cross-disciplinary interactions in interior design education. It examines how students benefit from exposure to various fields such as architecture, psychology, and environmental science, ultimately enhancing their ability to create holistic and innovative designs. Additionally, this research underscores the significance of cultural diversity as an essential component of interior design education, emphasizing the need to prepare students for the multicultural, globalized design landscape.

This paper employs a comprehensive literature review, surveys, and case studies to assess the current state of interior design education and extrapolate potential directions for the future. By understanding the key terms and concepts driving change in interior design education, it offers insights into how educators, institutions, and practitioners can collaborate to shape the future of this dynamic field.

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE UTILIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY BY SCHOOL COUNSELLORS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KAKAMEGA, COUNTY KENYA

Daniel M. Mmbwanga, Luke Odiemo, Charles O. Kimamo — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Technology has become an integral part of every-day life. According to the American School Counsellor Association (2016) technology can be used to promote student development, support academic growth, social and emotional wellbeing and college and career development. The teacher counsellor who lacks training may have difficulties in fulfilling their roles hence the learners will have little confidence in the information they give during counselling. This study focused on investigating the utilization of technology by school counsellors in public secondary schools. The research adopted a descriptive survey design. Stratified sampling, proportionate sampling, purposive sampling and random sampling techniques were employed in this investigation. The study population comprised of all public secondary schools within Kakamega County. This investigation specifically targeted school counsellors, school principals and students of those schools. The study used questionnaires, interviews and document analysis. The Statistical Package for Social Science version 23 was used to analyse the data. Presentation of the data was done using graphs, pie charts frequency tables, and measures of central tendency. The results of the investigation were expected to have implications both practically and theoretically on the educational teacher programs in Kenya. The study was expected to contribute to the improvement of knowledge about use of technology by secondary school counsellors. Practically, the findings gave insight into the inadequacies in the digitalization of school counsellors while making recommendations of the need for best practices for school counsellors.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN BUILDING REGULATIONS IN KENYA

Kigara Kamweru, Owiti K’Akumu, Robert Rukwaro — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Building regulations provide guidance and create a restrain in the actions that are required to create living environments. The search for shelter is a primordial human activity which is a form of expression of the individuality of those who built. Guidance if this process raises ethical issues in the balance between individual predilections and community interests. This predicament is at the heart of the very need for regulations. In this conceptual paper, the nature of this dilemma is explored by analysing the issues that create ethical hazards and their mitigation, springing initially from the Kenya regulations but referencing international concerns. The paper finds that a sure path to the resolution of ethical issues has not been found yet, but pointers to its form can be garnered from available understandings. It concludes by affirming the primacy of human rights and human dignity on one level and the primacy of societal and universal values on another.

COCONUT SHELL FLOORING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN KENYA

Amreen Nazir, Samuel M. Maina, Lilac Osanjo — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study is based on the potential use of coconut shell waste for providing flooring solutions for the Affordable Housing Programme in Kenya. Research has shown that the husk takes eight years to decompose organically, which leads to poor disposal methods. Additionally, previous research shows that most uses of coconut shell waste are limited to product and jewellery design. Advancement in technology has proven that coconut shell waste can be used for creation of flooring, roofing and wall tiles. The problem of this study arises from poor disposal of coconut shells and the state of the housing crisis in Kenya. It was recognized that the government of Kenya had initiated The Affordable Housing Program in order to provide cost-friendly housing solutions for the low-income families in Kenya. One of the objectives of the program was to employ the use of local materials to promote the artisans in Kenya. The study was guided by the following key research question: How can coconut shell waste be used to produce interior flooring solutions that support affordable housing in Kenya? By prevalently applying qualitative research, the author used purposive and snowballing sampling methods to collect relevant research information. The study was predominantly based in Nairobi, however, there was initial reconnaissance involved in other coastal counties in Kenya such as Mombasa, Watamu and Kilifi. The subjects of this study were thirty, which included suppliers of construction materials, coconut-based furniture experts and professional interior designers based in Kenya. The main data collection tools involved were the use of Google Form questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The results of this study proved that despite being an excellent material, it was difficult to establish a key link with the AHP due to inaccessibility and unavailability of the tile. Nonetheless, it was established that the tile could still play a key role if further experimentation and production could be conducted for purposes of prototyping and mass commercialization.

A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF GRAPHIC DESIGN STRATEGIES IN SMALL FURNITURE ENTERPRISE ADVERTISING IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Adams Namayi — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Graphic design (GD) plays a crucial role in visual advertising, serving as a tool to inform, educate, and persuade towards brand loyalty. Despite its significance, Small Furniture Enterprises (SFEs) in Kenya consider graphic design professionals, processes, and final products excessively costly, limiting its applicability in advertising. Instead, most enterprises rely on less effective marketing methods such as roadside exhibitions, wordof-mouth, and referrals, making them highly dependent on unsustainable roadside manufacturing and vulnerable to market competition. This research probes graphic design strategies in SFE advertising within Nairobi County, Kenya, objectively aiming to analyze the various graphic designs utilized in branding and advertising. Guided by (Brown, 1979) "Graphics Triangle Theory," encompassing explanation, persuasion, and identification values, which are also defined as tenets of the theory, this study targeted an accessible population of 940 SFEs, ultimately selecting a representative sample of 273 licensed SFEs with physical business premises. Employing systematic random sampling and further supplemented by snowballing seventeen welfare leaders, the research collected data through questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The study's reliability and validity were guaranteed and confirmed by an 89.6% response rate, providing quantitative data that was analyzed descriptively through percentages and frequency distributions. At the same time, qualitative data (including narratives and photographs) were also meticulously coded and analyzed. Demographic findings indicate that SFE management is predominantly male-dominated, where most SFE managers possess KCSE and CPE education levels while others have entrepreneurial skills, which largely stem from apprenticeship programs. While SFEs principally acknowledge the role of graphic design in advertising, it is not their preferred choice due to its perceived high cost, time consumption, complexity, and low significance. Based on these diverse perceptions and challenges, the only graphic design practice found popular in most SFEs is photographs, often shared through social media, and some used in enterprise stationery, posters, and flyers. Most graphic designs used are either produced by enterprise owners, managers, and family members or sourced from non-graphic design professionals, hence a low communication value observed in most visual advertising products. The implication of the study is that, increased graphic design awareness, promotion, production, and application among small enterprises could largely enhance their advertising strategies, especially those that lean towards emerging e-businesses leveraging small enterprise market competitiveness. The study recommends individual small enterprises or those operating in clusters to explore graphic design professionals, processes, and products that are available, affordable, and sustainable as a strategy to address their advertising needs and achieve increased market competitiveness.

TELECOMMUTING & WORKING FROM HOME IN KENYA; A THEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Akello Odundo, Francisca Odundo, Joyce Akach — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper focuses on the field of telecommuting in the Kenyan workspace and its development, by providing an overview regarding telecommuting culture. It is part of a larger research that involved a literature review of 42 relevant papers from which 8 were thoroughly analysed. From the analysis of this corpus, three main categories were identified: Communication and Marketing, Design and Production & Culture and Society. This study is a thematic literature review focusing on the categories of telecommuting & working from home, which collectively gathered indicatively 48% of the selected literature. It presents its relevant studies and sub-categories, providing a rich and varied map of them and contributing to better design and further research in telecommuting & working from home. The study finding indicated that working from home will likely continue to grow as a practice in Kenya over the years. The shift from on-site working to telecommuting has proven beneficial in most industries.