Textile Design and Product Innovations from Adinkra and Bogolanfini Ideographic Mergers

Abstract

This study seeks to introduce an interactive design concept by merging Adinkra and Bogolanfini symbols into textile designs and convert them into utilitarian products. The qualitative research design method and the human-centred design approach were employed to identify, understand and assess how effective Adinkra and Bogolanfini ideographs can be adapted for textile designs and other product applications. The target samples for this study comprises variety of Adinkra symbols and Bogolanfini patterns. The significance of sampling in this study was to select suitable kinds of Adinkra and Bogolanfini patterns. Lines, shapes and texture were utilised to determine which particular symbols were included and which were not suitable. The CorelDraw vector software was used to convert and develop images of the Adinkra symbols and Bògòlanfini patterns and then manipulated into the final textile design. The design outcomes are indicative of the fact that varieties of Adinkra symbols and Bogolanfini patterns are prospective image resources for textile designs. The study recommends that textile design students and practitioners at various institutions and dispositions should be encouraged to explore the breadth of ideographs available across the West African sub-region for design ideas.