Senegal: Design and Priorities by Maxwell Da Silva
CULTURE
CULTURE
Participating in the Route Artlantique program in Senegal may not have been a life changing experience but it does really make you think and reflect about priorities. You can be sure you will meet great people, make new friendships and create networks. Looking from a design point of view, there are two words that can describe how art and design in Senegal are created. These words are simplicity and improvisation. The scarcity of resources and technology forces people to be cleverly creative and this proves that it is possible to be creative without only relying on computer programs. This also creates a culture of repurposing materials which is another good example of improvisation. I learnt a lot being there. What is important in Senegal is that priorities in design are not the same as in the developed world. The idea there, it seemed to me, is that the work needs to communicate in the most easy and cheap way possible. The necessity for traditional methods and tools of creation is still current. The graphic design world in Senegal often tries to copy the commercial style of the western world, mainly from the USA. This does not necessarily work well. In some ways Senegal can be quite shocking if you come from London for example. Design there does not require such a high finish, because the population has different priorities. It is possible to find a market for design in the capital Dakar, but outside there the best typeface, a good colour scheme or high resolution images will not matter when food is scarce, you have to walk a long way to find drinkable water, the education is poor or you do not have a comfortable place to live. The cultural and religious traditions help to keep some creativity happening in the country. It is in their everyday lives, their accessories, tools, clothing and religious artefacts that you will find great sources for inspiration.
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It is in their everyday lives, their accessories, tools, clothing and religious artefacts that you will find great sources for inspiration
WAYS OF WORKING
WAYS OF WORKING