Pretoria stories

Abstract

Some of the most taxing challenges faced by graphic and communication design in South Africa over the last few years have essentially been concerned with three issues. Firstly, the increasing dominance of the digital domain with concomitant new tools, new dimensions, new media and new alliances has demanded novel skills and insights from designers. Secondly, a growing awareness of the importance of evolving a South African graphic idiom, whether for competitive differentiation or as the exploration of African identity, has commanded the imagination and attention of local designers. Finally, an acknowledgement and progressive understanding of the expanding and diversified role of design has encouraged designers here and abroad to claim a more clearly defined and pro-active position and voice for themselves in the practising and cultural arenas. This perspective suggests that unique discipline skills and insights ought to be exploited in areas traditionally not considered to be part of the design domain. The systematic integration into design thinking and processes of aspects related to the above issues continues to exercise a profound impact on the ways in which design is currently practised and taught.