Contemporary Design Africa

Product Description Finally a book on African design that celebrates the contemporary! It is packed with works that show how the continents rich array of craft traditions are being preserved and revived with an exciting contemporary twist. An introductory section identifies the sophistication, vitality, diversity and soulfulness of the past that is now being harnessed to develop a contemporary African identity. Sections on furniture, textiles, ceramics, basketry and lighting bring together the work of respected designers, makers and organizations based on the African continent or part of the diaspora. Celebrating the wider changes occurring across Africa, the fifty or so designers and crafters included have been chosen for their innovative approach to creating sophisticated products. Many of the pieces demonstrate how sustainability and recycling are often of the utmost importance. The book is completed by a glossary and bibliography. Review Tapiwa has done well to highlight such a varied group of designers. --House & Garden This lavishly illustrated new book introduces 50 leading African designers working today. --World of Interiors Contemporary Design Africa offers a refreshing challenge to rigid perceptions of what African design looks like. --Dailyplanet.co.za Tapiwa Matsinde has teamed up with celebrated UK publisher Thames and Hudson to tell the stories of some outstanding African designers. --news24 African design is garnering ever-greater attention in the West and now new book Contemporary Design Africa ... celebrates the best. --Elle Decoration A well-curated, comprehensive guide. --Dynamic Africa Blog Broadens the horizons beyond the patterned Dutch wax prints that Europeans buy in multikulti shops ... Honourable, as well as beautiful and well worth a read. --Forum Magazine, Sweden Offering an inspirational challenge to rigid perceptions of what design from Africa looks like. --New Design Tapiwa Matsinde is ahead of the game ... [she] emphasises that African design has always encompassed a diverse aesthetic, which varies greatly from country to country. --Making Magazine From the Back Cover ?Contemporary Design Africa offers a refreshing challenge to rigid perceptions of what African design looks like. Focusing primarily on interior decoration, the book presents fifty designers, artisans, and cooperatives based on the continent or part of the diaspora who are creating sophisticated and innovative products and interiors. An introductory section surveys the history, vitality, and diversity in African design, followed by profiles of contemporary designers grouped by craft, from textiles, ceramics, and basketry to furniture, lighting, and beyond. About the Author Tapiwa Matsinde is a British-born designer, creative business consultant and writer of Zimbabwean heritage. She has worked as a graphic designer and a brand guardian in corporate communications for leading international organizations, and is the creator of a blog, Atelier Fifty-Five.