Traditional memorialisations, stone, oral and written histories, have been a key part of cultural heritage, remembrance and identity. However, with the rise of technology, we are presented with new opportunities and means to challenge our thinking in preserving and interpreting memory. This paper examines how digital design can be used to create ethical documentation and cultural preservation through the use of augmented reality (AR) and forensic aesthetics with a focus on Afrocentric cultural preservation.

An integral part of curriculum design is continuously reviewing workplace and industry needs and requirements. International design research and research of a general nature provide some guidance for curriculum developers and lecturers, but research on the local design industry is fragmented and scarce. This lack of available and rigorous research on the local design industry provides a gap for this paper that explores the nature, needs, and requirements of the local design industry and the changing career pathways of designers.

As a socio-technical field, design has always been intertwined with the industrial revolutions. During the continuous growth of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) in South Africa, it is prevalent for design education to reevaluate what is taught to young designers.