This design research explores the intersection of traditional African textile heritage and contemporary design practice through the reinterpretation of the Swahili khanga.

Using the khanga’s standard dimensions (3000mm x 1100mm) as a template, this paper investigates how traditional cultural artefacts can be transformed into modern design elements while maintaining their cultural significance and storytelling. The research uses a critical design methodology that translates the khanga’s communication qualities, traditionally expressed through written proverbs and visual motifs, into a new design language that utilises Morse code patterns. This transformation acts as a cultural protest against the erasure of African design systems and principles, demonstrating how traditional communication methods can be preserved and reimagined through contemporary design interventions. The resulting product, a screen/cupboard, functions both as a practical object and a cultural narrative device, embodying the principle of mtu ni watu (a person is a people), emphasising the interconnectedness of community and design.

The project challenges the traditional view that globalisation erases cultural differences by showing how cultural identity can be preserved while engaging with modern design practices. By drawing on influences from East African textiles, the screen/cupboard acknowledges the complexity of contemporary African identity and respects cultural traditions. The design process demonstrates how African-centred design can be rooted locally and remain globally relevant without sacrificing cultural integrity.

This research contributes to the broader discourse on cultural preservation in design by introducing a novel methodology in tandem with the critical design methodology. This methodology treats traditional artefacts not as static historical objects but as living design languages that can be reinterpreted and revitalised. The transformation of textile-based communication into architectural spatial elements demonstrates how African design principles can inform contemporary spatial practices while preserving indigenous knowledge systems. The project suggests that celebrating African-centred design requires preservation and active reinterpretation, allowing traditional design elements to evolve while maintaining their cultural significance. This offers a model for how designers can address cultural pride and preservation globally, transforming inherited knowledge into future heirlooms that bridge generational and cultural gaps.
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