What is the status
Understanding real needs
The journal is currently being evaluated based on the needs of potential contributor feedback. For example, the following questions are being put to this community:
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Why an Afrikan journal?
Why even publish in a new journal over established options?
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Contextual nuance?
How should the uniqueness of Afrika be researched?
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What topics?
What focus and topics should the journal cover?
1st year update
Small strides / 2025-10-25
Over the last year, the working team met with various Afrikan researchers and institutions to understand the journal scope. Although valuable feedback was obtained, the overall progress has been frustratingly slow.
The design thinking method we employed to survey researcher needs took time. Similarly, the ongoing design of a bespoke platform to realise these unique needs is also requiring time. Notwithstanding the time required to continuously reflect on the fundamental shift in knowledge production across the design discipline and humanities.
Yet, we continue to believe that for the journal to provide long term value to Afrikan researchers and designers, a considered and methodological approach is required. Impulsive decisions often result in short-sighted consequences. Further details from the year are provided below.
- Discussions have been held with numerous stakeholders following the exponential rise and use of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) in research and design. For most, this is unchartered territory and frequently existentialist. From a journal perspective, the working team is required to consider ethical and scientific factors, and ultimately the real value of this new technology. Adopting a firm stance on any evolving technology is premature, and we continue to explore Ai's impact on Afrikan research and design and, in turn, the journal.
- A meeting with two South African universities was necessary as they also launched a design journal in 2024. The purpose of the meeting was to understand our respective value offerings and to obtain clarity on what differentiates the journals. Fortunately, no conflict was found, and the Journal for Afrikan Research & Design remains focused on empirical design research, and theirs on Southern Afrikan design education.
- The journal's first article, a concept paper, continues to be drafted. It's golden thread links historical factors hampering Afrikan design research, how such developments necessitated this journal, and how a design thinking method and the results thereof underpin the journal.
1st month update
Small steps / 2024-09-25
The Journal for Afrikan Research & Design has been live for just over a month. As we focus on collaboration over promotion, our invite for feedback on the journal direction was subtle in the form of two short social-media posts.
Since then, we are pleased to report that the journal has attracted key design researchers from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Their interest and survey feedback has already contributed to the development of the journal.
We are also learning what is needed for researchers, and the following feedback and functionality has been added to their secure dashboard.
- A registry of design researchers who signed-up with the journal is now available. This is a first step towards creating real value for Afrikan researchers who would like to network with each other.
- The survey results to-date are also available. The data is presented in an anonymised and randomised manner to protect the identity of the contributors. It is this feedback that is already starting to drive the development of the journal.
- A settings menu has been added, which provides users the ability to update their account registration details, and control what correspondence they choose to receive.