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Design+

ARTICLE
Trajectories in digital art illustration and design:

A Zimbabwean perspective

Walter Chipambwa * , Munesu Manyengavana 2 , and Fungai Sithole 2
1
1 Department of Clothing and Textile Technology, School of Art and Design, Chinhoyi University of
Technology, Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe
2 Department of Creative Art and Industrial Design, School of Art and Design, Chinhoyi University of
Technology, Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe

Abstract
Technology has impacted various sectors, and the field of art and design has
witnessed notable changes due to these developments. In today’s world, digital
art illustration has emerged as a prominent and popular form of artistic expression,
revolutionizing graphic design, and visual communication, particularly with the rise
of technological advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI). This study seeks to
explore the development of digital art illustration in Zimbabwe through the lens of
the technology acceptance framework. The study focused on artists, lecturers, and
students familiar with both traditional art and new technologies. Data were collected
through two focus group discussions with students from two higher education
*Corresponding author:
Walter Chipambwa institutions. In addition, five lecturers and five practicing artists were purposively
(wchipambwa@cut.ac.zw) selected for in-depth interviews, based on their experience in digital art and their
Citation: Chipambwa W, background in traditional art. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The
Manyengavana M, Sithole F. findings revealed that digital art has not yet been fully integrated into the art and
Trajectories in digital art illustration design curriculum. The study also highlights the critical role of early art and design
and design: A Zimbabwean
perspective. Design+. education in fostering student interest in digital art illustration. Furthermore, digital
2025;2(1):4342. art illustration can be viewed as an extension of traditional art; therefore, artists
doi: 10.36922/dp.4342 should find ways to embrace both forms to their advantage. This integration can be
Received: July 26, 2024 promoted through blended exhibitions, with support from established galleries. For
the design field, the study emphasizes the impact of AI and suggests how various
1st revised: August 26, 2024
stakeholders can incorporate it into their practices to enhance success. The study
2nd revised: October 24, 2024 concludes that investment in technological infrastructure by the government
Accepted: November 28, 2024 can help promote digital art illustration as a burgeoning sector, creating new job
opportunities for the younger, technology-savvy generation.
Published online: December 24,
2024
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). Keywords: Zimbabwean digital art; Art education challenges; Digital illustration;
This is an Open-Access article Technology acceptance model; Art exhibitions; Digital design; Artificial intelligence
distributed under the terms
of the Creative Commons
AttributionNoncommercial License,
permitting all non-commercial use,
distribution, and reproduction in any 1. Introduction
medium, provided the original work
is properly cited. The process of transforming design concepts into visualizations, and then converting
Publisher’s Note: AccScience those visualizations into forms that can be evaluated and assessed, is becoming
Publishing remains neutral with increasingly diverse as digital technologies evolve. The cultural and creative industries
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional are rapidly expanding in the digital era, creating a growing demand for highly skilled
affiliations. individuals proficient in digital art illustration. Digital illustration is a type of art that

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 1 doi: 10.36922/dp.4342