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Design+ Digital art illustration and design in Zimbabwe

of digital tools and software impacted the growth of digital from its roots in computer science and engineering,
art illustration in Zimbabwe? emphasizing the transformative impact of computational
This paper contributes to the field of design in two key processes and software development on artistic creation
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ways. First, it provided an overview of the impact of digital and expression. Manovich further examined how digital
art illustration on the design field, offering a theoretical technologies enable artists to manipulate and transform
lens through which global developments in digital art can digital data to create new esthetic forms and experiences.
be assessed and contextualized. Second, the study examines He also explored the concept of cultural interfaces,
the challenges faced by emerging designers in digital art referring to how digital media interfaces with and reflects
illustration, with the goal of encouraging stakeholders to broader cultural, social, and ideological contexts in the
actively engage in advancing the sector. internet-driven society.
Digital art illustration enables artists to engage with
1.1. Theoretical framework contemporary issues such as globalization, surveillance,
The technology acceptance model (TAM), developed and identity politics, reflecting the complexities of
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by Davis, served as the theoretical basis for this study. modern society. According to Chikarkova, technology,
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TAM has been widely used in research on user adoption and digital art have disrupted and reshaped the art
of information technology products. The model includes landscape in developed countries. Digital technologies
two key variables: perceived utility and perceived ease of have democratized creativity by providing artists with
use. It holds predictive value as it can quickly assess the accessible and affordable tools for artistic expression. This
effectiveness and accuracy of technological products. democratization has led to a proliferation of diverse artistic
Digital art illustration platforms can be viewed as practices and voices within the digital art community.
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technological products, making the two key principles of However, Chikarkova’s observations primarily pertain to
TAM relevant for consideration by artists. In theory, TAM individual artists. In the Zimbabwean context, digital art
can be applied to study these factors, as well as the impact tools are affordable only to a few, offering only a glimpse
of digital illustration mediums on consumers’ acceptance. into how digital art has shaped developed economies.
According to TAM, artists can only adopt digital art While digital art has the potential to shape developing
illustration if they recognize the benefits it offers and are economies, its impact is currently limited.
well-trained in using the digital platforms. Digital technologies have been cited in various
1.2. Literature review contexts as critical for fostering a networked collaboration
among artists, scholars, and audiences. 1,2,23,24 Digital
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According to Mazzone and Elgammal, as well as Grau, platforms and online communities enable artists to
the intersection of traditional artistic principles and cutting- connect, share resources, and collaborate on projects in
edge technologies have created a realm of expression that real time, transcending geographical boundaries and
is both visually captivating and conceptually profound. disciplinary constraints. These collaborative efforts
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The exponential growth of the digital world has provided a promote knowledge exchange, skill-sharing, and collective
fertile ground for the flourishing of digital art illustration. creativity within the digital art community. Digital
For artists, the shift from traditional brush tools to CAD artists often work with dynamic media, such as code,
technology has opened up new possibilities, allowing algorithms, and generative systems, to create artworks
them to explore innovative frontiers of creativity. Despite that evolve or respond to external stimuli. This emphasis
the challenges synonymous with developing nations, such on process-based art challenges traditional notions of
as inadequate infrastructure, digital art illustration has artistic authorship and the art object as a fixed entity. In
become an effective instrument for artists to showcase their the field of medicine, illustrations are frequently used for
talents and connect with a global audience. The intense teaching, communication, documentation, evaluation,
competition among software and hardware suppliers has and distribution. According to Heng and Daud, digital
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also driven the growth of the sector, with more players illustrations allow for the creation of high-quality images
entering the information technology industry. in medical illustrations, even by individuals with little

Baca et al. highlighted how digital art illustration has artistic abilities.
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transformed the design landscape due to technological While digital technologies offer unprecedented
advancements. These changes began in developed opportunities for artistic experimentation and expression,
economies many years ago, leaving developing economies they also raise ethical, social, and political questions that
behind in terms of digital art development. In a similar artists must confront. Grau advocated for a critical
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study, Manovich traced the evolution of digital media approach to technology, urging artists to interrogate its
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Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 3 doi: 10.36922/dp.4342