Personal Tile

Personal Tile, 2012, Janna DeWan

Project: Ceramic tile

Adinkran Symbols

Objective: to create a personal logo.

Resources: Adinkra Symbols of West Africa

                   63 African Symbols for Creative Design

Through the use of clay, you will create a personal symbol, or logo, that represents you.  You will be inventing your own original design based on Adinkran symbols of West Africa.  Be sure not to copy their symbols, instead be inspired.  You are invited to augment shapes, move lines, combine symbols together, etc.

Step 1: Write down at least 5 adjectives that describe you

Step 2: Find similar words in the list of Adinkran symbols.

Step 3: Sketch the similar symbols 

Adinkra stamps carved in Ghana.

Step 4: Brainstorm a few different personal logos based on the Adinkran symbols you chose.  You do not necessarily need to use all 5 symbols.  You may choose to be inspired by only one, or combine two.  Remember, sometimes a simple and bold logo design is more effective than a cluttered and busy one.

Step 5: Cut out an 8"x8" clay slab at 1/2" thick

Step 6: Decide which parts of your design will be additive (adding clay) and subtractive (carving into the clay)

Step 7: Finishing touches: add any texture and smooth out all the edges.  

Step 8: Apply colored slip

Step 9: Sgraffito

Step 10: Place in kiln room

Anthony Boakye uses a comb to mark parallel
lines on an adinkra cloth in Ntonso, Ghana.

1817 Adinkra cloth

BLOG POST:

Attach a photo of your tile.

Explain which Adinkran symbol you based your design off of and why (5 sentences).