Development of Hotel Staff Uniform Designs Inspired by the Turkana Material Culture: A Case Study of Nasega Village in Lodwar Turkana County Kenya.
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Date
2024-05
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
This study explored the material culture of the Turkana community with a view to using
it as a potential source of inspiration to develop a hotel staff uniform designs as a way of
preserving the Turkana cultural aesthetics. The Turkana is a community that resides in
North Western Kenya. The recent discovery of oil in this region will open it up to
urbanization and modernization which will erode the Turkana cultural aesthetics. The
Kenya Association of Hotel and Caterers requires its members to preserve the cultural
heritage of the local people and this study will help hotels setting up in Kenya to meet
this requirement. The location of the study was the Nasega village in Lodwar, Turkana
County. The research was a qualitative case study type of research design through
interviews, direct observation and photography. The target population for this study was
the Turkana people in Turkana County while the accessible population was the Nasega
village of the Turkana community in Turkana County. Homesteads to be visited were
selected by simple random sampling. Purposive sampling was then used in selecting
respondents with material culture to be studied. Purposive sampling helped the researcher
to study material culture with desirable characteristics such as shape, motifs and size that
were suitable for product design inspiration. Observation and interview schedules were
used to collect data. Photography was also be used to record the visual aspects of material
culture. The data obtained was analyzed using cultural content analysis and descriptive
narratives. Design development involved studio work in two phases which were
preparation and production phases. Preparation involved sketching of designs based on
cultural features of data collected. Two designs were selected for production. The
selected designs were then developed into prototypes of hotel staff uniforms and
presented to the department of Fashion Design and Marketing for Marking. The findings
of the study will be a reference for designers on how to use their design knowledge in
solving social problems. The study may also benefit to the Turkana community as more
people will be interested in their material culture hence visit the region and this will open
up Turkana County to Economic development.
Description
A Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science Fashion Design and Marketing Kenyatta University School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences Kenyatta University May 2024
supervisor
Dinah W. Tumuti