The presentation explored unique ways in which traditional Afrikan philosophy and practice complement HCD and Design Thinking with an emphasis on empathy and a sense of community (as elaborated in Ubuntu). Beyond ways of designerly thinking and doing, Ubuntu challenges us to adopt

Mugendi K. M’Rithaa, Professor of Industrial Design at Machakos University

Prof. Mugendi K. M’Rithaa is a transdisciplinary industrial designer, educator, researcher and consultant presently working at Machakos University, Kenya. He is widely traveled and has taught in Kenya, Botswana, Canada, India, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and Uganda and is passionate about various expressions of socially conscious design. Mugendi has a special interest in the pivotal role of design thinking in advancing the developmental agenda on the African continent. He is a founding member and fellow of the Pan-Afrikan Design Institute (PADI)/Design Council of Afrika, and is associated with a number of other international networks focusing on design within industrially developing (or majority world contexts) including the Association of Designers of India (ADI). Mugendi is President Emeritus and Senator of the World Design Organization – having been the first African President in the history of the WDO from 2015-2017.