Design and Fabrication of Metal Key Holders and Cufflinks as Souvenirs for Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Isaac Kwabena Agyei ,Joe Adu-Agyem ,Samuel Kofi Tetteh Baah ,Peggy Ama Fenning ,Mohammed Kwaku Baidoo ,Cyril Etornam Adala

doi:10.7176/ads/83-01

Abstract

This study explored how to merge creativity in design with the Crest of KNUST to design and fabricate quality metal key holder and cufflink as souvenirs for KNUST. Based on the assumption that the various KNUST souvenirs seem to be limited in design and therefore lack creativity and variety, which limit the option of those purchasing. In executing the study, the philosophical underpinnings of the crest of KNUST was brought to bear. The study employed aesthetics and studio- based research methods under qualitative research approach to design and fabricate quality metal key holder and cufflinks to be used as souvenirs for Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. By using the Gestalt theory of design, which is concerned with the relationship between the parts and the whole of a composition, the researchers carefully select parts of the emblem of KNUST to design and fabricate a key holder and a cufflinks. Metal working techniques such as chasing and repoussé, fording and piercing were used to these souvenirs for KNUST. The researchers made use of the various tools and machinery available at the various studios of Meta T l Product Section of Industrial Art Department, KNUST. These included the milling studio, 4 th Year production studio where all the piercing vices, drilling machines, stakes and soldering turntable are made available and finally the forging studio where brass scraps were melted into ingot. Results of the study revealed that by adopting the fundamental processes such as idea development, forming processes, joining processes and finishing processes coupled with the fact that local metal scraps are used, underpin the argument that producing quality and professional metal souvenirs can be done here in Ghana to meet any standard elsewhere. This shows that other metal products could be produced as souvenirs for KNUST. After carefully observing some souvenirs of KNUST and other institutions of higher learning, unique designs based on the emblem of KNUST can be done. Keywords: fabricate, Gestalt, key holder, cufflinks, souvenirs, chasing and repousse. DOI: 10.7176/ADS/83-01 Publication date: July 31 st 2020

Highlights

Design means the appearance of the whole or a part of a product resulting from the features of, in particular, the lines, contours, color, shape, texture or materials of the product itself or its ornamentation
Based on the assumption that the various Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) souvenirs seem to be limited in design and lack creativity and variety, which limit the option of those purchasing
MATERIALS AND METHODS A study into the production of metal key holders and cufflinks as souvenirs for Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology reflects in the group of activities that require investigation techniques into design and fabrication concepts to reach at concrete results

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Design means the appearance of the whole or a part of a product resulting from the features of, in particular, the lines, contours, color, shape, texture or materials of the product itself or its ornamentation. Metalwork embraces a wide area of profession; some of which include blacksmithing, goldsmithing, silversmithing, casting, welding, jewellery fabrication and many others (Holl, 2000) All these professions come along with its working processes called metalworking. The term covers a wide range of metalwork from large items to be precisely small and delicate jewellery work (Tetteh & Adu-Agyem, 2014) It includes a correspondingly wide range of skills, techniques and processes needed for this project. That is the point that this research is sought to make designs and fabricate some metal key holder and cufflinks as a souvenirs to rebrand KNUST. It is wealthy to note that Schey’s definition underpins some of the processes that the researchers used in producing these souvenirs for the KNUST Industries such as jewellery arts and crafts as well as technological areas are mostly where metal fabrications are used. Based on the assumption that the various KNUST souvenirs seem to be limited in design and lack creativity and variety, which limit the option of those purchasing

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Conclusions