CDI – Product Development

From Concept to Craft

A product development initiative that reimagined heritage techniques into modern, marketable design pieces.

Many artisans possess incredible skills, but lack the design insight to evolve their work into retail-ready products. that speak to current markets.

A light wooden triangular dish with rounded edges, holding a matching smooth wooden spoon. Both items have a natural wood grain finish and are placed on a plain background.

Techniques modernised without erasing heritage

Prototype feedback loop established for further refinement

Range of new products developed

ART AID worked with crafters under the CDI programme to blend traditional techniques with contemporary aesthetics . The process included material exploration, functionality refinement, and branding to create culturally rich, market-relevant pieces.

Crafters emerged with products that balance tradition and trend, sharper design instincts, and the confidence to price and position their work for real markets.

A colourful notebook, two round earrings, a pendant, and a painted stone rest on dark fabric. All feature bold, geometric folk designs in red, yellow, green, and blue, with repeating star and petal shapes outlined in black.

Two round earrings with the African continent silhouette in black over green, yellow, and red stripes. Each earring has a beaded hook in matching colours. Part of a blue canvas with a black design and wooden edge appears on the right. Background is dark fabric.

A set of handmade jewellery on a textured teal surface: an orange patterned fabric necklace with loops and three red beads, and two matching orange fabric bangles placed beside it.

A stone painted with the Ghana flag: vertical green, yellow, and red stripes, with a black star in the centre of the yellow stripe. The stone has a black outline and rests on a textured, dark background.

A pair of earrings with gold beads and flat, brown giraffe-shaped pendants are displayed on a textured dark fabric background. The earrings have metal hooks for wearing.

Three brightly coloured paintings with bold, geometric patterns and vibrant red, yellow, green, blue, and black shapes are displayed on small wooden easels, resting on a dark-textured surface near a light-coloured wall.

A close-up of a brown hessian fabric with two rectangular, cream-coloured buttons sewn near the edge using thick string. The background features a dark textured surface beneath the fabric.

A smooth, light-coloured wooden bowl with an organic, asymmetrical shape sits on a dark textured surface. Two matching wooden utensils rest inside, one of which has a unique handle resembling an animal or branch with protruding elements.

Two round earrings lie on a dark textured surface. Each earring has red, yellow, and green stripes with a black Africa map silhouette. Above the circles are small red, yellow, green, and black beads. Part of a colourful painting on a mini easel is visible above them.

A necklace with a thick, woven beige cord features a pendant made of three rectangular shell pieces, a round shell ring, and dangling shell and bone-like elements, all arranged vertically. The shells have an iridescent, natural finish.

Close-up of a person’s face with brown skin, adorned with white painted dots and small, round beads attached to the surface. The person gazes to the side with a calm expression. Blue and yellow fabric is visible at the bottom edge.

A stack of five wooden plates of varying sizes, each with irregular, organic shapes, sits on a dark fabric surface. The largest plate has a natural bark edge, and the plates rest on a woven textured mat. The background includes a pale, lightly textured wall.

A young man in a blue and white denim shirt and black hat stands outdoors, threading string through holes on a red object, possibly a mask or decorative item, with leafy green bushes in the background. He is focused on his task.

A display of hand-crafted jewellery and wooden bowls. The jewellery includes a woven necklace, two pairs of red circular earrings with feather-like pendants, and a necklace with square and round shell-like pieces. The bowls are stacked above, made of light-coloured wood.

A pair of handmade earrings with round, patterned discs featuring red and white diamond shapes, black beads, gold accents, and long, bright red tassels, displayed on a textured dark grey fabric background.

A stack of wooden plates with rustic edges sits on a woven mat. In front, there is a chunky plaited necklace with square shell pendants, and a pair of red, round earrings with feathered tassels, all placed on a dark textile background.

A smooth, oval stone features a hand-painted design resembling the South African flag, with sections of green, black, yellow, red, blue, and white outlined in black. The stone rests on a textured, dark fabric background.

A smooth, light wooden bowl with an irregular, organic shape is shown with two matching wooden serving spoons resting inside, all having a natural, minimalist design. The bowl and spoons appear hand-crafted with visible grain patterns.

A decorative cushion with an image of a child’s face painted with white dots and adorned with yellow flowers rests against a textured wall. In front, two wooden spoons—one simple and one shaped like a tree branch—lie on a dark fabric surface.

A person in a red cap, white shirt, and blue jeans sits on the ground, carving wood with a knife. Wood shavings and tools are scattered around. They are in front of a brick wall near a black plastic chair and a rucksack.

Three women stand around a table covered with colourful paints and art supplies. One woman has a limb difference, another wears a blue scarf, and the third wears a yellow headwrap. They focus on small objects in their hands, engaging in an arts and crafts activity.

A necklace with a plaited, light brown cord features five square and circular horn or shell pieces, each with a central hole, arranged in a V shape. Below, a long, tapered pendant extends downward. The background is dark fabric.

A close-up of a cushion featuring a printed image of a person with white face paint dots, wearing colourful beaded necklaces. The cushion rests on a dark sofa near a textured, off-white wall. The image has a culturally vibrant and artistic feel.

CDI – Product Development

Where Indigenous Wisdom Fuels Creative Futures

Trusted by Cultural Leaders