Technostress and its Effects on Graphic Design Works – A Case Study of Experienced Designers in a Developing Nation

Technostress and its Effects on Graphic Design Works – A Case Study of Experienced Designers in a Developing Nation

Patrick Twumasi Yeboah, Ginn Assibey Bonsu & Agnes Decardi-Nelson

Issue: Vol.6 No.15 Article 18 pp. 4458-4472
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202561518| Published online 30th December, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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ABSTRACT

The study aimed to examine the effects of technostress on graphic design projects. This research employed a constructivist methodology and adopted a qualitative approach. Purposive sampling ensured a deliberate and targeted selection of experienced graphic designers in Kumasi, Ghana. Structured interviews were conducted with the skilled designers at Asafo, a busy hub for graphic design works in Kumasi. Twenty designers were interviewed, and their responses were analysed thematically. The interview transcripts were categorised and coded in Microsoft Excel to identify recurring patterns related to technostress in graphic design projects, focusing on its effects on designers’ work from the perspectives of confidence, workflow, and creativity. It was identified that hardware and software compatibility issues, inability to update regularly due to pirated design software, obsolete skills resulting from modifications to the design software’s environment, and client rigidity were the primary causes of technostress. These affected the work being created and, therefore, designers should promote open communication and foster supportive work environments to mitigate their effects, thereby improving project quality and motivation. The study concludes by emphasising the importance of continuous improvement, learning, and understanding technostress in graphic design projects to support and motivate designers in their work. The study contributes to digital transformation in graphic design practices and throws light on the technologically induced stress in a developing nation in Africa.

Keywords: Graphic Design, Technostress, Activity Theory, Techno-stressors

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Patrick Twumasi Yeboah holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Philosophy in Communication Design. His research focused on technostress and its influence on design work, examining how technology affects designers’ efficiency, creativity, and well-being. With a strong academic and creative background, Patrick bridges design theory and practical application. He is passionate about fostering sustainable and balanced approaches to technology use in the creative industry.

Dr Ginn Bonsu Assibey holds a doctorate in Design Technology from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa. He is currently a senior lecturer in the Department of Communication Design at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. His research interests include exploring challenges to sustainable graphic design, systems design for sustainability, and emerging advertising strategies. He works mostly in two research paradigms – interpretivism and pragmatism – which are driven by learning through participation.

Dr Agnes Decardi-Nelson is a Research Scientist in Packaging Graphics and Graphic Design with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (CSIR- INSTI) with 15 years of research experience. She holds a PhD. Degree in African Art and Culture, Specifically Packaging Graphics and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (Hons) in Graphic Design, both from KNUST. She is a member of the Ghana Institute of Graphic Arts (GHIGA), Research Staff Association (RSA) and the Ghana Publishers Association (GPA). She is currently working in the areas of packaging graphics, printing and publishing, gender issues and entrepreneurship.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Yeboah, Patrick Twumasi, Ginn Assibey Bonsu, and Agnes Decardi-Nelson. “Technostress and its Effects on Graphic Design Works – A Case Study of Experienced Designers in a Developing Nation,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no. 15 (2025): 4458 -4472, https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202561518.