design CRAFT?

Coming from a background of no real understanding of the word, my preconceptions of craft were always automatically associated to kindie art activities with potato stamps and finger paint. It was either that or my mind would wander about this stereotype of nannas on their rocking chairs cross stitching, knitting and crocheting jumpers, scarves and little household decorations. This is what craft has always been to me. But since stepping into Ally’s class, my preconceived ideas have constantly been altered and challenged at best.

Now, through research, I’ve realized that craft is often associated to this notion of trade skill and workmanship. It is often related to artisanal practices and disciplines where time and dexterity are invested into creating quality and uniqueness. It is about the manner of constructing, of making and of creating something with great care and with much consideration. It prides on the idea of being individually created and being handmade with minimal use of technology, thus opposing the uniformity of the mass produced.

It is to my belief that the evolution of craft today has gone beyond an artistic approach to skill. Rather it is definable by the relationship of the creator to its piece. It is about this emotional and personal connection that is instinctively generated throughout the process of making, affixing sentiment to the end product. Though time and proficiency is still necessary with craft, today experiencing the process is just as essential. Craft is laborious but it is worthwhile.

It is the privilege of any human work which is well done to invest the doer with certain haughtiness. He can well afford not to conciliate, whose faithful work will answer for him." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Let a human being throw the energies of his soul into the making of something, and the instinct of workmanship will take care of his honesty."- Walter Lippmann