ERIC Number: EJ1345478
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Sep
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0957 7572
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1804
Available Date: N/A
Craftspeople's New Identity: The Impact of Digital Fabrication Technologies on Craft Practices
International Journal of Technology and Design Education, v32 n4 p2365-2383 Sep 2022
Since 2000, craft practitioners have increasingly adopted digital fabrication technologies. Simultaneously, the public's engagement in making through various means has escalated, disrupting the makers' ecosystem. This study explores craft practitioners' motivation to acquire new digital skills in the context of informal learning and professional development in Hong Kong and how they perceive potential changes in the maker culture and creative industries. This study's methods consisted of two rounds of semi-structured interviews with 18 craft practitioners as well as participant observations during a short-term workshop in which they learned the basics of digital fabrication technologies. The findings revealed that external variables, such as social influence and facilitating conditions, are as important as personal motivations for craftspeople's acceptance of technology. Additionally, the study found that technology has not advanced sufficiently to meet craftspeople's expectations, and understanding of traditional craft skills is essential to take advantage of these technologies. The participants envisioned that technologies would enhance productivity and creativity in their practice and that their "digital craftspeople" identity would thrive due to the rise of the maker culture. For more effective incorporation of technologies into craft practices, it is suggested that a new curriculum design customized for various types of craft makers be constructed and implemented.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Skilled Workers, Handicrafts, Motivation, Attitudes, Skill Development, Job Skills, Technological Literacy, Professional Development, Labor Needs, Change, Professional Identity, Vocational Adjustment
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link-springer-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Hong Kong
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A