Hands On

This research explores the relationship between a craftsperson and its digital tools in order to locate and understand the importance of tacit knowledge and craft experience in a craft-technology hybrid making practice. Much of the craftsperson’s design decisions are dependent on tacit knowledge but tacit knowledge is not easily communicated to others. It must be learnt through osmosis rather than verbal instructions. This research affirms that it is tacit knowledge that empowers the craftsperson to apply intellectual thinking and material intelligence when making with digital technologies. By drawing on my own practice as a weaver, I aim to understand and expand on the role of the craftsperson at the intersection of craft and technology in the making of modern objects. The definition of craft and specifically craft as knowledge is crucial for this research. The positionality of digital technology in craft practices is explored through engaging with craftspeople with craft knowledge and craft-technology hybrid practices. This study also identifies the motivational factors, attitudes and perceptions of craftspeople for incorporating digital practices. The significance of this research is that it demonstrates a research methodology of drawing out tacit knowledge that can be replicated to further understand its role in the making of contemporary craft