Do-it-yourself culture

Do-It-Yourself culture

Brief History

The term ' DIY ' came in to common language around the 50's when Home Improvement became a trend to do something yourself with cost-saving activities.

Lately it refers to many things. Punk-, Indie- and Punkmusic are part of the DIY Music world. Knock up your own dolls, house decoration or statues out of bottle caps, handicrafts, are an example of DIY in the Arts and Crafts world. It's has branches in every sector of craft, electronics, music, writing and so on.

It's biggest presents was during the 60's early 70's. When the up rise of people making things their own was growing, Stewart Brand published The Whole Earth Catalog. Basically, this is a very early example of what we know call Open Source Software. The Catalog included tools, tutorials, information, tips and even guidance on early personal computers. Though out the years Home-Improvement DIY changed into Electronic DIY, into Design DIY. The grow and practice of DIY grew in the early 1990's because of the use of internet. Users could offer information, while others could find it and use it. This became more immense when YouTube entered the picture.

What I think

I see the DIY culture, generally as doing something yourself, therefore, you make some different, out of the box or not that has been already made. During the process of 'DIY' you gain experience in what every you are doing, music, craft etc. DIY is for the maker it's self most important, satisfaction, proud as well as skill and knowledge. For the experiencing audience seeing, hearing or receiving a DIY product it becomes personal as well. I would value a handmade dress by someone more, than a dress with it's 100000 copies from H&M.

Though I believe DIY has been blown up over the years. There is a split between Home-DIY'ers and extravagant experimenters. Think of e.g. lasercutting, 3D printing. If you take 3D printing, the tools you need are not something you can easily access. You have to pay loads of money to either buy the machine or let a workshop do it for you. So it's not made by you but by a machine. This split I see as DIY making a separate craft/craftsmanship. The craft of letting machines make something for you. Though I will not decline it would come in handy.

For me DIY means, really making it yourself, with accessible tools, without spending too much money but enough time and love.