The Future of Craft Technologies

We are living in an age where there is an increasing amount of developments in technologies founded
on digital and electrical structures. A digital revolution is taking place and it has been going on for the last few
decades. These developments have an extensive impact on design processes, creating a new relationship
between human and machine. How can we retain the essence of craft as we work with new materials and
technologies?

When looking at the current progression in digital technology and the mechanic processes that come with it it is hard not to look in the past and see similarities in the industrial revolution. The new steam engine driven machines replaced the craftsmen system with faster and cheaper production. The critical eye and artistry of the craftsman was sacrificed by speed. The worker was nog submitted to the machine, feeding it raw materials and allowing it to determine the final product. The interference of machinery and mass production of craft processes raised the same critical questions that are expressed in current events.

Hand-made objects have a uniqueness that can not be replicated by a machine. The nature of craft objects lies at the heart of the profession, reflecting the importance of authenticity and the value of workmanship. If technologies, such as 3D printing, make it possible to make distinctive objects at the touch of a button, what does that imply for the whole notion of craft? What will being a craft professional mean in these circumstances?