HAND CRAFTED VS DIGITAL CRAFTED

"The perceived loss of the immediacy of touch in the creation of digitally crafted objects has brought many craftsperson to question the place of technology with in the crafts." Many craftsmen, as well as designers, are trying to figure this out. And this is also a headache for me: I love making things by hand living in a time when some advanced ways of making like 3D printing is so damn amazing. So now I am facing the choice between hand crafted and digital crafted.

ACTUALLY HAND-CRAFTING AND DIGITAL-CRAFTING ARE NOT SO SEPARATED.

Even though now with the super cutting-edge tech we can design and make prototypes only by sitting in front of a PC, we still use our hands as a way to feel and test the shape, texture and details of the artifact. In my recent practice, 3D printing is only used to simplify the making process (and also helps to make things that difficult for hands), whether the things I made are right or wrong, I got the answer from my hand.

One of my process of  design and making.

The process shown above maybe will repeat several times until satisfaction. Different from traditional making process, digital things get involved from the start to the end.

Simple diagram to show the different approaches.

During my 4 years undergraduate time I've learned much about the vehicle industry. In the car design process, both digital and hand crafting are well applied into use. There are designers making 3D models on computer, while some modelers making 1:1  industrial clay model with hand in order to adjust the details time and time again. This is a mature collaboration of two different approaches.

Car design process.

MAYBE IT'S ABOUT EXPERIENCES INSTEAD OF HANDS

Michael Eden's works completely shocked me. My personal opinion towards some old-traditional craftsmen is that they are somehow stubborn. They can spend 20 years exploring 1 craft, opening to new tech and changing may seem difficult for them. But comparing Michael's former works with new ones, I can't really believe they are made from a same guy.

Michael Eden's works.

I started to think. In a digital crafted environment objects are becoming more intangible, and the role of hand is less than before. However does this matter? I think even if a craftsman doesn't use hands so often, something else passes on. It's not about the role of hands, instead it's the experience of making. Thinking from a higher perspective, our hands are only tools, no big difference from a saw, a hammer or 3D printer. The problem is it may take a long time for us to get used to new tools (digital methods of making). It's like to eat with your hand or with chopsticks.

Taken old experiences into new digital making environment, that is the spirit of "the role of hand".