New Paths in Small Manufacturing: How is Digital Transformation Shaping Collaboration Between Designers and Craftspeople?
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Collaboration between designers and craftspeople, or designers and small manufacturers, is a strategy aiming to revive the local manufacturing industry in countries impacted by post-industrial economic challenges. In this paper we examine a local initiative-a community of practice (CoP) composed of designers and craftspeople-by studying how they have used technology to collaborate, in order to identify opportunities for long-term growth of this community. To gain a deep understanding of the dynamics in the community, the collaboration process during the workshop and after it, we used a three-phase qualitative research strategy. We conducted interviews with the participants and staff, analyzed an 11-month period of communications in the WhatsApp group and, finally, conducted a co-design session. We identify opportunities and challenges related to the design and implementation of a personalized collaborative system that fulfills the needs of the users as individuals and community members.
Description
Keywords
digital transformation, small manufacturing, community of practice, collaborative systems, innovation