Craft and Sustainability: Potential for Design Intervention in Crafts in the Yangtze River Delta, China

Abstract

Modern manufacturing for global markets tends to homogenize material culture through its centralized production and divisive production process. In contrast, craft practices usually have a strong local identity through their application of holistic making practices, context-based knowledge, culturally specific responses and community-centred production. This form of locally-based, customizable and responsive production is discussed here in terms of its relationship to sustainability and as a promising direction for future manufacturing. Despite the potentially strong relationship between craft and sustainability, there is still only limited research exploring this relationship and how craft can more effectively contribute to contemporary industry and life in general. This paper begins by developing an understanding of the relationship between craft and sustainability. From this, we identify: 1) barriers to craft's development for sustainability, and 2) potential directions to which design can contribute. We then provide an analysis of the current state of crafts in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and identify the challenges and potential for design interventions in this region.

Value Direction: Moving Crafts toward Sustainability in the Yangtze River Delta, China

“…Lenzerini argues that the prominent characteristic of ICH is self-identification and distinctiveness [9] (p. 105). This is also consistent with our findings from previous research-one of the principle characteristics of craft is the localism and its distinctiveness from other cultures [7]. Meanwhile, craft has a close relationship with sustainability in terms of accordance and tensions [7].…”

“…This is also consistent with our findings from previous research-one of the principle characteristics of craft is the localism and its distinctiveness from other cultures [7]. Meanwhile, craft has a close relationship with sustainability in terms of accordance and tensions [7]. China has been undergoing a craft revival in the arena of creative industries [10].…”

“…This section is based on findings from our preceding research [7,10]. Hereby, we briefly summarize the findings to give a starting point to define the values pertaining to craft in line with sustainability.…”

“…Sustainability 2018, 10, 1252 3 of 20 Craft is considered by many scholars as one of the most elusive concepts, meaning it belongs to a "polythetic category" because it cannot be absolutely fixed in any particular definition [13]. In previous research, by extensively referencing literature on craft, the authors have attempted to address this "polythetic category" and developed a systemic view on craft in terms of ecological and localized making, complex thinking, and authentic being [7]. Regarding sustainability, Maxwell et al argue that the mainstream technology-intensive approaches do not approach the concept of sustainability holistically [14].…”

“…The Yangtse River Delta, the region of interest in the present study, has a long and rich craft history with c.a. 700 crafts recognized as ICH at the world, national and provincial levels [7]. This region is also one of China's most developed and highly concentrated industrial areas with dynamic technologies and commercial modes.…”