Design and Craft

Lady of the wood - David Walker

Before the nineteenth century, craft consisted of making objects out of necessity and people relied on making objects for functionality. Every object was made with hands, using physical human skills, creativity and patience, as there was no technology or automation available to make anything mechanically. Since industrialisation, the need for hand made crafts diminished and gave way to factory produced goods. This gave people the opportunity to pursue craft as a hobby and as an art form to please their senses and express themselves creatively. Today craft continues to be a hobby for many people but it has also become a recognised art form and is appreciated for its aesthetic value similar to that of fine art. Craft has become an important part of design as many designers create their pieces by hand which requires extreme skill and diligence.

Alaskan carpenter David Walker made the above dress entirely out of all-American timbers. It is made from mahogany and lacewood with 52 strips of maple and cedar for the skirt, the wig is made out of wood shavings. This design won the supreme award at the World of Wearable Arts show in 2009. This shows how design and craft has progressed through time and I think it is a great example of how contemporary craftsmanship is internationally recognised.