Craft in the digital world

By Alex Jordan 17 : 04 : 2015 Postdigital Artisans : Craftsmanship : Jonathan Openshaw

London – New book Postdigital Artisans sheds light on the world of contemporary craftsmen working in the digital age.

The book explores how the digital experience is changing our perception of the physical world around us
People are spending half of their waking hours online, nine hours a day or more in front of a screen

Written by LS:N Global editor Jonathan Openshaw and published by Frame in Amsterdam, this book explores the work of artisans who are bringing a new aesthetic to contemporary craft. In contrast to the booming interest in 3D printing and computer-aided design, these artisans are returning to materials and tactility, while being influenced by a screen-based aesthetic.

‘The people that I’ve featured in the book are all resolutely committed to hand craft and artisanal skill, but are also interested in the changes being brought about by the digital era,’ Openshaw tells LS:N Global. ‘They make things out of metal, clay, wood and stone, but also embrace the new creative opportunities being brought about by new technology. There’s nothing nostalgic in their work, but these artisans also preserve the importance of handcraft and hard-earned skills.’

The Big Picture: Read our Opinion piece on the importance of preserving craft in the digital age and our Awakening Tech macrotrend to understand how the offline and online worlds are converging.