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- Title of Abstract:
Craft textile production in the context of sustainable development: exploring the relationships in West Wales (Ref #188)
- Date:
- 25-10-2006 15:12:24
- Status:
-
Unsuccessful
- Rating:
- 4
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Details:
- This work has its origins in a doctoral study of design and its relationship to sustainable development in small scale textile producers in West Wales. It addresses three of the conference themes:
Innovation, design and craft; craft and the economy; and craft and manufacturing.
The textile producers studied vary from artisan manufacturers, micro enterprises producing hand made goods from local materials, and craftspeople working from a studio base. All are classified as craft producers being listed in the Pembrokeshire Art and Crafts Guide 2006, (Pembrokeshire County Council 2006) although their routes into the area may not include a college or university qualification in craft or design.
Objectives:
1. To examine and articulate the relationship between craft and design, in particular to establish the source of design input and the way in which decisions are made about the appearance of products, its relationship to available manufacturing technologies and intended market.
2. To assess the contribution of the producers to the local economy, both monetary and social and their relationship to the sustainable development agenda in Wales.
3. To evaluate the producers role(s) as manufacturing units and / or tourist destinations.
Approach used
This research is qualitative, using a case study approach (Langrish 1993, Yin 2003). A wide range of sources of information about the case studies has been collected and is ongoing. Information has been collected from first hand observation, visits and interviews (Denscombe 2003). As the researcher is herself a textile designer and maker, it is acknowledged that a feminist, reflexive approach is taken (Roberts 1981, Stanley 1993) in which the researcher is an active part of the research scenario. The researcher?s personal links with the geographic area are a strong driver for the work as well as a long standing interest in the Welsh textile tradition (Sutton 1987) and these perspectives inform the work.
Indication of main outcomes / findings
Initial work suggests that the level of understanding among the producers about design and the making process is varied, from sophisticated to pragmatic. The producers have come from different backgrounds into making textiles and this is reflected in their product ranges. Issues of defining craft will therefore be discussed. However, it is thought that the producers perform a vital role in the local economy contributing both economically and socially while having very little environmental impact. It will argue that small scale craft production has a place in the sustainable future being sought by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG 2004). It will also argue that strategic and considered use of design could benefit the producers. Clearly these arguments may or may not be confirmed as the work continues.
References
Denscombe, M, (2003) The Good Research Guide for Small Scale Social research projects. Second edition. Maidenhead, Philadelphia. Open University Press
Langrish, J (1993) Case studies as biological research process. Design Studies, Volume 14, number 4, pp 357 - 364
Pembrokeshire County Council (2006) Pembrokeshire Arts and Crafts Guide. Available at http://212.219.242.19/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=103&nav=174
Roberts, H, ed, (1981) Doing Feminist Research. London, Routledge
Stanley, L, and Wise, S, (1993) Breaking Out Again: Feminist Ontology and Epistemology, New edition, London, Routledge
Sutton, A (1987) The Textiles of Wales, London, Bellew Publishing
Welsh Assembly Government (2004) The Sustainable Development Action Plan 2004 ? 2007, Cardiff, Welsh Assembly Government
Yin, RK (2003) Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Third Edition, Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi, Sage Publications
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