This paper
addresses the social component of
craftsmanship in
relation to service design. The
transferal of
crafting skills and knowledge can be
considered a
service that is co-created between
master and
apprentice. The social aspects of
learning
craftsmanship will be discussed in the
light of how they
could benefit designers in the
development of
Product Service Systems.
Workshops in
bobbin-lace making that took place
as part of a
research project about smart-textile
Product Service
Systems serve as the foundation of
this analysis. A
group of designers assumed the
role of apprentices
in these workshops. The aim
was not only to
apprehend the basics of this
historical craft,
but also to get an understanding of
the concept of
craftsmanship. In this paper we
discuss our
observations and reflections on being
designers as
apprentices and how the insights
gained can
apply to service design.
Nordic Design Research Conference 2013
