New Paths in Small Manufacturing: How is Digital Transformation Shaping Collaboration Between Designers and Craftspeople?
Journal
SAGE Open
ISSN
2158-2440
2158-2440
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
Carmen Gerea
Valeria Herskovic
María Fernanda Rodríguez
Gabriela Cajamarca
Rodrigo Gajardo
Type
Resource Types::text::journal::journal article
URL Institutional Repository
Abstract
<jats:p> Collaboration between designers and craftspeople, or designers and small manufacturers, is a strategy aiming to revive the local manufacturing industry in countries impacted by post-industrial economic challenges. In this paper we examine a local initiative—a community of practice (CoP) composed of designers and craftspeople—by studying how they have used technology to collaborate, in order to identify opportunities for long-term growth of this community. To gain a deep understanding of the dynamics in the community, the collaboration process during the workshop and after it, we used a three-phase qualitative research strategy. We conducted interviews with the participants and staff, analyzed an 11-month period of communications in the WhatsApp group and, finally, conducted a co-design session. We identify opportunities and challenges related to the design and implementation of a personalized collaborative system that fulfills the needs of the users as individuals and community members. </jats:p>
Subjects
collaborative systems
;
community of practice
;
digital transformation
;
innovation
;
small manufacturing