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DIGITAL PLATFORMS FOR CRAFT
Digital platforms for craft was an 20-month project that aimed to map out the use, features and potential of digital platforms in craft sectors in the UK and China. It was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in the UK and supported by the Crafts Council, and was a partnership between researchers at the Queen Mary University of London and Hunan University in China.
WHY THIS RESEARCH？
Digital platforms in other creative industries such as music and games generate revenue growth and sustain work. However, there is a lack of research in the use and potential of digital platforms for craft sectors.
WHAT VALUE CAN DIGITAL PLATFORMS BRING TO CRAFT?
Digital platforms provide opportunities for innovation by using new materials and production techniques; they facilitate greater and closer access to markets and customers and help include customers more in the design process.
Digital platforms such as social networks, search engines, online marketplaces, and content distribution can help to generate new products and services both online and offline.
See our case studies for some great examples.
Read our full report for more details.
WHY RESEARCH IN UK & CHINA?
There are deep rooted differences in culture and heritage between the UK and China which would affect conventions and methods of production and consumption in Creative Economies.
There are significant differences between countries’ internet infrastructure and policies of use.
There are differences in digital inclusion between urban and rural areas which are different in China and the UK and which would have an impact of the possible uses and uptake of digital platforms.
RESEARCH PROCESS
Mixed methods research was undertaken in China and the UK including desk research and surveys to gather stakeholders’ experiences and views regarding the features and uses digital platforms for craft and recruit participants in workshops. Workshops and interviews/focus groups were conducted in the urban and rural areas to identify uses and opportunities for digital platforms for craft.
VIDEO ABOUT OUR PROJECT
RESEARCH TEAM
UK
Prof. Nick Bryan-Kinns
Dr Yuanyuan (Daisy) Liu
Lauren
Pengxuan Yang
QMUL Creative Economy Network
Prof. Morag Shiach
Dr Tarek Virani
Jiun-Yi Wu
Justine Kenyon
CHINA
Prof. Hao Tan
Dr Zhengyu Tan
Dr Duoduo Zhang
Ying Zhao
Huiwen Zhang
Weiting Gao
Yaan Wei
Xinhui Cai
Lanting Deng
Huiling Xie
Ran He
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank all the participants who gave us enormous help in our project including Tatty Devine (UK), Hand & Lock (UK), Bridget Bailey (UK), Maria Sigma (UK), Elizabeth Renton (UK), Jeremy Nichols (UK), Xiang Embroidery (李艳大师工作室, China), Tongguan Kiln Ceramics (铜官窑, China), Yiyang Xiaoyu Bamboo art (危禄绵大师, China), Hunan Arts and Crafts Vocational College (湖南工艺美术职业学院, China), Blue Wood: woodworking experience studio (蓝顶研木社, China), Daxi Leather Studio (大西皮具工作室, China), Zou Liulan: a blue dye artist (邹柳兰, China), Tatala Huayao Cultural and Creative Studio (塔塔拉花瑶文创工作室, China), and all those who contributed and wished to remain anonymous.
Contact Us
Contact E-mail: contact@craftplatforms.org
Craftplatforms.org has been produced by the project research team at Queen Mary University of London, UK, and Hunan University, China.
Prof. Nick Bryan-Kinns
n.bryan-kinns@qmul.ac.uk
School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science
Queen Mary University of London
London E1 4NS
Prof. Hao Tan
htan@hnu.edu.cn
School of Design, Hunan University
Yuelu Mountain, Changsha
