By creating a balance between craft and digital technology can we maintain authenticity and individuality in design? As individuals can we still preserve our essence while being immersed in the unlimited availability of connection and communication that digital technology has brought us?
‘Poetics of Light’ was the concept of our assignment, glass craft and the digital technology of 3D printing were the mediums. We (Andy Robinson and Emily Yeh) first spoke as we began this task. This new educational partnership became the catalyst to our conversation as we looked for inspiration in the randomly chosen words ‘communication’ and ‘connection’. Our discussions that followed touched on digital technology, craft, information, essence, isolation, materiality, individuality, authenticity, nature and choice. We were reminded that the methods of connecting and communicating have been evolving since the beginning of time. Mixing digital and craft production methods, and creating a connection to high tech objects, we hope to communicate the availability of gained and enhanced attributes through this evolution.
Inspired by Tapio Wirkkala and Bertil Villein’s work, both showing a mastery of the properties of materials, light and technology, and the ease with which they connect art and craft to design for production through emerging technologies. With ‘Poetics of Connection’ we sought to combine meaning and purpose creating an object for everyday interaction to inspire a somewhat dis-‘connected’ purpose for an iPhone.