Building a community platform for artisans and designers: artisans in Istanbul

Official URL: http://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b1628637 (Table of Contents)

“Technology” derives from the word “technē” in Greek, which means “craftsmanship.” The suffix “-logy” derives from “logos” which means “to reason.” The meaning of “Technology” resides in its roots: a way of knowing by making and crafting. This thesis aims to find a sustainable solution for the artisans of Istanbul whose story appears to constitute a noteworthy example to a much wider spread, seemingly global, problem: The location of artisans in the city, a failing system of apprenticeship, and the lack of a critical role of artisans within industrial production systems has led the author thesis to a search for solutions regarding the future welfare of their livelihoods. Artisans are professionals who stand outside mass production systems, hand-manufacture individual products, mostly through traditional techniques that are handed down from master to apprentice whereas designers are professionals who are the first links of a chain of mass production. Unlike artisans, designers mostly do not directly manufacture creations themselves but instead develop prototypes / templates that are to be turned into products by others who are the further links of the above the mentioned chain. Yet, artisans demonstrate the ability to adapt to new technologies and procedures. This leads the author thesis to query whether designers, who have formal knowledge (logos), can be an instrument of social change for artisans who have tacit knowledge (technē). Through collaboration between these two seemingly disparate professions, a joint strategy whereby artisans can readapt their traditional handcraft oriented skills towards autonomous unique design processes and develop small-scale productions.