The Artisan’s Manifesto

Aesthetics

Aesthetics is a concept, and its value can stretch beyond the notion of simply looking ‘good’. Aesthetics is something that needs to be considered through the entire crafting process. Each piece must be carefully designed to ensure that it fits with the feel of the whole. This means there is a character that goes well beyond the object itself. This is often conceived as the artisan’s soul or their personal touch. Though this can be advantageous it is best to ensure that the aesthetics follow a pattern, and not simply the fleeting flights of the artisan. Great aesthetics, is only achievable when the product is able to speak for itself rather than rely on the artisan to highlight its strengths.

Authenticity

Authenticity can also been seen as truth. This of course goes deeper than a simple interpretation of ‘do not lie’. Authenticity is attained when a product does not imply anything other than absolute truth. No pieces attempt to serve multiple purposes that they we’re not intended to. It also means that each piece must be carefully considered to ensure that it itself is not imposing itself on other pieces. Authenticity is delicate - it requires the artisan to be considerate and ensure that each element of the whole can be validated.

Irregularity

Obscurity or uniqueness always has value, however, this value can add and subtract from the product as a whole. Concerning aesthetics the artisan must ensure that a pattern is followed but asymmetry, is an irregular pattern, and thusly can be crucial to a product. It is critical for the artisan to use irregularity to add value and not allow laziness or a lack of concern to produce the irregularity in a product. This irregularity is often seen as the characteristic that gives a product its authenticity. The ideal for the artisan is providing the product with character as this format of irregularity is what creates good aesthetics.

Durability

A trait that seems all too forgotten is durability. The artisan must always be mindful of the product’s durability. Durability means understanding the lifespan of a product. Whether it is expected to be short or long, the expectation of its life span must be considered. Generally the longer lifespan the better but the artisan must contemplate the cost of this, sometimes a shorter lifespan can ensure a better cost but only on the condition that it still maintains the desired the aesthetics, authenticity and irregularity.

Pragmatism

Pragmatism is often seen as meaning: fill a need or serve a purpose. Each piece of a product must serve a purpose that is inevitable, but the Artisan ought to look deeper and see the purpose beyond the obvious. They must examine the very fundamentals of the whole. This also means they must be adaptive. If in the event that the standard method does not achieve the above mentioned qualities then the artisan must adapt their method or practise to ensure these qualities can be met. So too should the pattern of the product not meet the needs of the product then that artisan is obligated to redesign the product.

Transparency

It goes without saying that products do not require transparent materials, but they do require a transparency of intention. Relative to authenticity, the artisan must be confident that their product remains transparent or obvious. This may be through revealing the methods behind the product or by the intent of the parts of the product. Digital products make this extra challenging since they are 90% magic beneath the user interface. The artisan must account for this to ensure that the product does not imply that it is doing anything other than what the obvious is.

Tangibility

It is most imperative that a product be tangible, or at least conceivably tangible, anything that lacks this risks losing its appeal. Products that maintain a sense of tangibility maintain a relationship with the owner. The artisan’s goal to provide the product with a tangibility that encourages the owner to maintain the relationship.

Quality

Quality is a result not a quality unto itself. The artisan must remember that when creating something the quality of the product is a result of their efforts and the culmination of the characteristics they put into the product. Artisan’s who generate great products ensure that what they produce is a summation of numerous efforts and concerns including: aesthetics, authenticity, pragmatism, transparency, durability, irregularity and tangibility. The artisan must also remember that each product they produce is a representation of their own self. Ergo, a dysfunctional artisan will likely produce dysfunctional products.