From Master to Maker: Selected Crossroads in the Development of Western Craft

Craft – creation grounded in personal skill – today occupies new and compelling intersections: between ancient techniques and advanced technologies, ornament and protest, studio work and customized individual production. It reflects values of sustainability and attention to identity, both of maker and consumer.
This course explores the concept of craft and its historical evolution across Western culture, from the Middle Ages to the present. We will address its position in material culture, analyzing it from social, economic, and class-based perspectives, while highlighting contemporary innovations such as bio-design, open design, and slow design.
The course includes critical readings in contemporary literature on craft theory, technology, and design. Through observation of contemporary designers and artists from Israel and beyond, we will examine practical and conceptual strategies that shape craft's relevance and future potential.