Socially valid tools: Sloydtrukk and co-crafting togetherness

Abstract

In the footsteps of specialization as well as studio crafts, making is commonly thought of as a solitary practice. The term do-it-yourself (DIY) emphasizes the singular and practical maker, empowered by his or her skills, taking action where deemed necessary. Along similar lines, tools are designed for the use by this lone maker, who seldom asks for assistance. The term co-craft, as explored in this article, suggests a collaborative mode of crafts, where participants not only work together, but become reliant on each other. Following the ideas of craftsman and thinker William Coperthwaite, such tools for togetherness make democratic ideals tangible and are ‘socially valid designs’. This article examines a series of workshops where socially valid tools are designed and implemented in Gothenburg, to model possible modes of co-craft and democratic ways of practical cultivation of craft capabilities.