Enabling the potential of handicraft CRAFT 4.0 Erasmus Project

Project Title

Enabling the potential of handicraft CRAFT 4.0

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Context/background of the project
Digital tools including digital modelling software and digital making tools such as 3D Printing are stretching the boundaries of making both in the process of creating form and in the development of designs and concepts. Furthermore, these technologies are becoming increasingly accessible and affordable. While the machine/computer is sometimes seen as a threat to craft, these technologies also represent a significant opportunity to support the production of hand-crafted objects and to enhance the development of the craft sector. The emergence of affordable digital manufacturing and fabrication tools are acknowledged as having the potential to radically reshape contemporary craft practice.
Project Aims and Objectives
Current trends in the craft sector show how important it is for craftspeople to embrace opportunities brought by the digital revolution. Craft 4.0 aimed to create training tools for craftspeople in the areas of digital modelling and digital/ additive manufacturing. Furthermore, the project aims to improve digital competences in the craft sector and in doing so enhance the craftmaking process. Providing an opportunity for the craftsperson to cultivate product design and development skills, increase sectoral networking locally and internationally while also increasing customer engagement, with the purpose of improving and developing individual craft businesses.

Project Activities and Participants
Craft 4.0 consisted of three main outputs underpinned by multiple project activities.
IO1, delivered The Multidimensional Craft Entrepreneur, a Research Report based on the following activities:
– A survey of 160 craft professionals from the partner countries providing direct insights into specific requirements for the development of a focused training strategy
– A collection of 25 case studies sourced from the Craft 4.0 partners providing insights from established designers/ craftspeople who have adopted digital technology in their craft process
– Organisation of 6 focus groups by the partners with 100 participants from the craft sector who are interested in developing their digital making skills, further informing and refining the design of the proposed training content.

IO2 involved the creation of:
The Craft 4.0 Training Platform
The development of an online training platform which would be used to host the training content and support the learning needs of the craft sector in the area of digital modelling, digital manufacturing and additive manufacturing processes. The structure and functionality of the platform was developed during a 3 day design workshop hosted by Malardalens University and involving 12 participants from the partner organisations.
The Craft 4.0 Training Content
The development of extensive training content specific to the project in the form of video tutorials, presentations and tests, providing craft professionals with learning resources to help develop their practice and business through adoption of digital making technologies. In total there are 47 modules including 37 videos (177 minutes), 10 presentations and 4 tests. In particular, the decision to produce as much video content as possible is notable. Although not allowed for in the original plan, the partners felt that this was the most suitable format for the type of learning and target audience.

IO3 involved 3 deliverables:
Implementation of a Pilot Test of the training platform and content
The project partners conducted a pilot test of 200 participants from 7 countries. 45% of the participant were from the Craft Sector, 38% from training providers and 17% described as others which included students.
Evaluation of the Pilot Test
The platform was evaluated via survey and a direct feedback loop to the project partners. The survey consisted of 19 multiple choice questions and 6 free text questions. There were 200 responses with 561 individual comments/ suggestions amounting to 7,700 words.

Results and Impact
The 3rd deliverable of IO3 was a report on the Pilot Test which summarised the outcomes of the pilot test and project generally. The overall satisfaction levels with the platform were very high. The survey evaluated the satisfaction level across 4 categories which included the Training Materials, Training Methodology, Training Platform, and Training Course Impact.
The overall satisfaction levels with the platform were very high with the satisfaction level across the 4 categories greater than 8.5 out of 10 and average satisfaction level being 8.77 out of 10.
Generally the feedback from the sector regarding the project was overwhelmingly positive. Further detains and insights are delivered in the Pilot Test Report which is available on the Project Results Platform and Craft 4.0 Website.
At the time of this report, there were 4,100 site visits, 1,295 video views and 2,400 minutes of video watch time.

Project Website

https://plp.craftproject.eu/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 316674 Eur

Project Coordinator

TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY DUBLIN & Country: IE

Project Partners

• Agentia pentru Dezvoltare Regionala Nord-Est
• European Digital Learning Network
• CENTRE DE DIFUSIO TECNOLOGICA DE LA FUSTA I DEL MOBLE DE CATALUNYA
• Business Innovation Center Innobridge
• CIVIC COMPUTING LIMITED
• MÄLARDALENS UNIVERSITET