The Pursuit of Quality

by Alisher Mirzaev

Abstract

Technological advancements and changes in our society have resulted in the decline of craft. This study has found that craft and craftsmanship have benefits on a physical, cognitive, and societal level, it is too valuable, and we cannot allow it to decay.

People of today are losing the skills and knowledge of the past; and due to a deficiency in our society, can no longer engage in a pursuit of quality in their work. Novice makers often do not have access to experienced people to teach them the skills required to engage in a craft. This results in an abandonment of the craft or a grueling self-teaching cycle, often fuelled by books and YouTube videos—although helpful, these sources are not the best way to learn new fine motor skills.

The education system is a digital resource that teaches makers the motor skills and knowledge required for their craft, the primary medium used for this are video materials. The learning tools are created through additive manufacturing technology and are used to assist the digital education system in teaching the fine motor skills and tactile elements of craft. This project creates a way for people to engage in a difficult skill in a more meaningful and successful way.

‘The Pursuit of Quality’ focuses on woodworking and timber furniture making as the chosen craft but the findings, knowledge, and framework created by this dissertation can be applied to any craft process. The joint selected for this project is a Kane Tsugi joint.

“The project aims to create a series of physical learning tools and an accompanying education system, when used in unison the components seek to create a complete, autonomous learning system for the acquisition of craft skills. ”

Kane Tsugi

The Kane Tsugi joint, translated to right angle mitre, is a traditional Japanese joint that is strong as it is beautiful. The strength of the joint comes from two things, the surface area to which glue can be applied and the possibility of using a ‘pin’ to lock the joint in place. Traditionally, these joints would be pinned and avoided the use of adhesives. This project has limited the scope of the joint to an unpinned version. The complexity and appeal of the geometry is the reason it was chosen for this project.

It is difficult to create a Kane Tsugi joint free hand because it takes advanced skill and multiple techniques. It would take a woodworker many months (if not years) of practice to be able to cut a joint with the necessary accuracy of a craftsperson.

Design Intent

This project intends to combat the decline of craft by teaching the skills, practices, knowledge, and motor skills required to be a craftsperson. This design incorporates woodworking and timber joinery as the chosen craft practice, but the knowledge gained and framework established can be applied more widely to any craft, or the acquisition of any complex motor skill.

The digital learning system will take the form of a subscription based website in which uses will have access to classes on a range of different crafts from a diverse group of instructors. The primary medium in which the website delivers it’s classes is through videos, each project is broken down into a series of 10 - 30 minute classes. The digital resource seeks to be the only educational media better you two needs, this means the classes range from the basics; material and tool selection, to the theoretical; why something is done a certain way to the instructional; how to use the jigs to learn craft skills.

The website includes STL files for users who wish to print the Jigs themselves, and features a resource through which users can have jigs printed and deliver to them through a 3rd party printing service.

“A two-factor educational system has been established that combines a digital learning system with physical learning tools, this creates a more refined and thorough learning environment. The digital learning system will teach the users the knowledge and theory required for the chosen craft while the physical learning tools will assist in teaching the fine motor skills, and tactile knowledge that is often difficult to express. ”

The jigs are 3D printed with Polylactic Acid (PLA) filament on a desktop Fuse Filament Fabrication (FFF) printer, additional metal hardware will be added to the parts post print to create a system for guiding tools. PLA was chosen due to its price, popularity, and ease of use. The jigs are printed at 15% infill with 100% in crucial areas. Each jig takes roughly 30 hours to print.

The current series of jigs and videos are used to create a “Kane Tsugi” joint. The joint was chosen due to its complexity and visual appeal. The process is broken down into 3 jigs, the first creates the 45 degree meeting angle of the joint, the second creates the male side of the joint, and the third creates the female side. The jigs use magnets to guide a hand saw and chisels into the right position, this creates a similar feeling to being guided in person by a teacher.

“3D printing was selected as the production method of choice due to its increase availability to the general public, its low end entry price, and its ability to create complex geometric parts. The culture of 3D printing is homogeneous with the culture and philosophy of this project.”

Kane Tsugi joint made through the use of the learning tools + learning system

Pursuit_Alisher_Mirzaev

Bio

I am an industrial designer and a graduate of the Product Design Honours program at the University of Technology Sydney. I am a critical thinker, I am problem solver, I am a maker.

For as long as I can remember I’ve had a fascination with craft, I’ve always loved making things with my hands. Meccano and Lego as a kid, Warhammer as a teenager, and as an adult I’ve become intrigued by craft and the idea of craftsmanship. Woodworking in particular stood out to me. It has been a craft that I’ve been trying to learn independently for many years, those experiences are what fuelled this project.

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