Thirteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

Industry 4.0 is producing changes within the prevailing industrial model: digital technologies made possible the connection between the different actors involved into the process and the designer is facing a change of role, managing these interrelation as well. The phenomenon has moved attention toward more artisanal dimensions, since they are characterized by more sustainable models, but less competitive. This project analyzes the possible changes and the consequences for these dimensions merged with digital technologies; it is useful to map the phenomenon to these level, exploring how this could become an alternative industrial reality, in between artisanship and Industry 4.0, and how it could acquire the characteristics of quality and flexibility of qualifying technologies. Digging into the Product Design field, the research is focused on the fashion, which is less understood and more sensible in terms of date. In fact this sector is less exposed to the changes of digital technologies, becoming an ideal field for a project that aims to get results from acquired knowledges, developed practices, and uploaded products. In order to realize these objectives, the project will move towards a knowledge level to understand the phenomenology, and towards an applicative one to verify the possible improvements. The results will be posted on both levels and they will generate new relations for the digital artisans and therefore they can define a product according to this new “industrial thinking”.