A Creativity Gap in Craft Design Training

A case study of pre and post-design and creativity training for wooden sandal craftsmen in Tasikmalaya, Indonesia

Abstract

This four years study combines an action research and semi-ethnography method by employing observation, interview, reflection, and monitoring to evaluate the whole process of design and creativity training. A series of design training, post-training informal random visits, and online trading monitoring was conducted and analyzed. We found that curriculum should articulate craftsmen’s customs/familiarity and introduce another symbolic domain. A simply transfer of the conventional Design Principles and Creativity Icebreaker exercises would later create an odd feeling and hesitation instead.