Nuts and bolts

Having spent three years developing the Code of Practice for Partnerships in Craft & Design, it is now time to add some nuts and bolts to the chassis. We are currently developing model contracts and checklists to inform designers and artisans about industry standards.

The law court or the market? How should we share designs?

  A core element of the Sangam Project is a set of standards for best practice, resulting from dialogue across the network. The Make it New Again: Models for Innovation in Traditional Craft conference at NID in Ahmedabad identified some key concerns in craft product development. It is important now to open up these concerns … Continue reading The law court or the market? How should we share designs?

Mutual Respect: Draft Standards for Product Development

Draft Standards for Best Practice in Transnational Craft-Design Partnerships Part 2 This Best Practice document includes standards that help guide those seeking to ensure an ethical basis for product development involving designers and artisans. They pertain to situations where the concepts of a designer and craft skills of an artisan are combined to develop a … Continue reading Mutual Respect: Draft Standards for Product Development

Put a name to it: Standards for Labelling

The Australia India Design Platform seeks to gather views around standards for creative partnerships between designers and artisans. One contentious standard concerns whether the name of the artisan(s) should feature on the label. There are positive reasons for this, not only related to fairness, but also the value added by the reputation of the maker. … Continue reading Put a name to it: Standards for Labelling

Roundtable–the need to get the story straight

In Delhi last year, Sangam – the Australia India Design Platformhosted a roundtable and forum to share concepts and issues in global craft and design partnerships. There are many opportunities to link artisans to foreign markets through designers. What are new models for this transnational product development? What are the ethical issues and how might … Continue reading Roundtable–the need to get the story straight

Who made it? Draft standards for ethical labelling

The Harris Tweed label was tremendously successful in promoting textile crafts in the Scottish islands. There are parallel moves today in the use of geographical indications. But such labels do not include the names of those who wove the cloth. When would this be appropriate? What happens when the label is a designer brand, such … Continue reading Who made it? Draft standards for ethical labelling