Value-creating practices and barriers for collaboration between designers and artisans: a systematic literature review

Abstract

This study aims to map out the challenges of existing design collaborations in craft sectors and delineate different types of value associated with artisan and designer collaboration. A systematic literature review was undertaken, examining peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2000 and 2022. The results indicate three levels of sustainable value created from designer-artisan design collaboration, which include business growth, regional development, and autonomic capability development. However, collaborative value is often hindered by a lack of a clear understanding of the process of value coordination or shared value creation, the challenges of balancing different relationships, thinking patterns, and values, and a lack of understanding of different actors’ roles regarding materials, technology, and design processes. This study bridges knowledge gaps by offering a holistic depiction of designer-artisan design collaboration, mapping current challenges of practices, and defining future research agendas.