Finding the Grammar of Generative Craft

Abstract

Art and craft design is challenging even with the assistance of computer-aided design tools. Despite the increasing availability and intelligence of software and hardware, artists continue to find gaps between their practices and tools when designing physical craft artifacts. In many craft domains, artists need to acquire domain knowledge and develop skills in design-aid tools separately. Despite their power and versatility, generic design tools pose various challenges, such as requiring workarounds for specific crafts and having steep learning curves. Compared to generic design-aid tools, craft-specific systems can offer reasonable solutions to specific design tasks because they can offer domain-specific support. Nevertheless, craft-specific tools often have limited flexibility.

In this dissertation, I introduce Grammar-driven Craft Design Tools (GCDTs), which explicitly embed and utilize craft domain knowledge (i.e., ``grammar" of the craft) as their primary mechanisms and interfaces. Like other types of information, craft knowledge is processable and organizable data. In this dissertation, I develop and examine a framework to document, process, preserve, and utilize craft domain knowledge. GCDTs are craft-specific tools. By explicitly embedding and utilizing craft domain knowledge, GCDTs bridge the gap between design-aid tools and craft domain knowledge. GCDTs also have additional benefits such as supporting generative design, facilitating learning, and preserving domain knowledge. This dissertation gives an overview of how the next generation of design-aid tools can help artists find their creative expressions. It presents the GCDT framework and introduces three GCDTs developed for distinct domains. InfiniteLayer assists the design of multilayer sculpture, which is a form of sculpture made with layers of material. Then, MarkMakerSquare helps designers to invent unconventional and creative mark-making tools using various fabrication strategies. Lastly, ThreadPlotter supports the design and fabrication of plotter-based delicate punch needle embroidery.