Makers Using Technology Round Up

Last year we decided that we wanted to create a project where we could give practical and experiential support to makers. Usually we work with creative practitioners in Wales through our advisory service giving one-to-one advice about business, career and design projects. We wanted to do something a bit more hands on.

Final work by Anna Lewis. Projet 3D print.

"I did so much and I am excited to learn more and push it to the next level". Anna Lewis.

We developed the Makers Using Technology makers residencies. Initially we commissioned four artist/makers to develop a new piece of work using haptic modeling software Freeform, and 3D printing. We made a call out and had a very high standard of response. An initial panel consisting of Louise Wright from the Arts Council Wales, Simon Burgess of the Makers Guild Wales, jewellery maker Karen Dell’Ami and Victoria Jones Head of the Makers Using Technology project selected 6 creatives to meet for interview. The Makers Using Technology Team interviewed the final 6 and selected: Jessica Lloyd Jones from Llangollen, Anne Gibbs from Tongwynlais, Beate Gegenwart from Swansea and Anna Lewis also from Swansea.

Anne Gibbs work in progress 2014. Projet 3D print.

"I would like to use technologies with my work in the future... This experience has highlighted its potential and how I can incorporate it into my work". Anne Gibbs.

The eight-week residencies have been located within the National Centre for Product Design and Research (PDR) in Cardiff. The learning journey engaged in by the artists, is a two-way exchange with the staff at PDR. The artists utilize technologies that are used by a medical modeling team at PDR, who develop skulls and moulds used in maxio-facial reconstructive surgery. The designers and researchers at the centre don’t usually have time to play with the technologies and develop new ways of using them. Through working with the artists, PDR’s staff have discovered new processes and techniques that they can utilize in their work.

Final work by Beate Gegenwart. Electroplated Projet 3D print.

"Adding a highly creative, new, digital approach to my practice. It opened up entirely new avenues and approaches to explore". Beate Gegenwart.

Jessica lloyd Jones work in progress 2014. Projet 3D print.

"The learning process this week has led me to consider how digital technology could be used as a creative tool more widely in my artistic practice, in both the design process and production of work". Jessica Lloyd Jones.

An additional maker

We were joined in June by fashion artist Amy Thompson. Amy applied for Arts Council Wales R&D funding to go through the same process as our resident makers. Amy has been with us for longer (3 months) and produced a beautiful body of work inspired by reptile skins and coral.

Amy Thomson experimenting with modelling in real life. She then 3D scanned the clay and remodelled the form in Freeform.

Work in progress by Amy Thomson. Projet 3D print.

Future

Working with the makers has been positive experience for us and the makers. We learnt alot from the residents and they have from us. It has been a sad experience for us each time a maker leaves as they become part of the Design Wales Forum family. Our intention is to offer further residencies in the future and to hold an exhibition to showcase the work produced in the previous residencies. So keep watching this space!

The residencies are being offered by Design Wales Forum, and have been funded by the Arts Council Wales through the lottery fund, and the National Centre for Product Design and Research.

Caiff y cyfnodau preswyl eu cynnig gan Fforwm Dylunio Cymru ac fe’u hariennir gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru drwy’r gronfa Loteri a’r Ganolfan Genedlaethol Dylunio Cynnyrch ac Ymchwil.