Nicolás Ibaceta explores boatbuilding and digital fabrication at Onl’fait

Interdisciplinary artist, educator and boatbuilder Nicolás Ibaceta took part in the Accelerator4Crafts Residency Programme hosted by Onl’fait in Geneva, Switzerland.

During the residency, he combined skin-on-frame boatbuilding with digital fabrication to explore how accessible tools can simplify watercraft assembly, while supporting collaborative making and knowledge exchange.

Connecting craft and digital tools

Nicolás’s practice bridges watercraft, woodworking and digital fabrication. Building on participatory craft methods developed through his work in Oslo, he explored a new version of his skin-on-frame kayak using custom 3D-printed connectors.

The residency brought together technical input from the Onl’fait team and hands-on experimentation, supported by a shared approach to community-driven, open knowledge.

Building a kayak with local youth

Working with local youth, Nicolás developed a kayak from initial structural concepts into a fully built prototype.

The process focused on designing connectors to join the kayak’s longitudinal framework directly to its transverse ribs. Combining aluminium tent poles with custom 3D-printed components, the team explored how to make assembly easier while retaining structural flexibility and repairability.

Outcomes and future directions

The work resulted in a functional watercraft and a modular assembly framework that Nicolás can replicate and adapt in future projects.

Alongside the kayak, he also drafted a new canoe design, which was later tested in Brussels. The residency offered an opportunity to develop his boatbuilding practice through technical exchange, material experimentation and collaborative learning.