Tracks4Crafts was recently presented at the Material Design Research Symposium in Offenbach, Germany, where the project took center stage in discussions around the intersection of traditional craft knowledge and contemporary materials design.
Sofia Duarte and Valentina Rognoli, representing Tracks4Crafts partner Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi), were invited to share research and reflections in a presentation titled "Traditional Craft Knowledge Fostering Materials Design for Transition."
It focused on how traditional craft knowledge (TCK), with its situated knowledge, material intimacy, and slower temporalities, provides a powerful lens for materials design for transition. At the same time, contemporary materials design approaches offer innovative ways to preserve and transform the inherent dynamism of TCK.
They explored how craft practices can enrich design methodologies - and how design experimentation, in turn, can support and evolve traditional knowledge. The presentation argued that TCK can nurture a mindset centered on care, place-based thinking, and resilience, while also needing to adapt to contemporary challenges. Through concrete examples and reflections, the talk illustrated how design and craft converge to create unique material experiences, often involving local resources, grown materials, and waste repurposing.
The symposium brought together international researchers to explore the evolving role of materials design in generating knowledge through practice. By highlighting diverse global perspectives, the event offered a holistic overview of how materials-led research continues to shape the future of design studies.
Information about symposium: imd-materialdesign.com/symposium