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Digital Craft and Upcycling: Tools, Technique and Material

Nicole de Castro Pereira
Curtin University, Australia, Instituto Federal de São Paulo and Cnpq, Brazil

Abstract—Materials produced from precious resources are often rejected prematurely, before their lifecycles are complete, due to changed circumstances, for being out of fashion, damaged or inappropriate. Some designers consider such discarded materials a valuable resource. In this design approach, they first recognise available material as a starting point for design and then establish a process for detailing. Digital tools can improve design in a broad range of possibilities, increasing the range and quality of solutions physically considered, but they can also create limitations for the process. This study reflects on the factors of influence of emerging digital methods for visualisation, design and fabrication towards upcycling and creativity industries focused on customised production methods. It aims to contribute to future technological development for digital upcycling and making.
 
Index Terms—digital craft, design upcycling, design materiality

Cite: Nicole de Castro Pereira, "Digital Craft and Upcycling: Tools, Technique and Material," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 122-125, March 2017. DOI: 10.18178/ijmerr.6.2.122-125