About the Iris Hantverk Plug-in project
The project shows how a designer led production process is added to an existing one in a similar way that an open computer application grows through user made plug-ins. A process that turns a production flow of traditional vegetable brushes into a new flow of shoe brushes has been implemented.
The project has been carried out in cooperation with the company Iris Hantverk at their production facility in Stockholm. Iris Hantverk itself is a company with a majority of visually impaired employees. The design process takes advantage of the visually impaired workmens’ unique abilities to create sensuous products.
The collaboration that has taken place between myself as a designer and the workers at the company resulted in an increased sense of dedication to the project through our shared authorship. I conduct the process but I do no longer alone own sole artistic control. The process explores interventions and adjustments in running production processes as a means of creating unforeseen solutions and added emotional value to new products.
The result of this collaborative design method is a transformation process of turning traditional vegetable brushes into shoe brushes. It functions without needing to make changes to the current flow of production. Thus, a company can expand its possibilities to create new products without revisiting its production techniques.
Producing companies shortcomings regarding ecologically, economically and socially sustainable design too often reside in the translation from design ideas into commercially made products. Therefore this project suggests that collaboration between factory workmen and designers is essential in all design work.
Designers and workmen together can build better design solutions and add emotional value to the products produced. Successful design processes and workmanship arise when knowledge and cooperation is in place. I believe that a contract can't force good workmanship, however it can be achieved by love and passion for the profession.
Fredrik Olsson
mail@fredrik-olsson.com
mobile: +46 - 708 39 86 42
web: www.fredrik-olsson.com
