Embodied Making and Learning
Code, Decode, Recode: Constructing, deconstructing and reconstructing knowledge through making
Anna Piper
Nottingham Trent University
anna.piper@ntu.ac.uk
Keywords: embodied knowledge; composite garments; hand weaving; digital production
Abstract
In craft practice, embodied knowledge is constructed (‘coded’) through the hands-on experience of making and application of technical rules, subsequently deconstructed (‘decoded’) through reflection and analysis, before being rebuilt (‘recoded’) to further develop practice and outcomes. In this paper practice-led PhD research into the development composite woven garments is used to demonstrate the vital role that process and object analysis play in the advancement of creative practice and a successful transition from hand to digital production. Drawing parallels between hand weaving and computer use, it explores how the ‘digital thinking’ inherent in weaving can facilitate a productive relationship with digital weaving technologies. Presented as a ‘visual essay’ this paper aims to bridge the gap between implicit and explicit knowledge, using a predominantly visual method to maximise the reach of the research, communicating implicit and explicit knowledge with equal clarity and offering an alternative approach to the dissemination of practice-led research.
This paper is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence.
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Cite this paper: Piper, A. (2016). Code, Decode, Recode: Constructing, deconstructing and reconstructing knowledge through making. Proceedings of DRS 2016, Design Research Society 50th Anniversary Conference. Brighton, UK, 27–30 June 2016.
This paper will be presented at DRS2016, find it in the conference programme