Navigating design and innovation hegemonies in Chilean crafts

Abstract

Amidst the industrial decline in South America in the 1980s, and the failure of economic development projects, perspectives have shifted from industrialisation towards a focus on human development ‘by design’ and the empowerment of craftsmanship. In Chile, interactions between design and craft have increased significantly since the 1990s due to new national and international cultural policies. Efforts have been made to safeguard tradition or induce innovation through professional design to promote craft products and mediate between local and global values. This study examines the tensions in design-craft interactions, unpacking the hegemonic and paternalistic design approaches that often overshadow artisans’ innovations. Using historical and ethnographic analysis, this study focuses on Pomaire, a village renowned for its pottery tradition and cultural significance that has faced criticism from the Chilean cultural establishment for a perceived loss of tradition, with institutions favouring specific cultural expressions and modern design over artisans’ strategies. This research highlights the frictions between design and crafts in pursuing innovation and development, showing how institutional frameworks influence the recognition, valuation and commercialisation of artisanal production. It also contributes to our understanding of the power dynamics between designers and artisans, emphasising artisans’ agency in shaping their traditions amidst socioeconomic changes.

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