Terry - thanks for your thoughts.
Splitting the area into three strands is very useful - you've given me lots to think about! I thought Here are my thoughts-in-progress...
Looking at the particular example of knitting, I would be designing processes that are used by others to produce things. Taking this into your language:
Knitting version of strand 1:
Where professional designers design processes that can be modified by others to produce things that fulfil the requirements of the others.
Knitting version of strand 3:
Where professional designers design processes that are used by others to design and produce new things.
The line between the two seems a little blurry, because they both start with processes and end up with things, produced by the others. I suppose the distinction would be about the difference between 'modification' and 'design'.
I'm thinking that an example of strand 1 would be a 'traditional' knitting pattern (an item to be made from scratch), which has some options for modification, for example short sleeves/long sleeves, different hems or even just making your own colour/yarn choice.
A strand 3 version of knitting something from scratch would require the use of design tools to make something new. While there are plenty of knitting design tools around - stitch libraries, methods for calculating patterns, existing garments, patterns - the complexity of the task means most knitters either stick to strand 1, or - if they do use design tools to make something new - the thing they make often tends to be quite simple in form (e.g. a scarf).
For my research, I'm interested in people using knitting to alter their existing garments. I think I'm trying to do this in a strand 3 way - creating example processes that can be used as design tools by others when altering their existing garments. I think these go beyond modifiable processes, because the existing garments will be infinitely variable and therefore involve decision-making/designing (beyond what I would think of as modification) to carry out. I could develop them into strand 1 modifiable processes, but I think this would be more restrictive (e.g. applicable only to certain types of garment), which I don't want.
I find it interesting that making from scratch seems to naturally suit strand 1, while altering existing garments seems more suited to strand 3. I think that the existing garment is a design tool in itself, which overcomes many of the problems of knitting from scratch - it narrows the options and allows you to visualise them. It also makes set knitting patterns much less useful.
Thanks to you all again
Amy
Amy Twigger Holroyd
PhD candidate, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design
Designer, Keep & Share
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