Craft-Based Methodologies in Human–Computer Interaction: Exploring Interdisciplinary Design Approaches

Craft-based methodologies have emerged as a vital human-computer interaction (HCI) approach, bridging digital and physical materials in interactive system design. This study, born from a collaboration between two research networks focused on affective design and interaction design, investigates how diverse professionals use craft-based approaches to transform design processes. Through carefully curated workshops, participants from varied backgrounds worked to identify specific problems, select technologies, and consider contextual factors within a creative framework. The workshops served as a platform for observing participant behaviors and goals in real-world settings, with researchers systematically collecting data through material engagement and visual problem-solving exercises. Drawing inspiration from concepts like Chindogu (Japanese “unuseless” inventions), the research demonstrates how reframing interaction design through craft-based methodologies can lead to more intuitive and contextually aware solutions. The findings highlight how interdisciplinary collaboration and sustainable and socially responsible design principles generate innovative solutions that effectively address user requirements. This integration of creative frameworks with physical and digital materials advances our understanding of meaningful technological interactions while establishing more holistic approaches to interactive system design that can inform future research directions in the field.