The European Crafts Alliance’s new study on the integration of digital design and fabrication technologies in European crafts, conducted by Ohayō, identifies the keys to the successful integration of digital technologies in the craft sector and provides insights into the barriers, needs, and benefits identified during the process and in daily practice. The report also documents the main reasons why new technologies are sometimes not a desirable or feasible option for some craftspeople.
The study indicates a notable trend: craftspeople are increasingly incorporating digital tools to enhance their work.
Regarding the integration of technology for management purposes, 57.58% of the craftspeople surveyed responded that they had integrated technology for communication, 46.97% answered for accounting and billing, 24.24% for customer management, and 24.24% also for customer service. 30.30% of the respondents answered that they had not applied technology for any of these reasons. (Respondents were allowed to select more than one option.)
Findings show that a substantial portion of respondents have integrated these technologies for design and fabrication purposes:
- 69.70% of the surveyed craftspeople have incorporated digital tools into their practice, with 35.56% using them extensively.
- Among the most frequently used technologies are CAD (51.16%), 3D printing (41.86%), CNC (32.56%), and laser cutting (37.21%).
- 40% of those not using digital tools cite a lack of opportunity, and 15% say they don’t see the value in adopting these technologies.
“The integration of fabrication technologies does not replace the craftsperson. In fact, it was repeatedly mentioned, traditional craft methods are, in many cases, much more efficient or faster than fabrication technologies in some fields.”
The study acknowledges challenges and barriers to adoption. These include financial constraints, the need for specialized training, and concerns regarding the preservation of traditional skills.
Based on the findings, the report also offers a number of recommendations for craftspeople, crafts business managers, policymakers and stakeholders. These include:
- The need to broaden the boundaries of craftsmanship to de-stigmatise, in certain environments, the craftsperson’s use of digital technology.
- Wider and more accessible digital training for craftspeople, so they can learn the languages of the new technologies and implement them or find collaborators more easily.
- The possibility of developing a mixed Fab Lab-type model, where traditional crafts and more digitally specialised creators can converge.
- The possibility of spreading information on new materials to reach craftspeople and contribute to uncover new business opportunities.
- Certification systems based on blockchain technology could be tested to prevent counterfeiting and protect quality craftsmanship.
- Digital design and manufacturing technologies could be used by heritage authorities to safeguard traditional know-how by promoting the digitisation of endangered crafts and even making physical reproductions as a study for cataloguing high-value and/or endangered crafts.
Furthermore, the research delves into the potential future of the craft sector, exploring how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced material development may further reshape creative practices. The study highlights the possibility of a symbiotic relationship between traditional craftsmanship and digital innovation.
Watch the study presentation by Rosa M. Muñoz Gómez of Ohayō
Recorded on 2 April 2025.
The study was commissioned by the European Crafts Alliance within the Creative Europe co-funded project “Crafting”. It is the fourth of five research projects which analyse the state of the crafts sector in Europe, preceded by The European Market for Crafts, Resilience of the Craft Sector in Europe, and Unveiling the Potential of the Craft Sector: A Study on Production and Business Opportunities. Find them here>>
