In moments when the artisanship tradition seems to disappear because of industrial production, we analyze cases where digital fabrication and visual programming were used in Latin American craft, encouraged by architects with skills in digital tools. The situations confront artisans with access to digital platforms and internet, use of learned skills, and the need to modify the technological level in their products and processes. Regional initiatives, which could change contemporary design history in the region with the establishing of a trans-disciplinary systematized synergy, show that traditional materials are used and unique components maintain their originality, from a region that attempts to enter into new global markets.

Latin America has experienced scripting and digital fabrication, and the alliance between designers and artisans. Taking into account that the revival of crafts has proved very promising in Latin America (Borges, 2015), the objective of this research is to analyse the diversity of cases and select those where designers took an interest for strengthening the artisans’ jobs in the field of pottery and textiles. We found that both revitalised the identity and cultural tradition in their own countries, in a moment when craft seemed to drop in front of industrial production. By preserving traditional materials, pieces continue to be unique and customizable, transcending thus their local origin towards new global markets.

Thesis (M.M. (Public Policy))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Governance, 2014.

through the act of separation architecture is born This thesis is a study of separation, asking the question of whether the act of separation can elevate the composition of material, space, and light to awaken the mind, eye, and soul. The vehicle for this study is an artisans' retreat placed on the ridge line of Brush Mountain located in Blacksburg, Virginia. This project explores the idea of separation and the moments it creates at many scales: man to nature, maker to made, public to private, structure to skin, and detail to whole. This project consists of two lines. One houses the makers and one supports the place for the making, consisting of studio spaces for sculpting, painting, and creating ceramics. Lastly, this project contains two other structures for the public to partake in the celebration of the creations: an outdoor amphitheater and a gallery which displays current and past work of resident artists. / Master of Architecture

Within the existing research about communicative devices within visual rhetoric, most published research exists regarding two-dimensional design such as documents and media graphics. In this paper, I discuss the rhetorical value of handmade items and specifically speak to the ethos that three-dimensional, tangible handmade products inherently possess based upon their visual aesthetic.

The retention of artisans is becoming an increasingly important challenge faced by many organisations. The decision to intensify artisan retention strategies arises from the fact that there is currently a shortage of artisans in the country. This situation is aggravated by the fact that many of our country's current supply of artisans are being lured away to Canada and Australia by the highly competitive packages offered them. For effective retention of their artisans, organisations must be aware of the factors that artisans perceive as being important in the decision to remain with an organisation. The main research objective was, therefore, to establish the factors that are important for artisan retention. It was also decided to measure the level of intention to leave among a sample of artisans, as there were no results available from previous research. The research was explorative in nature and a mixed-methods design was used to achieve the objectives. The participants were selected by means of a judgement sample to consist only of participants who hold a formal qualification as an artisan, as prescribed by Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) standards. Employees were requested to take part voluntarily in the research and a total population of 14 employees responded (N = 14). A semi-structured interview was used as means of collecting the qualitative data, while the quantitative data were collected by means of questionnaires. The results indicated that remuneration had the highest rank of all the factors for the retention of artisans, closely followed by development opportunity in second place. Other factors that were also perceived as important for artisan retention by the participants included equality (ranked third), recognition (ranked fourth), management and the working environment (ranked fifth), working relationships (ranked sixth), while change management, job security, belongingness, the merit system, job satisfaction and employee wellness were all ranked jointly in seventh place. With regard to Turnover Intention, the results indicated a mean score of 2,38 out of 5,00; it can thus be concluded that the sample reported an average level of turnover intention. The spread of the scores was quite large, indicating that some artisans had a strong intention to continue working at the organisation, while others were likely to consider other offers. By way of conclusion, recommendations were made both for the organisation and for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.

The retention of artisans is becoming an increasingly important challenge faced by many organisations. The decision to intensify artisan retention strategies arises from the fact that there is currently a shortage of artisans in the country. This situation is aggravated by the fact that many of our country's current supply of artisans are being lured away to Canada and Australia by the highly competitive packages offered them. For effective retention of their artisans, organisations must be aware of the factors that artisans perceive as being important in the decision to remain with an organisation. The main research objective was, therefore, to establish the factors that are important for artisan retention. It was also decided to measure the level of intention to leave among a sample of artisans, as there were no results available from previous research. The research was explorative in nature and a mixed-methods design was used to achieve the objectives. The participants were selected by means of a judgement sample to consist only of participants who hold a formal qualification as an artisan, as prescribed by Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) standards. Employees were requested to take part voluntarily in the research and a total population of 14 employees responded (N = 14). A semi-structured interview was used as means of collecting the qualitative data, while the quantitative data were collected by means of questionnaires. The results indicated that remuneration had the highest rank of all the factors for the retention of artisans, closely followed by development opportunity in second place. Other factors that were also perceived as important for artisan retention by the participants included equality (ranked third), recognition (ranked fourth), management and the working environment (ranked fifth), working relationships (ranked sixth), while change management, job security, belongingness, the merit system, job satisfaction and employee wellness were all ranked jointly in seventh place. With regard to Turnover Intention, the results indicated a mean score of 2,38 out of 5,00; it can thus be concluded that the sample reported an average level of turnover intention. The spread of the scores was quite large, indicating that some artisans had a strong intention to continue working at the organisation, while others were likely to consider other offers. By way of conclusion, recommendations were made both for the organisation and for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.

The mining engineering world is continuously experiencing new challenges whether it is economically, technologically or socially, there will always be something new in sight. Training and Development fulfils the role of the “breeder” of competence workforce and therefore it is essential to assure constant growth and progress within the skills and development environment. Personal attribute and dedication are the drivers of our success and achievements in our careers. The capacity of our trade and occupation does not set the limits and pace of our intensification to strive for the bigger and better in future. The career background and training and development opportunities are essential aspects to be renowned with before engaging with the learning intervention. Assure you start your career in the artisan trade that you desire to be a successful example in and discover the engineering world where the spectrum is never-ending. Development opportunities exist for all, irrespective of the trade and occupation. This study illustrates that even the smaller trade‟s artisans as focused on in this study, namely the Rigger Ropesman, can achieve higher laurels if the energy and efforts are exploited in the applicable avenues. The starting blocks, must be the blocks that fit yourself as individual learner, if not, even the first steps in the career will be started in stumbling mode. This qualitative research design study discovered numerous persons who started a career without knowing what it entails. The Rigger Ropesman artisans, Engineering Foremen and Learners who were interviewed as the target group contributed to achieving the aim of the study. The aim of the study was the possible training and development opportunities for the Rigger Ropesman in the Mining and Minerals Sector. Future studies can be conducted on career guidance and training and development opportunities in other engineering trades as this study only focused on the Rigger Ropesman trade in the Mining and Minerals Sector. / MEd (Training and Development), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The mining engineering world is continuously experiencing new challenges whether it is economically, technologically or socially, there will always be something new in sight. Training and Development fulfils the role of the “breeder” of competence workforce and therefore it is essential to assure constant growth and progress within the skills and development environment. Personal attribute and dedication are the drivers of our success and achievements in our careers. The capacity of our trade and occupation does not set the limits and pace of our intensification to strive for the bigger and better in future. The career background and training and development opportunities are essential aspects to be renowned with before engaging with the learning intervention. Assure you start your career in the artisan trade that you desire to be a successful example in and discover the engineering world where the spectrum is never-ending. Development opportunities exist for all, irrespective of the trade and occupation. This study illustrates that even the smaller trade‟s artisans as focused on in this study, namely the Rigger Ropesman, can achieve higher laurels if the energy and efforts are exploited in the applicable avenues. The starting blocks, must be the blocks that fit yourself as individual learner, if not, even the first steps in the career will be started in stumbling mode. This qualitative research design study discovered numerous persons who started a career without knowing what it entails. The Rigger Ropesman artisans, Engineering Foremen and Learners who were interviewed as the target group contributed to achieving the aim of the study. The aim of the study was the possible training and development opportunities for the Rigger Ropesman in the Mining and Minerals Sector. Future studies can be conducted on career guidance and training and development opportunities in other engineering trades as this study only focused on the Rigger Ropesman trade in the Mining and Minerals Sector. / MEd (Training and Development), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The need to establish baseline artisan productivities in the South African employmentintensive construction sector stems from the fact that these productivity norms have not been reviewed on a frequent basis. To others, these productivity norms hardly exist. With both scenarios, it is difficult to compare artisan productivity trends in the last fifty years to the trend of international standards. Constructive efforts have been made in this document to highlight the productivity norms that have existed within the building industry since the 1950’s. A similar exercise has been done for the USA and other European countries, notably the UK. A comparison of these trends of productivity norms has revealed that the current artisan productivity figures in South Africa are the lowest since the 1950’s. Again, they are the lowest amongst these countries. In the 1950’s, the artisan productivity norms in South Africa were quite close and thus comparable to the European countries but the gap has widened thereafter. The USA has generally experienced a continuous improvement in their productivity norms on an annual basis and this has been due partly to the improvement in the working tools of artisans. Another important factor is the poor quality of artisanship. The constructive effort being made by the South African government towards ensuring the sustainability of small and emerging contractors in employment-intensive construction is not in balance; the Contractor learnership programme of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) must go hand-in- hand with an artisan learnership programme. Key words: baseline artisan productivity, task-group, work-study, construction, face & stock-bricks, plastering, painting and tiling.