Digitally making as an opportunity for skilling and empowerment

The current trend of digitally enabled self-production (i.e. digital DIY) is emblematic of the contemporary attitude to making and crafting. Although digital DIY has been seen as an opportunity for social and technological innovation, a major debate is taking place in research literature about its potential skilling or deskilling effect on practitioners. For instance, on the one hand, focusing on the digital representation undermines the ability to experience materials qualities and manufacturability. The ultimate effect is the development of a creative process, which is led by a virtual idea disconnected from the material world. On the other hand, the machine itself is a manifestation of knowledge, skills and labour involved in its design, manufacture and maintenance. The objective of this paper is to further unpack this debate and presenting our reflections from an ongoing research project on the potential of digital DIY as a skilling process through making collaboratively. We introduce a research model representing the dynamics enacting over three interdependent levels (i.e. social innovation, social practice and creative process) in which three factors of technology (e.g. digital fabrication), motivation (e.g. commitment) and collaboration (e.g. with peers) are envisaged as crucial for learning and skilling.