Design Team 19 | The 2024 Global Studio

Given the refined focus on craftsmanship and the need to preserve the authenticity of the Italian tradition of creating wooden Christmas figurines, and the requirement for a tangible object to facilitate this tradition’s transmission, I propose the following ideas:

• Figurine Carving Templates: A kit containing several high-quality pre-cut wooden blanks with pre-traced outlines of classic Christmas figurines of varying complexity. This allows users to learn basic carving skills, progressing from simple to more intricate designs.
• Interactive Learning Display: A display stand demonstrating the steps in creating a figurine, from the initial blank to the finished piece. It includes video instructions, examples of tools, and materials. Suitable for use in schools and workshops.
• Figurines Book-Album: A book combining the history of the figurine-making tradition with miniature figurines cut from wood (or plywood). Some figurines may be partially unfinished, encouraging users to complete the carving process.
• Finished Figurine Decoration Kit: A kit of high-quality paints, varnishes, brushes, and other materials for decorating pre-carved wooden figurines, allowing for personalized designs.
• Thematic Christmas Ornament Kit: Instead of complete figurines, this kit provides pre-cut blanks for creating individual ornaments (stars, baubles, snowflakes) which can then be decorated and used as festive adornments.

These items aim to promote hands-on learning and skill development, making the learning process more accessible and engaging for younger generations while respecting and preserving the tradition.

“Miniature Masterpieces”:

• Concept: Create a mini-collection of small figurines that can be used as decorations for smartphones, laptops, or cars.

“Traditional Design Luminaries”:

• Concept: Design Christmas figures with built-in LED lighting. For example, a figurine of an angel that emits warm light.

“Interactive Exhibit”:

• Concept: Organize an exhibition of traditional Christmas figures using augmented reality (AR) technology. Visitors can scan the figures with their smartphones to see animations or learn more about the tradition.

“Christmas Figurines as Family Symbols”:

• Concept: Create a series of figures that represent family members. For instance, a grandfather as a snowman, a grandmother as an angel, parents as reindeer, and children as bunnies.

“Christmas Figurines as Gifts”:

• Concept: Create a set of several figurines that can be given as Christmas gifts to loved ones.

“Figurines as Art Elements”:

• Idea: Create a series of figures with unique designs that reflect modern artistic trends, such as abstract shapes, vibrant colors, and bold compositions.
• Benefits: This can attract the attention of younger generations who are interested in contemporary art.
• Modern Aspect: You can organize an exhibition of the figures in a modern gallery space and conduct workshops on creating figures in the style of contemporary art.

“Figurines as Interactive Elements”:

• Idea: Create a series of figures with built-in sensory elements, such as LED lighting, sound effects, or motion sensors.
• Benefits: This allows the figures to be more engaging and interactive for younger generations.
• Modern Aspect: You can offer figurines that can be connected to a smartphone or computer to control the light effects and sound.

“Christmas Quest”:

• Concept: Create a set of figures that hide riddles or clues. Players can collect the figures by solving riddles to find a Christmas present or unravel a mystery.

“Figurines with AR Effects”:

• Concept: Design figures that can be scanned using a smartphone or tablet to view animations or interactive elements. For example, an angel could sing a Christmas song, and a snowman could dance.

“Figurines with Sound”:

• Concept: Integrate miniature speakers into the figures that play Christmas melodies or fun sounds when the figures are touched.

Exploring the Problem

Bringing Together Generations: A Bridge Between Experience and Novelty

Bringing together the younger and older generations is a complex task that requires understanding and compromise on both sides. The interaction between them can be enriching, but it also comes with its own set of challenges.

Challenges:

• Differences in values ​​and worldviews: The younger generation grew up in a digital world that values ​​speed, mobility, and inclusivity, while the older generation was brought up in a more traditional environment that values ​​stability, hierarchy, and conservative values.
• Different communication styles: Young people are used to short messages, emojis, and visual formats, while older people value detailed explanations, verbal arguments, and face-to-face meetings.
• Lack of trust: Young people may underestimate the experience of their elders, while older people may fear the lack of knowledge and experience of the younger generation.
• Unequal opportunities: Young people may face difficulties in their careers, access to resources, while older generations may have fewer opportunities to learn new technologies, which creates inequality in the availability of information and opportunities for self-realization.

Solutions:

• Open dialogue and mutual respect: It is important to listen to each other, take into account opinions and points of view, and abandon stereotypes and bias.
• Exchange of experience and knowledge: Young people can gain valuable experience from their elders, and older generations can learn new things from young people, including about modern technologies.
• Joint activities: Joint projects, initiatives and events contribute to better understanding and rapprochement.
• Information accessibility: It is necessary to provide access to information and training to all age groups in order to reduce the gap in knowledge and competencies.
• Formation of an environment of tolerance: It is important to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance, where people of different ages can feel comfortable and freely express their opinions. Examples of successful intergenerational collaboration:
• Intergenerational centers: These centers offer programs and events that bring people of different ages together for shared activities, such as crafts, art, dance, and sports.
• Intergenerational projects: Working together on community initiatives, such as greening the city, caring for the elderly, and developing technological skills in older generations, promotes cooperation and understanding.
• Online platforms: There are online platforms where people of different ages can communicate, share experiences, and participate in joint projects.

Connecting the young and old is a key factor for success in the modern world. Through understanding, mutual respect, and joint efforts, we can create a society where everyone can realize their potential and contribute to the common good.

Exploring the Presepe

The Neapolitan Presepe: Magic in the Details

The Neapolitan Presepe is not just a nativity scene, but a whole story in miniature. It preserves the spirit of southern Italy, with its bright colors, rich history and folk traditions.

What is a Neapolitan Presepe?

It is a large, detailed model of the city where the biblical story of the Nativity takes place. But the Presepe is not just a reconstruction of a scene from the Gospel. It includes elements of everyday life in Naples in the 18th and 19th centuries, with its architectural landmarks, characters, animals and even landscapes.

What distinguishes it from other nativity scenes?

• Scale and detail: Neapolitan Presepe are real works of art. They can be very large, occupying entire rooms, and the detail is amazing. Each figurine, each object, each landscape is made with great love and precision.
• Inclusion of local elements: The presepe is not only about Christmas, but also the universe of Naples. Here you can see typical professions of the city, scenes from people’s lives, architectural landmarks.
• Lively character: The figurines do not just stand, they “live”: shepherds graze sheep, merchants trade, children play. You can even see “animals” in the presepe – pigs, donkeys, goats.
• Tradition and craftsmanship: The tradition of creating Neapolitan presepe dates back to the 18th century. In Naples, there are entire dynasties of craftsmen who pass on their skills from generation to generation.

Why is the Neapolitan presepe so popular?

• Symbolism: The presepe is not just a decoration, it is a symbol of the birth of Christ, a symbol of hope and love.
• Emotional value: It evokes nostalgia for childhood, the magical Christmas holidays.
• Artistic value: The Neapolitan presepe is a true work of art, created with soul and talent.

Where can you see the Neapolitan presepe?

• Museums in Naples: Many of the city’s museums hold their own collections of presepe, including the National Museum of Capodimonte.
• Churches: Large presepe made of wood, clay and other materials can be seen in the churches of Naples.
• Private collections: Many Neapolitans keep presepe as a family heirloom, passing them down from generation to generation.

The Neapolitan presepe is a magical combination of religion, culture and art that continues to fascinate people around the world.

Manual and machine labor: from craft to machine production

The history of mankind is the history of technological development, and with it, a change in paradigms in production. Manual labor, which for centuries was the main way of creating goods, is gradually giving way to machine labor, turning craft into machine production.

Manual labor: traditions and limitations

• Traditions and craftsmanship: Craft is the transfer of knowledge and skills from generation to generation, each master adds his own personal touch to the work, making it unique.
• Quality and individuality: Handicrafts are often distinguished by high quality and individuality, they are created with soul and attention to detail.
• Limited productivity: Manual labor is slow and requires a significant investment of time and effort. Productivity is limited by the physical capabilities of the master.
• Instability of quality: The quality of a handicraft depends on the skills of the master, his mood and working conditions. Machine tool production: efficiency and mass production
• Mass production: Machine tools allow you to create a huge number of similar products in a short time, satisfying the needs of the mass market.
• Increased productivity: Machines do not get tired, work at high speed and accuracy, increasing productivity several times.
• Stable quality: Machine tools guarantee the stability of product quality, eliminating the factor of human error.
• Reduced cost: Mass production makes goods more accessible to a wide range of consumers.

Transformation of craft:

• Preservation of tradition: Crafts do not disappear completely, they transform, acquiring new forms. Craftsmen use modern tools and technologies, while maintaining their traditional technology and quality.
• Specialization: Craftsmen specialize in unique types of work that are difficult or impossible to automate, for example, jewelry making, restoration of works of art.
• Elite: Handicrafts become a luxury item, their uniqueness and handwork are valued.

Impact on society:

• Progress and accessibility: Machine tool production led to increased productivity and lower prices for goods, making them more accessible to a wider range of people.
• Changes in the structure of labor: Machine tool production created new professions and industries, replacing manual labor with machine labor.
• Social problems: The transformation of production led to a decrease in the number of artisans and an increase in unemployment in some industries.

Conclusion:

The transition from manual labor to machine tool production is a natural process of technological development. Machine tools give us the opportunity to create cheaper, higher-quality and more affordable goods, but it is important to preserve the traditions and value of manual labor. In the modern world, manual labor and machine tool production can be harmoniously combined, complementing each other and creating products that meet the requirements and tastes of the modern consumer.

My idea

The younger generation is losing interest in the craft of presepe. To return interest to such an incredible craft, I propose to combine modern technology and ancient traditions. Recently, the use of 3D printers has become very popular. Which greatly speeds up the process of creating various figurines. And also helps with the recycling of plastic.

The Neapolitan presepe is a very beautiful and magical creation of intaglio masters. But very often the modern generation neglects the purchase of goods that have a limited number of functions. Therefore, various functions can be added to a modern presepe, such as a smart speaker that can work all year round, or add a light source function, and so on.

My idea is to create a presepe that can be used all year round, changing the theme of the delivery. For example, in winter this is a production of the Nativity of Christ, in spring a production with an Easter plot, in summer – the day of the Italian Republic and in autumn a production for Halloween.

Preserving the tradition

To preserve the tradition, I propose to create a studio for creating prepeze. Recently, ceramics studios, jewelry making, candle making, soap making, etc. have become very popular. Let’s look at the example of a ceramics studio to see why they are popular.

Why are ceramics studios becoming more and more popular?

Ceramics studios are experiencing a real boom in popularity. Previously, it was a hobby for the elite, but now more and more people are reaching for the potter’s wheel and clay. Why is this happening?

Reasons for the growing popularity:

• The desire for creativity and self-expression: In the frantic pace of life, people are looking for an outlet, an opportunity to create something with their own hands. Ceramics is an ideal way to relax, immerse themselves in the creative process and express their individuality.
• Anti-stress effect: Working with clay is a therapeutic practice that helps relieve stress and anxiety. The ritual of sculpting, the feeling of clay in your hands, the sound of the potter’s wheel – all this contributes to relaxation and calm.
• Relieving digital fatigue: In the digital age, people are tired of screens and are looking for analog hobbies. Ceramics are a great alternative to the virtual world, it helps to concentrate on the process, work with real materials.
• The trend for “handmade”: In the modern world, uniqueness and author’s work are valued. Ceramic products created with your own hands bear the imprint of individuality and differ from mass production.
• Social component: Ceramic studios are a space for communication, interaction and exchange of experiences. People with a common passion come together to learn from each other and be inspired by creative ideas.
• Accessibility: Ceramic studios have become more accessible to the general public. There are many courses, master classes and open studios where everyone can try their hand at pottery.
• Eco-friendliness: Ceramics are an eco-friendly material that can be recycled and used many times. Interest in ecology and sustainable development also contributes to the growing popularity of ceramics.

Conclusion:

The popularity of ceramics studios is a reflection of profound changes in modern society: the desire for creativity, the search for an outlet from stress, fatigue from the virtual world, the value of uniqueness and environmental friendliness. Ceramics is art, therapy, hobby and a way of self-expression all in one – that’s what makes it so attractive to a modern person.

The finished product:

Therefore, I propose to create a studio that anyone can come to. The studio should be oriented towards different generations, so that both children and adults can create their own prepeze. Be equipped with modern technologies.

Creating a traditional prepeze is a rather long process, so I propose to speed it up. Therefore, you can create this chain: An experienced master Gennaro can create a figurine from materials familiar to him. Sara, using modern technologies, optimizes the figurine, creates its 3D model, makes it possible to assemble and disassemble it. Then experienced technologists add technical capabilities, such as a speaker, light bulbs, and so on.

Paolo, as a simple client, will be interested in creating a presepe that will be functional

Also, if the studio creates various master classes in schools or kindergartens, this will help to create interest in the younger generation. And it will also be one of the opportunities for their development. After all, children love to assemble various construction sets. This develops their hand motor skills.

The studio space can be rented on one of the city’s shopping streets or streets frequently visited by local residents.