What we do

Our Process in brief

Product Design:
We assist Crafters and Craft Project with developing existing and new products, and product ranges.

Approach:

·         We believe strongly in the appropriate use of  materials, skills, infrastructure and technology when developing products.

·         Where required we enlist the services of master crafters or designers to work on specific projects.

·         We believe that product and processes needs to be developed from the "kitchen table" up, maximising what is at hand first before importing new materials, skills, technologies or processes.

·         We approach product design on three levels:

                                                               i.      Exchange of Intellectual property i.e. artwork, with fair compensation and legal protection for the artist and the entity commercializing it.

                                                              ii.      Crafters supplying another manufacturer or craft business with components i.e. hand made beads supplied to a jeweler.

                                                            iii.       Making a complete product, branded, marketed and distributed by the crafter

Research:
As part of our intervention process, it is imperative to have a good understanding of the Products made, Inherent Skills available, Material and Equipment resources and Infrastructure, and market access channels available. We can only set a program in place with a good brief, and that needs good intellegence about the issues mentioned above.

Approach:·         We prefer to do the research on the ground with the crafters that is targeted, in order to get firsthand information, and to establish a good brief with realistic and defined deliverables.

·         Where necessary, experts in a field or craft, is brought in to asses skills, infrastructure or a resource.

·         We work closely with authorities and conservation bodies, to manage vulnerable resources, and to find alternative materials or processes that ad better value and offer sustainable returns.

·         We are also very sensitive to the plight of "fragile cultures" and the preservation of skills and traditions, we enlist the services of  experts where necessary, i.e. Chennells Albertyn Attorneys.

Opportunity Development:
No intervention in a craft business is realistic without building a manageable marketing and distribution system that can be sustained by the producers themselves.

Approach:

·         We assist with branding and marketing materials.

·         Training in packing and packaging for shipping and display for retail.

·         We assist to forge market linkages with agents and retailers.