On November 19, 2024, I conducted a workshop about making art toys at CSM Library. I have 3 Thai participants, 1 Lao participant, and 1 Taiwanese participant. I prepared the materials and equipment for the workshop, including the survey that I designed last week to collect feedback from this workshop.
Before I started the workshop, I gave participants an information sheet and participant consent form to read and sign. Then, I started the workshop by introducing the background and goal of this project. I let participants do the pre-survey to collect their thoughts about art toys, and crafts before starting the learning and design process.
I shared the information from my research about how art toys are made, both factory-made and handmade, and showed them those objects to help them understand the process. After that, it was time to design their own art toys. I explained the theme ‘Reimagined Childhood’ to them and also why I chose this theme.
After they finished the design part, I taught them how to use clay with Hebby clay that I had provided to make their design more real. It is incredible to see them create their art toy from their imagination and put it into real life.
During the making, I also talked with them about my research and their thoughts. Most of them agreed that factory-made products are more interesting to buy because they don’t have any defects compared to handmade ones. However, handmade art is also unique and more touch-emotional. One participant said, “The target group of handmade or craft is very specific because not everyone will like handmade.” she suggested that “maybe making art toys with ceramic will be more interesting because people know that ceramic is not perfect, so maybe they will like it more than resin (in terms of the final outcome).”
After they finished the making process, I let them do the post-survey to collect their feedback after the workshop.
Analysis
The “Beyond the Trend” workshop successfully shifted participants’ perspectives on art toys, highlighting the value of craft and storytelling. Here’s a detailed analysis and feedback based on the collected responses:
- Change in priorities:
- Before the workshop, appearance was the primary factor influencing buying decisions.
- After the workshop, participants emphasised story/meaning and craft more, demonstrating a deeper understanding of the effort behind creative works.
- Increased appreciation for craft:
- 100% of participants stated they now appreciated the craft of making art toys much more.
- This reflects the success of hands-on activities like designing and crafting their own art toys in changing perceptions.
- Impact on buying decisions:
- 4 participants said they would now consider buying or valuing art toys for their craftsmanship and story rather than just their appearance or trendiness.
- Another one indicated they might consider it, suggesting room for further influence.
- Meaningful workshop elements:
- Participants found the most meaningful aspects to be designing art toys, making the craft, and learning the process.
- Observing others’ designs also created an engaging and collaborative learning environment.
- Key insights from learning:
- Participants acknowledged the time, effort, and thought required to create an art toy. They realized that the process was not only technical but also deeply creative, enhancing their appreciation of the final product.
- Quotes like “I now understand how much effort goes into creating a single piece” highlight the educational value of the workshop.
- Emotional connection:
- The workshop evoked strong emotional responses, with participants sharing that it reminded them of their childhood memories or brought a sense of joy and nostalgia.
- Uncovered challenges:
- Some participants found the crafting process challenging, noting the complexity and effort required to translate ideas into tangible forms.
I think the workshop effectively achieved its goal of changing perceptions from trend-focused to appreciating the craft and storytelling behind art toys. Hands-on engagement and storytelling were important in changing how they view creative works.
Here’s the video of the workshop (in speed x16, haha)