Artisans. Making work Manifest.

Designed by Martin Knox

I find artisans everywhere in the people I talk with. Whilst often they are independent, they are equally to be found in organisations, in many roles at all levels. People who take pride in their work as it is part of who they are. Accountants, Service Managers, Call Centre workers, Volunteers. Coaches.

With over 80% of our economy in services, their work can be difficult to see. A balance sheet is a balance sheet. We see the numbers, but not the care, questioning and insight that has been generated in creating them. We see bland metrics of the number of calls processed in call centres, time spent processing and complaints, but not the laughter and smiles of satisfied customers who have found themselves talking, unexpectedly, to a real human.

People who we think of as "traditional" artisans - the potters, carpenters, weavers, bakers - have a real advantage. They produce tangible items that are their own work. They see it, feel it and relate to it. It gives them fe…