Justin Marshall

Professor Justin Marshall is a practitioner-researcher who is interested in the creative use of digital design and production technologies within art and craft practices. His multidisciplinary background spans study within the fields of fine art, ceramics, design and craft, and culminated in a PhD that focused on the role and significance of computer technologies in architectural ceramics. He was one of the founding members of the ‘Autonomatic’ research group at Falmouth University, who are recognised as early adopters and innovators in the creative application of digital design and production technologies. Alongside publishing numerous articles and conference papers he has exhibited work both nationally and internationally, including venues in Ireland, US, India, Germany, Australia and Estonia. His work has featured in field defining exhibitions; ‘LabCraft’ a Crafts Council UK touring show and ‘Fabrication Laboratory’ at the Design Museum in Barcelona. He has held solo shows; ‘Automake’ and ‘Hand Thought’ at The UK National Centre for Craft & Design. Justin Marshall is a digital craftsperson and researcher who for over twenty years has investigated the integration of digital design and production technologies into craft practices. As such his work is concerned with the role and significance of digital tools within craft practice, both in terms of new aesthetic opportunities, and how the creative use of this toolset challenges the concept of the ‘handmade’. His practice-based research has led him to the proposition of a ‘Digital Craft Ethos’ which identifies a series of distinctions between a pragmatic craft-oriented approach to using digital tools, and instrumental industrial design and engineering approaches. More, broadly he is interested in how craft, as a materially sensitive and human-centred practice can have value in multidisciplinary research projects and has been involved in numerous collaborative projects that bring together diverse teams to investigate areas beyond the normal scope of craft practitioners. This includes working with computer scientists, journalists, social scientists, and designers on ‘Bespoke’, an RCUK Digital Economy project that explored how creating bespoke networked devices could respond to concerns and needs in a local area. Currently he is Principal Investigator on ‘hiCraft: Crafting a Healthier Internet’, a 3-year AHRC funded project that is using the practices and ethos of craft to explore ways in which to respond to concerns about trust, bias, transparency, and legibility in current Internet of Things (IoT) development.