Design

Introduction

Tools vs. Machines, Crafts vs. Industry

In his book, The Technological Society  (1954), Jacques Ellul presents the difference between the pre- and post-industrial revolution as follows:

The pre-industrial era is the reign of the tool and of craftsmanship. The foremost property of tools is to be generic, versatile, and adaptable. It is up to the craftsman to develop his skills to make the tools follow his intent, so the hand will make up for the limitations of the instrument. This concept is still well known to musicians today: you have to practice, learn, try, fail, retry… there are no shortcuts. Ellul emphasizes the idea of parsimony that comes with tools: resources are limited, so your toolset is pretty much defined by what you can afford, carry, master, and build locally. Trends change slowly and are local, because they use local resources and adapt to local needs, and tools follow the same pattern. Tools are heirlooms passed from master to apprentice, from parent to child. They don’t get incompatible or outdated.