Its Three Virtues

Quiet Craft brings craft back to three virtues that hold across all disciplines and scales. Each reflects a different dimension of making: why something is shaped, how it is offered, and how it takes its place within the craft.

Virtue 1: MEANINGFUL IN VALUE

Facet of craftsmanship:
The intention of the work itself — its reason for being.

Guiding question:
Whom do I serve with my skill, and with what meaning?

Craft begins with skill and purpose. A maker weighs his skill, experience and scale against the needs of the person he serves. The virtue lies not in trying to do everything or reach everyone, but in creating the right thing for its intended use.

Virtue 2: LASTING IN EXPERIENCE

Facet of craftsmanship:
The attention given to the person who receives the work.

Guiding question:
With what care and attention do I serve my work?

Well-made pieces carry a presence that stays. This virtue concerns the care with which something is shaped and offered — with regard for the person who meets the product, service or experience, whether in a single moment or through repeated use.

Virtue 3: RESTRAINT IN EXPRESSION

Facet of craftsmanship:
The attitude within the craft as a whole.

Guiding question:
What is my place within the craft as a whole?

This virtue concerns the attitude a maker brings to the wider craft. A maker may take pride in his work and let it stand clearly, yet he recognises that the craft itself is larger than he is. From that awareness grows integrity and respect — toward all who belong to the craft, competitors included. In the end, the deepest recognition a maker can receive is to be regarded by fellow craftsmen as a full and worthy peer, whatever his scale or discipline may be.