Code as Craft

Catalog description

How can the rich tapestry of craftsmanship endure in a rapidly evolving digital world - not just as a skill, but as a mindset? And how can emerging technologies help preserve and transmit this legacy to future generations while inspiring new forms of creativity and innovation? "Code as Craft" at H-Farm College outside of Venice explores these questions by merging artisanal heritage, fashion, and cutting-edge technology. Immersive visits to Venice's key artisanal sites offer insight into centuries of craftsmanship. The course traces the city-state’s rise as a Renaissance trade hub, its 18th-century decline, and the city's 20th-century re-emergence as a textile innovator. Centered on experiential learning, it highlights the art of making and the profound wisdom encoded in traditional craftsmanship. Students will engage in workshops and masterclasses, such as textile weaving using Missoni yarns, that foster direct, embodied transmission of traditional knowledge. Drawing inspiration from this artisanal history and their hands-on experience of craft-as-code, students will use advanced AI tools to generate innovative fashion imagery, blending tradition with emerging technologies to envision the future of design. This course will be offered in January-Term 2026. This course will be taught in Treviso and Venice, Italy and will count as an Away J-Term course. This course is taught by Erisa Ibrahimi.