Prior to the Industrial Revolution, hand-production methods were abundant. Craft defined everything. The craftsman had an almost phenomenological knowledge of materials and intuited how to vary their properties according to their structural and environmental characteristics.

The quote by Neri Oxman, "Prior to the Industrial Revolution, hand-production methods were abundant. Craft defined everything. The craftsman had an almost phenomenological knowledge of materials and intuited how to vary their properties according to their structural and environmental characteristics," highlights the intimate relationship between human skill and material understanding before mechanized production. Oxman emphasizes that traditional craftsmanship required not only technical expertise but also a deep, almost instinctive awareness of how materials behaved in different contexts.

By describing the craftsman’s knowledge as phenomenological, Oxman suggests that understanding was rooted in direct, sensory experience rather than abstract theory. This approach allowed artisans to make nuanced adjustments to materials, responding to both their inherent properties and external environmental factors, which made handcrafted work highly adaptive and context-sensitive.

The origin of the quote comes from Oxman’s work as an architect, designer, and researcher, known for exploring the intersection of design, biology, and material science. She often reflects on how historical craftsmanship can inform contemporary digital fabrication and computational design, bridging traditional skills with modern technology to create structures that are both innovative and responsive.

Ultimately, Oxman’s statement underscores the value of hands-on knowledge and the art of making in shaping human interaction with materials. It highlights that the Industrial Revolution, while transformative, shifted production away from intuitive, experiential understanding, and suggests that revisiting craft-based approaches can inspire new forms of design innovation grounded in material intelligence.