7 Lamps Illuminate the Roots of the Maker Movement

“It is not a question of doing more, but doing better” John Ruskin 1849

“Nobody wants ornaments in this world, but everybody wants integrity” John Ruskin 1849

“For, whatever infinity of fair form there may be in the maze of the forest, there is fairer, as I think, in the surface of the quiet lake.” John Ruskin 1849

“Man cannot advance in the invention of beauty, without directly imitating natural form” John Ruskin 1849

“Hand-work might always be known from machine-work” John Ruskin 1849

“When we build, let us think that we build for ever” John Ruskin 1849

“No originality for its own sake, but conforming to the finest among existing values” John Ruskin 1849

Scottish-born designer, Dean Brown, sees strong connections between the Arts & Crafts Movement of the late 1800s – early 1900s and today’s Maker Movement. One of the visionaries behind Arts & Crafts was John Ruskin. In 1849, Ruskin wrote The 7 Lamps of Architecture, which served as something of a manifesto to the movement. Brown cleverly explores the relationship between these two movements via a series of seven actual, documented lamp projects, featuring today’s DIY tools and materials, while drawing on Ruskin’s Arts & Crafts edicts for design and building inspiration. Brown writes:

The 7 Lamps of Making re-visits John Ruskin’s essay The 7 Lamps of Architecture, as a guide for 21st century making – translating 19th century craft theory into a contemporary design project. Ruskin used the word “Lamps“ to mean guides. These “Lamps” are objectified as tangible examples of the 7 guides in practice – as critical objects that embody the enduring principles of good craftsmanship.

You can read about the details on the 7 Lamps website here.