Traditional crafts, design and sustainability: The word is with who produces ceramics in Itamatatiua

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation over the Itamatatiua (MA) ceramic craft, a maroon community existing for more than three centuries which retains the traditional features and the identity associated activity, despite the production techniques and devices have undergone interventions over the time. The case study involved fi eld research and the vision of the artisans about their work through oral history, considering the socio-cultural and economic aspects, using the knowledge of the craft from the relative issues to the preservation of the activity’s tradition and sustainability. It is believed that the data obtained so far may represent contributions to the development of new research aimed at the traditional or ethnic communities, considering the knowledge and practices of these culturally diff erentiated people over interaction with the powers of design, in view of the dimensions that include sustainability.

Keywords: sustainability, crafts, traditional, design, quilombo.