Weaving Success: How Craft-Design Collaborations Enhance Creative Synergy to Drive Product Innovation in Project Management

This study explores the impact of craft-design collaborations on product innovation, particularly focusing on how these collaborations enhance creative synergy in project management. The problem addressed by the study is the lack of understanding regarding the mechanisms through which interdisciplinary collaborations between craftspeople and designers can foster innovation and creativity within the context of project management. This study aims to explore how craft-design collaborations foster the innovation of new products and what are main factors that affect the success of those collaborations. Thematic content analysis available in the literature was employed to explore craft-design collaboration dynamics through a corresponding narrative review methodology by referencing academic articles and case studies. The results show that interdisciplinary collaboration enhances creativity, allows for the sharing of information, and fosters the joint development of innovative product solution. Miscommunication and trust issues between stakeholders, however, were also recognised as obstacles to collaboration. Failure to manage these challenges and adapt traditional project management methodologies to revolve around creative synergy is not the right approach, according to some studies. However, the study enhances both substantive theory and practical interest by revealing what it means when people cooperate towards product innovation and what implications can be drawn for enhancing project management practice in collaboration. The recommendation for future work will be employing digital tools and augmented reality to facilitate the interactive prototyping. Hence these findings will be validating towards industrial context and explore the role of evolving technologies in craft-design partnerships.