Lecture at Montana State University

On September 28, 2026 Jeff will give the lecture “Whichcraft” at the Montana State University, School of Architecture. The lecture discusses craft, construction tolerance, and conflicting expectations within a range of projects by Actual Architecture Co. and the student designbuild practice, FACT. The talk may be available for live streaming or recorded viewing after the in-person event in Bozeman, MT.

There comes a time in any design process when the designer must make a choice, “which type of craft is appropriate for this project?” While there are many available paradigms of craft, each with a distinct expectations and preferred standards of tolerance in the final product, the choice is often situation specific. “Custom-craft” is based on unique demands of an end user to produce a bespoke product, “techno-craft” applies computer aided design and fabrication to reduce cost and increase quality, and “farm-craft” is based on expedience, pragmatism, but not necessarily aesthetic coherence. In all there a question of resolution. Some projects require a high degree of precision and refined workmanship, while for others cost, expediency, or available talent may necessitate a looser approach. For example, fine furniture carries an expectation of refined craft and precise tolerances while “stage-craft” – specifically, the art of building stage scenery, requires a deliberately low degree of precision because the work is to be viewed at a distance. In architecture, the craft paradigm may vary between different aspects of the same project. Architecture occupies an interesting position in this discourse – architects have a kind of craftsmanship that defines how they work – disciplinary-specific design and representational techniques – but they also engage other craftspeople to realize our creations. Architects must select a form of craftsmanship not only appropriate to the practical task at hand but also matched to our cultural expectations as represented in the project.