Bridging the gap: Local craft terms foster familiarity and equality in the crafts community

The use of craft terms by craftspeople and designers determines the difference between creative and traditional knowledge. Research has shown that focusing on language aspects may help and influence a design process and the resulting product. However, the social dynamic value among participants must be investigated using local craft terms in the crafts community. This study, which adopts ethnographic and ethnolinguistic methods, was conducted in collaboration with Pancaniti Keramik in Cianjur Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. Through participatory observation and semi-structured interviews, this study emphasizes social dynamic values, such as familiarity and equality, and their contributions to craftspeople’s working environment through the use of local craft terms. This study builds a foundation for addressing language barriers, which have impeded craft and design collaboration in regions with cultural differences.