NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF ALL INVENTION
Perhaps you have heard it said, "Necessity is the mother of all invention." I wholeheartedly agree, however - I would change the saying (since this is a home decor blog) to: "Necessity is the mother of all DESIGN."
Take for example the rocking chair, the folding stool, the writing desk or even the ironing board - all items we use daily, all items someone had to design thanks to a NEED. So why then don't domestic technicians receive more recognition? How come I don't know who invented the garbage disposal like I know Steve Jobs was CEO of Apple Computers and is credited with inventing the Macintosh Computer?
This gorgeous Graham and Green piece of furniture is crafted from recycled pine and listed as a "Multi-Storage Cupboard".
HAVE YOU EVER?
Have you ever taken two or more unrelated furniture pieces, put them together then created something new? Possibly even more functional than prior? Are you a fan of television shows like Flea Market Flip or any other DIY show which features resourceful gadgets and doodads which make daily life easier? If the answer is yes (or in my case YES) than you my friend are a Domestic Technician.
Just like Sarah Goode, the African American "Domestic Technician" who filed for and received a patent in 1888 for a bed which was designed to fold up into a writing desk. Her patented multipurpose furniture design solved a major problem for those who lived in big cities and had to work and live in small spaces. (More on this exciting woman tomorrow)
Leila McNeill Editor in Chief of Lady Science writes:
"When I asked historian of technology Ruth Schwartz Cowan why domestic technology is not typically recognized as technology proper, she gave two main reasons. First, “The definition of what technology is has shrunk so much in the last 20 years,” she says. Many of us conceptualize technology through a modern - and limited - framework of automation, computerization, and digitization. So when we look to the past, we highlight the inventions that appear to have led to where we are today - which forces us to overlook much of the domestic technology that has made our everyday living more efficient.
The second reason, Cowan says, is that "we usually associate technology with males, which is just false.” For over a century, the domestic sphere has been coded as female, the domain of women, while science, engineering, and the workplace at large has been seen as the realm of men. These associations persist even today, undermining the inventive work that women have done in the domestic sphere. Goode, Benjamin, Boone and Elgin were not associated with any university or institution. Yet they invented new technology based on what they knew through their lived experiences, making domestic labor easier and more efficient." - Smithsonian Magazine: February 2017
When you get a moment check out @inordertosucceed on instagram and be inspired!
IN CONCLUSION
Domestic technology is about so much more than just "storage solutions to hide our junk". DT is about solving problems by inventing new products and services which make our lives easier and simply put - better.
When I started this blog at the beginning of the year, I had no idea how "tin" was made, or how each fork needs to be bent by hand before it can be polished (which is why most place settings start at $50+ for five pieces). I didn't realize wicker baskets can be hundreds of dollars, because each one is woven by hand so when I see one at the Goodwill and it's only $15.99 I should jump on it - not balk at it.
Well, this week I am at it again, researching and learning how to appreciate my "things" to a much greater degree. Every little useful item I come in contact with on any given day came from someone's imagination, was created and made into production just so I could have a better day. That's SO cool!!
This kinderboard by @yourlittledove_ is a multipurpose heirloom toy created for children for both imaginative play and learning.
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