Full-Stack Craftsman — The Future of Craftsmanship?

Since the Internets inception, enhanced access to information, data, and knowledge has been driving the creation of features and benefits. What’s more recent is data and knowledge coming from objects to make a product more enjoyable, enhance its capabilities, improves performance, and a host of other benefits to the manufacturers and users of Internet of Things (or IoT) products.

Physical and digital lives are becoming more integrated and desired as the benefits of social interaction and individual monitoring, tracking, and remote capabilities increase. Many consumers have access to a smart Internet-connected device at nearly all times of the day, and increasingly want to use the device to receive benefits.

So designing products is a lot more interesting and complex. It’s interesting because, as a design thinker, you have more paths to solve problems for a wide range of user journeys and use cases. And these designers will need to embrace good team collaborations and educate themselves in different areas of the stack. For the foreseeable future, to get ahead, a fullstack craftsman will likely have to build know-how outside of work by hacking in their spare time in a maker space, combing that with getting a nano-degree, or participating in innovative programs like the American Design and Master Craft initiative.

Complexity is coming in many forms, from the lack of standards in IoT, to valid concerns about privacy and safety. And marketers are salivating at the opportunity to have even more touch-points with consumers, which adds additional complexity to satisfy both the marketer and the consumer’s needs. Fear not: There are numerous places to see and learn about consumer IoT, from expos to Meet Up groups. It’s rather easy to get engaged.

For example, IoT will continue to take center stage at expos like CES 2014, where numerous examples of virtual-meets-physical world products get their spotlight, and developer kits are rolled out a la Dream Force’s Connected Device Lab. If you’re asking where you should look start with home automation where products like Belkin’s WeMo home automation switch gets praise to the connected car and the wearable tech craze targeting health and fitness and sports in a big way. And a favorite of mine, Fast Company, gave praise to some notables, helping drive IoT innovation.

It’s safe to predict is that IoT products are here to stay and will proliferate faster than prior technologies and with more impact. So prepare for and try to enjoy the tsunami that is coming, or at least help a fellow craftsman out and be a life raft. And if you want to learn more, come check out my collaboration with School.ADMCi.org or SPACE and be part of the conversation and doing.

Drop me a note if you have questions or suggestions on folks to interview. Thank you.