Code Crafters

About

Code Crafters is a research project that investigates connections between quilting and computational thinking, via design-based research to develop instructional workshops for an adult population of quilters. Through leveraging pre-existing social structures, skill sets, and engagement in quilting, we aim to build a scaffold for improving adult engagement in computer science.

My Role

My role focused primarily on qualitative research and research synthesis. Through interviews, contextual inquiry, and analysis work, I helped investigate how quilters and fiber artists think about patterns, systems, creativity, and learning within their craft practices.

This research explored broader questions surrounding embodied learning, participatory knowledge, and alternative pathways into technical literacy outside of traditional STEM environments. The project deepened my interest in educational systems, human-centered research, and the relationship between creativity, storytelling, and learning.

Research

Research activities included surveys, interviews, contextual inquiry, and observation work focused on understanding participants’ relationships with technology, pattern-making, and creative problem solving. The project explored how computational thinking concepts might emerge through existing craft traditions and creative workflows.

Research Synthesis

My work also focused on research synthesis and translating qualitative findings into accessible design artifacts. This included affinity mapping, identifying recurring learning and behavior patterns, and developing participant personas grounded in interview and survey data.

Key themes emerging from the research included:

• computation as a tool for creative expression

• barriers to technical identity and confidence

• the importance of embodied and hands-on interaction

• perceptions of programming culture

• alternative pathways into technical literacy

The resulting synthesis work helped inform broader discussions around educational design, participatory learning, and human-centered approaches to computational thinking.

Prototyping and Design Exploration

In addition to qualitative research and synthesis work, I also participated in early prototyping and interaction concept development for educational quilting interfaces. These explorations investigated how physical craft practices and quilt construction workflows might translate into approachable computational learning experiences through interactive design systems, visual pattern-building tools, and hands-on experimentation.

You can find more info about this ongoing project at https://www.code-crafters.org.