Do it yourself, also known as DIY, is the method of building, modifying or repairing something without the aid of experts or professionals. The term “do-it-yourself” has been associated with consumers since 1912, primarily in the domain of home improvement and maintenance activities. The phrase “do it yourself” had come into common usage (in standard English) by the 1950s, in reference to the emergence of a trend of people undertaking home improvement and various other small craft and construction projects as both a creative-recreational and cost-saving activity. DIY behaviour can be triggered by various motivations previously categorized as marketplace motivations such as: economic benefits, lack of product availability, lack of product quality, need for customization and identity enhancement (craftsmanship, empowerment, community seeking, uniqueness).
What started with simple and daily activities, such as self-serve gas stations and grocery checkout lanes, has morphed into a multitude of professional DIY services. The growth in DIY in many businesses over the past decade has been huge. The ever-popular DIY craze, has spawned way too many TV shows and how-to videos, as well as enabled the likes of big names in different businesses. Many of the new DIY platforms provide opportunities to include engaging types of tasks. Many online DIY tools enable researchers to virtually immerse themselves with participants by having them include photos and videos to add context to their text responses. DIY is treated as a boon to the research industry; it can increase the amount of research being done overall. In some cases, it enables qualitative research consultants to work faster; in other cases it may make sense for clients to use it themselves.
With technology changing everything we do today, it will continue to impact qualitative research. We will continue to use these tools ourselves, as well as encourage companies to use them too when the business decision risk/value equation is appropriate. It appears that several of these providers who were once offering DIY tools changed their business model to full service, or at least to offer additional service plans for those who did not wish to actually conduct themselves.
This paradigm shift is undeniable, but the question whether or not this rise of participatory or DIY culture creates a radically new and promising opportunity for ordinary people to be heard or have a voice in the processes of democratic contestation is nevertheless rather unresolved.
People’s Pop-Up is an online marketplace where people connect to attend, teach or host DIY and craft workshops.
Their mission is to re-imagine arts education in a way that supports teaching artists, strengthens communities, and makes creative learning a part of everyday life. This Los Angeles based company is on a mission-driven start-up helping artists and businesses work together to solve this problem.
Through pop-up workshops, they connect teaching artists who need temporary classroom space with businesses who want to engage with their community. Their online marketplace and ticketing service enables artists to promote their own workshops and sell tickets to People’s Pop-Up’s growing audience of creative, lifelong learners. They are filling the gap of what Etsy left off, building community on and offline through exchanges rooted in arts education.
Team eXi wishes them success in their journey.
Your support through any of the social groups is highly appreciated, this will also help them grow their network through you.