The second thematic event of designMT turned its attention to product design, craftsmanship, sustainability and the growing role of technology in how things are made.Held at Spazju Kreattiv, Made by Design – Made to Matter brought together voices from education, design, manufacturing and traditional craft to discuss everything from 3D printing and AI to locally made products and the future of hands-on skills.Moderated by brand systems designer Joeaby Vassallo, the panel featured Rebecca Grech from MCAST, Natalia Ortega of Worn Studio, Ing. David Sciberras of Invent 3D and Christian Bezzina of Medina Steels.One of the strongest themes to emerge was that new technology does not necessarily need to replace traditional craftsmanship.The discussion explored how tools such as CNC machining and 3D printing can speed up production and make complex forms possible, while still relying heavily on human input through design, engineering, sanding, assembly, airbrushing and finishing.Ing. David Sciberras of Invent 3D stressed that simply pressing “print” on a 3D file does not create a sustainable business. He argued that the real value comes from everything built around the technology, including design input, engineering knowledge and the finishing process.AI also entered the conversation, particularly around its use during early design and 3D ideation.While generative AI can help designers explore ideas more quickly, the panel noted that AI-generated concepts can still run into problems when they need to become real objects, including issues with structure, proportion and manufacturability.Sustainability was another major talking point, with Rebecca Grech highlighting that designing a recyclable product involves more than simply choosing recyclable materials.When different materials are permanently joined together, even products made from recyclable components can become much harder to recycle at the end of their lifecycle.Joining the panel from Spain, Natalia Ortega spoke about the relationship between designers and artisans, describing successful collaboration as a “50/50” process.Rather than treating craftspeople simply as the people who execute a finished idea, she argued that their knowledge of materials and techniques should actively shape the design itself.The challenges facing locally made products were also put under the spotlight.Maltese makers often operate at a very different cost level to imported mass-produced goods, meaning the challenge is not just price, but convincing consumers of the craftsmanship, skill and time behind what they are buying.Christian Bezzina also raised a bigger question for the future: who will actually make these products in years to come?Preserving traditional trades requires younger generations to enter workshops, learn hands-on skills and understand the realities of physically working with materials.The panel also looked beyond Malta, arguing that local design and craft have the potential to reach wider international markets, with events in cities such as Milan and Paris offering opportunities for Maltese makers to gain visibility and new contacts.The wider takeaway from the evening was that the future of design may not lie in choosing between technology and craft at all.Instead, the strongest opportunities could come from combining both: using AI, 3D printing and rapid prototyping to support skilled makers, while keeping material knowledge, craftsmanship and human judgement at the heart of the finished product.•