noncraft

Noncraft is a term used in English to describe activities, artifacts, or content that do not involve making or constructing something by hand. Because it is not widely standardized, its precise meaning depends on the context in which it is used. In many discussions of crafts and hobbies, noncraft contrasts with craft or crafting by focusing on consumption, analysis, performance, or digital creation rather than physical handcrafting.

In cultural discourse, noncraft can refer to activities that emphasize process rather than product, such as storytelling, music listening, or performance, where the value lies in experience rather than a physical object.

In digital media and gaming, noncraft is often used to describe items or content that cannot be crafted by players or are not produced through crafting systems. In design and art theory, noncraft may indicate practices that do not aim to produce handmade artifacts, such as conceptual art, critique, or research.

See also: Craft, Crafting, Makers movement, DIY.