The Artisan

At a glance

Code

HSPM

Leans

Hands-on · Solo · Planner · Mastery

Interests that tend to fit

Cooking, Writing, Woodworking, Photography, Fashion Design, Music

What being The Artisan means

You take pride in work done properly, one careful step at a time. Give you good tools and time to focus, and you'll make things of real quality.

You take pride in work done properly, one careful step at a time. Give you good tools and time to focus, and you will make things of real quality: things that feel right in the hand and still work years later.

What it often looks like

• You notice details others miss, such as the joint, the finish, the edge.
• You'd rather make one thing well than ten things quickly.
• You are happiest with your hands busy and your mind quiet.
• You keep your tools in order, and you know why you chose each one.

How the four leanings fit together

Your type comes from four choices in the test. Each one is a lean, not a box: most people sit somewhere between the two poles.

• Hands-on over ideas. You learn by doing, and you trust what you can see, touch and try.
• Solo over team. You concentrate and recharge best without an audience.
• Planner over explorer. Structure frees you up. A clear plan lets you go deep instead of worrying about what comes next.
• Mastery over giving. What pulls you forward is getting great at something.

Strengths

• Craftsmanship and a trained eye for quality
• Patience with practice and repetition
• Working steadily without supervision
• Learning through the hands
• Making things that last

Watch-outs

Every type has a shadow side. These are the ones The Artisan tends to meet.

• Perfectionism. Finished and good is better than perfect and still on the bench.
• Working in isolation. Showing your work brings feedback and customers.
• Undercharging. Quality takes time, and time has a value.
• Resisting new tools or methods. Some of them improve the craft.

The What's Holding You Back? quiz looks at five common habits like these.

Where The Artisan tends to thrive

These are examples of where the pattern fits, not a list of jobs you must pick from.

• Woodworking, ceramics, textiles and other crafts
• Fine making: jewellery, instrument making, restoration
• Culinary craft such as baking or pastry
• Design-and-make roles, from furniture to product prototyping

The Ikigai test goes further: it asks what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for, for the specific interests you choose.

One letter away: the neighbouring types

Your type sits next to four others. Each differs from The Artisan by exactly one leaning. If you scored close to the middle on an axis, you may recognise yourself in a neighbour too.

• If you lean Ideas instead of Hands-onThe ArchitectDesigns elegant systems in quiet focus.
• If you lean Team instead of SoloThe BuilderGets real things done with a solid crew.
• If you lean Explorer instead of PlannerThe MakerLearns by building, tinkering and testing.
• If you lean Giving instead of MasteryThe GardenerTends to things patiently so they can flourish.

See all 16 Ikigai types

Frequently asked questions

Next steps

1. Take the Ikigai Type Test if you haven't. It's free and quick.
2. Find your Ikigai to match your type with interests you love, are good at, the world needs and you can be paid for.
3. Add to your character. Each quiz unlocks an item on your shareable card: Strengths, Values, Career interests, all quizzes.
4. Read more: what Ikigai means, purpose vs. passion, the four circles.