Critical making is term coined by Matt Ratto to describe a way of working which highlights "the reconnection of two modes of engagement with the world that are typically held separate: critical thinking, traditionally understood as conceptually and linguistically based, and physical ‘making’, goal-based material work" with a particular emphasis on technical artefacts and prototyping1.
Critical Making is also "a handmade book project by Garnet Hertz that explores how hands-on productive work ‐ making ‐ can supplement and extend critical reflection on technology and society. It works to blend and extend the fields of design, contemporary art, DIY/craft and technological development".2 The book is also available to download http://conceptlab.com/criticalmaking/
"It also can be thought of as an appeal to the electronic DIY maker movement to be critically engaged with culture, history and society: after learning to use a 3D printer, making an LED blink or using an Arduino, then what?...."
1.http://opendesignnow.org/index.php/article/critical-making-matt-ratto/
2.http://conceptlab.com/criticalmaking/
3.ibid