Arts and craft are not just hobbies, they can also offer ways to cope with stress, anxiety and other mental health problems.
That is exactly what Viktor Kushchenko, a ceramic artist from Ukraine, feels when he works on his sculpted lamps.
“Ceramic art and DIY projects are deeply meaningful to me. They help me cope with the depression and stress that the war has brought into our lives. We are also creating art-based rehabilitation programs for both military personnel and civilians to help them adjust to life off the frontlines,” says Kushchenko, who also runs a ceramic studio in Kyiv.
He posts under the name KUSTceramics on Reddit to showcase his work and is a frequent contributor to the ‘something i made’ community.
“The idea of sculptural lamps grew from my love for combining sculpture with light. My first lamps were abstract forms where I experimented with different ceramic structures and illumination. Then I created my first Whale Lamp — and it quickly became popular on Instagram.”
There is also evidence that DIY projects have deeper psychological and social benefits. With the rise of AI and ChatGPT, both millennials and GenZ are turning more towards slow pastimes as a form of digital detox.
According to a 2025 survey done in Great Britain, 30 percent of Gen Z participate in crafts for mental wellbeing — more than double compared to older age groups.
It also notes that crochet is becoming popular among the younger generations, a craft traditionally linked with older generations. This is mostly “fuelled by the popularity of handmade fashion, TikTok tutorials and mindful hobbies.”
A report in 2023 found that the European crafts market is worth around €50 billion, which proves that it isn’t a niche market at all and there is a large consumer base for it.
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DIY projects also help build support networks as younger generations are finding new ways to connect and share creativity online.
A study from March 2025 notes that community-based craft programs can increase people’s sense of belonging and social connection, helping with their overall mental well-being.
Speaking about the role of technology and online platforms in his work, Kushchenko says sometimes his clients use the internet along with their own creativity to create sketches for their work.
“Recently, I released my first online video sculpting course, where I teach how to create dynamic, expressive animal sculptures.”
The artist believes that the internet is a powerful tool as “it can be used to showcase and promote your art. You just need to use it properly, and you can share your vision, skills, and creations with the world.”
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This boom in the craft industry is being felt across the world, not just on the Old Continent.
In the US, the overall craft industry hit about US $51 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to $87.38 billion by 2035. The report says ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, more people have been ditching mass-produced items and getting back into making things by hand partly for the fun of it and sometimes for creative expression.
The analysis states about “71% of US consumers now identify as crafters, with approximately 85 million active creatives across the United States and Canada.”
As many studies suggest, the lockdowns during the pandemic also had a major role to play in this boom. Engaging in DIY projects during that time was associated with reduced anxiety and depression.
It also helped people regain a sense of control when they felt overwhelmed by news and isolation. When everything went online — school, work and even friendships — turning to arts and crafts was a way to bring a touch of physicality back into life.
Suddenly, crafts were not seen as something you have be perfect at. People who had not drawn since childhood were sketching again while people who had not touched yarn ever were suddenly learning to make cardigans.
DIY projects acted like anchors, helping pull people out of the mindless doomscrolling on their phones. But at the same time, sharing their artwork online also helped people feel connected to each other and less lonely.
Many people, as indicated by several surveys and studies, chose to stay on this path long after the pandemic and through these examples we can see just how much they have mastered their skills.
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Another major advantage of DIY projects is that people often try to use upcycled or recycled products, which makes them more sustainable. And with the younger generations leading the way in environmental awareness, it is also an alternative to fast, disposable consumer culture.
In a recent survey done in the US, about three out of four Gen Zers said they prefer sustainable products over buying from big brands. “As champions of sustainable consumer practices, Generation Z’s views also influence other age groups to change their buying behaviour.”