partner organizations

partners

partner organizations

Design Innovation and Craft Resource Centre (DICRC), CEPT

University, Ahmedabad, India functions as a research centre for the development and understanding of Indian Crafts of Traditional and Vernacular Buildings of India. DICRC’s main activities are to conduct dedicated research, documentation and organize programs, workshops and projects related to Craft and Traditional and Vernacular Interior Architecture. It has five major focus areas, which are Research & Documentation, Innovation and Development, Education and Training, Application and Collaboration and lastly Resource Building & Dissemination.

iNDEXT - c

Every human being irrespective of economic situation is endowed with capabilities not only to take care of, but also has the potential to contribute to the enhancement of the quality of life of all other fellow human beings if given adequate opportunities. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every society to make sure that each member of the society gets opportunities to use his capabilities and live with human dignity. State, as one the important body engaged in governing the society must demonstrate initiatives and take necessary measures so that each human being gets an opportunity to exploit his/her capabilities. Government of Gujarat has been wedded to the above philosophy. In order to handle the problem of unemployment effectively, priority has been given to make the development of cottage and village industries more employment oriented than today with a view to ensure employment to total rural youths because more employment opportunities are being created with less capital in cottage and rural industries. The iNDEXT-c has been created to provide information and guidance & organising Cottage & Rural Industrial sector as a catalyst.

partners

Manthan Educational Programme Society India, Ahmedabad,

India is a not for profit organization focused to ameliorate and instill fresh methods in science communication and entrepreneurship development amongst students and communities at large in the entire country. Manthan strives to apply innovatively planned and designed strategies in its projects with professional trainings and hands on outreach material.

IIID (Institute of Indian Interior Designers) Ahmedabad Chapter,

Ahmedabad, India took the initiative to collaborate with this project, for “Craft Innovation Training Program” by providing financial assistance to the project. As per the larger vision of IIID to collaborate with various institutions, IIID Ahmedabad Chapter recognizes this as a great opportunity not only to collaborate with prime institution of architecture and interior design in India but also with various other organisations and aspiring individuals. IIID Ahmedabad Chapter also looks forward to this collaboration to breathe life into traditional crafts of our country by promoting co-creations and giving new perspective to the field of design and craft while providing an ideal platform for such applied research and experimentation. The resulting innovative outcomes will ensure that traditional crafts are re-invented without diluting their essence, giving them a good chance for survival.

DE D E V E L O P

Develop

Overview : To formulate the Craft Innovation Training Program, based on the research in hand and having identified the needs of any particular building craft. This stage talks about defining the exact requirements and interventions that go into delivering any craft training programme.

Objectives and Intended Output : Moving from research to real-life solutions, the primary objective of this stage is to achieve a concrete structure for the program. Effective training programmes begin with solid planning and a detailed content. At the end of this stage, one will have developed the entire framework for one’s training programme and it will be ready to enter the execution stage with confidence and assurance.

Sub-stages of ‘Develop’ : The sub-stages under this section are ‘Ideate’ and ‘Create’. ‘Ideate’ discusses the aspects of the Training Program to be developed upon at this stage. The various elements to be incorporated into the Training program are explained under the ‘Create’ sub-stage.

DE-1

ideate

To form an idea of; imagine or conceive.

DE-1a : ANALYZE THE RESEARCH AT HAND AND ESTIMATE THE FUTURE REQUIREMENTS

DE-1b : IDEATE ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DIRECTIONS THAT THE TRAINING PROGRAM CAN TAKE

DE-1c : IDEATE AND PLAN FOR ALL THE ASPECTS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM

DE-2

create

To bring (something) into existence.

DE-2a : CREATE EFFECTIVE AND MEANINGFUL MODULES WITHIN THE TRAINING PROGRAM

DE-2b : CREATE A FEASIBLE COURSE OUTLINE

DE-2c : CREATE AND DEVELOP THE CONTENT TO BE UTILIZED IN THE TRAINING PROGRAM

DE-2d : CREATE AND ORGANISE RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR THE TRAINING PROGRAM

DE-1 ideate

craft analysis

The terracotta craft process was documented in detail by the research team at DICRC. A diagnostic study of the craft cluster of Gundiyali was also undertaken to understand the physical, cultural, socioeconomic An analysis of the research and documentation resulted in intervention ideas that could be delivered.

A SWOT ANALYSIS (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat) was carried out to have a holistic understanding of the cluster. Following parameters for all the four issues were taken into consideration:

1. Products 2. Infrastructure 3. Raw Material 4. Technology 5. Human Resource 6. Quality 7. Markets 8. Energy & Environment 9. Information & Communication Technology

SWOT analysis

PARAMETERS

Products

Infrastructure

Raw Material

Technology

Human Resources

Quality

Markets

Information and Communication Technology

STRENGTH

Products made by the artisans are majorly utilitarian products.

Once the raw material is brought to the working space, all the processes take place at their home itself.

Material is inexpensive and easily available.

Since the artisans use traditional techniques, the only way they use technology is by using electric wheel for making products.

Major families practice the craft full time and even the family members help them with the process of making products.

The artisans practicing this craft are highly skilled so the quality of products is very fine and detailed.

Local markets and exhibitions are their strong markets.

Artisans use mobile phones and televisions.

WEAKNESS OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

New products are explored but they lack functionality.

Inadequate amount of space for firing and drying the products due to which many artisans left pottery. The products made out of clay breaks easily. The knowledge about skills and techniques is very well so there is a possibility of expanding the products range. The limited amount of space hinders the efficiency of artisans.

The glazing techniques can be explored.

Lack of knowledge regarding the technology. If the artisans get explored to technology, they can bring new products in the market.

As there is a lack of exposure, still the families make the same type of products. And even the younger generations are not keen enough to work with the craft. As the artisans work manually, the defects are noticeable.

The products are limited. With the help of exposure, even the younger generations can be motivated to work with the craft.

The exposure in terms of improvising the quality should be given as the artisans are open minded and keen to learn the techniques. Introduction of new products is possible as the craft has steady market.

No proper guidance pertaining to marketing. If information regarding marketing and technology is given, they can access the urban and global market. As there is a limited range of products, if the market sees fall in the future, the artisans would not have other set of products to bring in the market. The space factor hinders the artisan’s large scale order of products.

As the products break easily, this provides the limited range of products and hence a limited market. As they don’t have adequate knowledge regarding internet and technology, artisans are unaware about the current happenings in the market. The lack of continuously people working with the craft results to the non uniformity of the product quality.

As the human resource and quality are interrelated, the inconsistency would affect the latter.

The market is limited and hence if in future sees fall, there is no other market to sell their products. As there is a lack of knowledge and information, the artisans are unaware of the current happenings in the market.

Traditional Gundiyali Terracotta Crafts

Design Intervention Parameters

existing product as design inspiration use of

employing traditional techniques for production modular

scale existing and local market

New market

Interior Design Architecture

Designer Craft Design Innovation Craftsperson