Kanishtha Kujur
kanishthakujur@gmail.com +91 91405 62805
I am a designer with prior experience in the social sector through India’s craft industry . I am constantly on a lookout to develop new problem solving skills with my underlying lens of design thinking. I believe in addressing the complexities of intersectionality to build effective and holistic solutions.
Education Bachelor of Design Textile Design National Institute of Design Ahmedabad 7.14 | 2020
DAV Public School XII 90% | 2015 Loreto Convent X 81% | 2013
Skills
Interests
Design thinking System design Ethnographic research Documentation Material Innovation
Social design Circular economy Traditional crafts SDG Sketching
Experience
Projects
Textile Designer Echostream Pvt. Ltd.
Graduation Project Thesis Client : KSR Handlooms Pvt. Ltd
Gangtok Oct 2021- Present Echostream is a collaborative venture working in the field of design application in the social sector
Conducted a 4 week skill and product development workshop for 9 artisans in rural Sikkim; Co-created 6 new range of products with the community using local forest produce to support the local economy Designed a 3 month skill development workshop for 200artisans in rural Sikkim Developed an operation plan to setup one wool processing unit employing 60 people
Design Consultant Creative Enablement Programme
Remote Aug 2021- Jan 2022
The Creative Enablement Programme is a pilot project to help Etsy's artisanal sellers with branding solutions in collaboration with Iksula Services
Designed brand strategies and visual elements including logo, packaging and digital collateral, for 20+ sellers Provided communication design solutions for Etsy India
Design Researcher Godhuli Charitable School Society
Delhi May- Jul 2021 Godhuli is Delhi based charitable trust that runs 3 schools for 500 underprivileged children. Nanhe Saathi was a proposed intervention to tackle disruptions in the teaching process caused due to Covid.
Evaluated the Godhuli teaching system before and during Covid to assess effectivity Defined problem and opportunity areas using design thinking tools like empathy maps, product journey, user journey, etc. Co-conducted ideation workshop with 10 designers to brainstorm on design solutions
Communication Designer KSR Handlooms Pvt. Ltd
Chirala Jan- Apr 2020 KSR Handlooms is a B2B handloom company based in the rural Andhra Pradesh
Conducted user and market research for opportunity mapping for expansion into B2C market Planned brand strategy and marketing ideas for the new brand Visualized branding elements
Textile Design Intern Welspun India
Mumbai May- Jun 2019
Welspun is one of the leading global manufacturers of textileproducts based in Mumbai
Assisted in trend and market research of home furnishing products in Europe Developed prints for their range of home furnishing products
Remote Jun- Dec 2020
Analyzed upcoming trends of South India for the brand’s product range Studied the relation between consumerism habits and aesthetic trends across different income groups of the country Created two range of sarees aimed at promoting handloom in Indian middle income families
Student Researcher and Designer Smart Handloom Innovation Centre
Molakalmuru Mar- Apr 2019 SHIC is an initiative by NID funded by Department of Handlooms and Textiles, Karnataka to revive handloom crafts and uplift weavers
Conducted field research and mapped the saree weaving tradition of Molakalmuru Documented the design lexicon of sarees Identified problem areas and proposed interventions to Dept of Handloom and Textiles, Karnataka, in sectors of marketing, branding, product development and organizational levels Co-designed a range of sarees with artisans
Student Researcher Craft Documentation - The Unsung Tales of Swansi
Khunti Oct 2018
Craft Documentation is a part of NID curriculum that involves study and documentation of a traditional craft.
Conducted ethnographic research of artisans and community of Swansi weaving cluster of Jharkhand Documented technique, product and tradition of the craft Drafted and presented the book to Hon'ble Tribal Affair Minister of Jharkhand, Shri Champai Soren
Extracurriculars and Positions of Responsibility
Volunteered in formation and operation of Tribal Design Forum- currently 200+ community of tribal designers from India Organizing Team - Circular Economy Symposium NID Ahmedabad | Sept 2019 Documentation Team - Insight : Design Research Symposium NID Ahmedabad | Nov 2018 House Captain and Vice Captain Led student delegation in sports and extracurricular activities [High School] Volunteer - Asha Kiran, a literacy project by Loreto Convent School. Taught students from 1-5 [High School]