Service Design Prototype

KA SE KALA - SERVICE DESIGN

Who are we?

Ka se Kala is a social initiative to empower craft communities through education. We provide learning tools and methods which are not restricted by language. Ka se kala believes in imparting creativity and innovation tools to learners, in the beginning, stages itself by linking it to strong cultural contexts.

What are we offering?

Greater accessibility

We provide a digital platform for learning crafts in present time with a traditional approach and ancient techniques of creativity followed in Indian culture. The physical space is not a boundary anymore, the lessons of creativity reach the craftsmen irrespective of the distance and infrastructure availability. We aim to bring the creative streak in craft pedagogy with a curriculum that revolves around the lives of craftsmen. It focuses on ideas and innovation before starting the hands-on work in crafts.

Digitization and gamification of craft learning

The biggest asset for creative education is to make it interactive and engaging for the learners. We aim to simplify the Indian principles for creativity and gamify them to have an enriching learning experience. It is an aid for crafts communities to come together and innovate within their rich heritage. The content is based on craftsmen lifestyle and relatable instances. The activities also consider different types of learners based on their inclination for visuals or auditory input.

Less dependency on the language of learning

The language is one of the major barriers in formal craft education. Ka se kala takes a language inclusive approach in craft pedagogy. The unavailability of study material in regional languages restricts the learning among craftsmen. There is huge potential in fostering creativity among crafts when language is not a concern for learners. The medium of communication is a crucial factor in deciding the pace of learning.

The Indian approach to creativity and crafts

Ka se kala takes the good old methods of learning creativity from Indian traditions and crafts heritage. The ancient ways of creative thinking can work wonders for craftsmen in understanding the concepts. Indian aesthetics and Natya Shastra have elaborate content for arts and crafts. This helps us bring the individuality in the craftwork with less dependence on imitating the crafts. The scriptures, songs, buildings, paintings, etc. speak a lot about Indian take on creativity and the same can be translated to reflect the process of making crafts.

Who are we targeting?

Local Artisans who have turned just labourers or just to copy work, will gain the ability to innovate according to the new market condition.
Craft enthusiasts who are willing to establish a career in crafts but unable to find a suitable medium for learning.
Tribal communities who engage in handicrafts but the language and resources become a barrier for learning.

WHY CRAFT EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT?

Education in crafts is mainly the transfer of craft knowledge between generations or families or communities. Education holds craft practice and cultural heritage together. Craft is a multidisciplinary phenomenon and that learning and practicing crafts promotes the comprehension of diversity and challenges in life. Education in crafts nurtures a learning environment where skills are transferred in a unique way. These skills from one generation to another become the foundation to build an intangible heritage. The journey of learning begins at home with family and gradually the external influences of society and institutes add to the education.

Craft learning is, therefore, standing on the threshold of a new era where the question of how to keep up with social changes has to be considered. Communities are facing the challenge of what to continue and what to leave behind, and how to utilize the resources at hand to contribute to the overall development of the young generation so that they are willing and able to cope with life in the present time. The learning environment is evolving rapidly and we are no longer restricted by geography and finances for education. With such great access to information and knowledge, the transfer of hand skills is struggling to survive. While we all strive for a better standard of living, one big question that comes up is-

Is the learning in craft education about practicing certain skills just to maintain craft’s heritage, or to cope with everyday life?

The purpose of education is to fulfil a larger goal and intent of the students. The project explores possibilities to bring an intersection of crafts, culture and education in the right context. The future of learning crafts can be more socially inclusive irrespective of educational background. The objective is to understand the aspirations and expectations of learners before implementing the educational framework for learning. We all go through a well-structured process of learning at school, colleges or universities. This project aims to bring such seamless exchange and transfer of skills in crafts as well. Education in crafts needs to balance the heritage preservation, student welfare and the dignity of labour at a larger scale. Everyone has the right to learn and craft education should bring the right way of learning.

The educational service in crafts can have multiple aspects. We tried to understand the various verticals in craft sector for educational purposes. It led to defining the criteria for duration, medium, context, etc. With an exhaustive mapping of numerous possibilities, we narrowed it down with a focus on 'Pre-making' and 'semi-formal' methodology.

The Service 'KA SE KALA' has been defined at its core but the methods of delivery can vary a lot. There is a wide range of possibilities to channelize the content and deliver to the craftsmen. The core of the service solution is discussed below in a graphic representation. The relationship of 'Guru', 'Shishya', and content for learning has been established by inculcating research insights. This relation forms the foundation to provide craft education service in multiple modes of delivery.

SERVICE STRATEGY

Service Mannual for Ka se Kala

Expansion Plan for Ka se Kala

Stakeholder Mapping

Mapping the related and relevant participants in the craft education system. It brings all the interested and potential partners/supporters in a service, long term policy or programs. Here the academic, administrative, logistics, and other aids in the service are mapped together with their specific role in building Ka se Kala.

Persona Mapping

The field research and insight synthesis helped us create fictional yet realistic profiles of our potential users. We tried to look at the service from their perspective by understanding their strengths and pain points

User Journey Mapping

The journey map here represents the experience of learners is all three ways of learning from Ka se Kala. The parameters of experience mapping are- Helpfulness, Relevance, Enjoyability, and Engagement.

Service Blueprint

The service blueprint helped us visualize the relationships between different service components for Ka se Kala — people, props (physical or digital evidence), and processes — that are directly tied to touchpoints in a specific user journey.

Service Landmarks

The two main products under the service are- 'Ka se Kala' mobile application and the educational kit. A combination of digital and physical products in hand is aimed to ensure holistic learning. These products are offered in different modes of delivery according to the requirement. There is complete flexibility to customise the kit as well as application as per requirement. The further expansion of the service can add more to the range of products.