Opportunity Areas
Areas of Opportunities
Experience based
Product based
Creating a better experience with the craft production process for the craftsmen.
Redesign the working space that creates a seamless working experience with the multiple processes involved in the craft production for both the craftsmen and those involved in it.
Providing a service of creating a video documentary library website of the making of various craft products, to be shared with intellects/ organisations who have their interest in craft.
A platform where artisans are showcased along with their work ex. Like a portfolio website for the artisans.
The platform provides the availability of artisans along with the details of their specialisations. The portfolio can be in terms of videos, photos, storyboards, documentaries, photo collection, animations, interviews, etc.
Companies, organisations or designers in need of them can hire them during various seasons, mainly in the offseason for various ventures in similar fields
Ex. Jewellery in case of potters - drying and firing can be done indoors and on a small scale. The designers get a share in trying out new designs while providing exposure to the artisans and a share in the earnings.
To develop a video documentary website that focuses on the seasonal crafts and life of artisans that includes the craft production process, living environment and current status to share among the crafts enthusiasts who look forward to knowing them and working with them.
Creating a craft experience for the tourists in the cluster village as a mode of attraction.
Design interventions in the living space that attracts the tourists, which gives a greater exposure to the craft society.
Considering the craftsmen’s skill as the key tool, designing a system where the design students can meet the artisans to seek help with the processes.
Idea of skill library
Design intervention to impart knowledge to spark interest and engage the younger generation with tourist activities with regard to craft as production guide.
Creating a service for easy procurement of the raw material for the production in the society.
Design intervention to make the entire process more time efficient through new tools in order to make it more organised.
Building a new identity in the contemporary context by creating new patterns, textures, motif designs using local tools on the products as a mark of identity
Design intervention to work towards design development of the existing form line of the products during off season -( diversification of products )
Collaboration with artisans to build tools for pattern making during the offseason; the patterns can be used on products later during the major season
A system which balances the seasonal production and design development during the off season that creates an identity to the community.
Design interventions to introduce newer elements in the existing form which gives a newer purpose for the products.
Co-creating to widen the product range of the craft to cater to a bigger market.
Devising craft related games with the help of artisans (in making instruction videos) for the urban young generation
Design intervention to introduce new tools or tweak the existing ones and decrease the manual labour involved in the process of the craft
Co creation by collaborating with women of the family to build value added products using the broken furnaced pieces.
Co-Creating an exquisite contemporary product line that becomes the identity of the community/society.
Design intervention to study the contemporary terracotta market and co-create a new form line for products using the existing materials.
Design interventions to create a single firing infrastructure instead of multiple kiln for the entire community considering the family unity. Single kiln gives more space for the storage purpose.
Design intervention to make the production process independent of the weather condition.
Widening the knowledge range of the craftsmen with regards to the entire value chain of the craft product.
Design intervention in the craft infrastructure for production in the monsoon season
Introducing new drying techniques in the place of existing ones to reduce time, effort and its current weather dependency.
Design intervention to create new production methods using the existing material.
Design an ergonomic transportation method to ease the involvement of the women labour in the process of collecting and transporting the woods.
Designing an ergonomic system of painting the pots for the older women involved.
Grassroot innovation for the rotating wheel - manual cycle peddling - resulting in rotating wheel or power generation
Tech interventions in the production process.
Automated operation of the throws/ newer smaller controllable rotating methods that substitutes for the manual throws which reduces the effort and reduces the storage space.
Studios for production which changes the working ambience/style : newer perception among younger generation.
Multistorey storage system for pots, better display of products
Grading of products based on quality and pricing accordingly
Common storage unit in the society for the vyapari to collect from
Innovative multipurpose tools - useful for pottery or major craft as well as other activity
Intervention in product design according to change in seasons, festivals etc.
Reusing local waste plastics in the production of decorative pieces
Devising craft tool kits with help of artisans generation learn about crafts; pay the artisans for their guidance - create animations, video documentaries, picture tools, match the crafts game for kids , find the raw material - games etc.
Service based
Branding based
Interventions in the school curriculum where the education about the craft knowledge and skill is provided by the craftsmen during their offseason.
Providing a one stop service where orders are taken from restaurants,outlets, govt orders and placed to the cluster on a monthly basis.
Creating a service for procuring the needed materials in larger amounts which reduces the money/time that is spent on the transportation for the entire community.
Service provision to collaborate artisans with restaurants, heritage sites, museums, corporates for creating giftings, space decoration product lines.
Service intervention for collaborations of artisans with restaurants, historic places, museums, companies etc.
Creating a system(e.g online platform) that provides knowledge and skill regarding the craft process among the craft enthusiasts
A service where we link and provide a platform to organise skill transferring through organised workshops/curriculums by the craftsmen in the educational institutions nearby or to the enthusiasts across nearby cities.
Design intervention in creating multiple channels for the craftsmen for selling/marketing of the product in the market.
Making the craftsmen self reliant with selling/marketing their products in the urban market through e-commerce.
Creating a service in providing a feedback system from the market about the products and helping in understanding the market need.
Interventions in providing a consistent amount of order to bring income security to the craftsmen throughout the year.
Introducing a service which informs, builds awareness about the schemes and aids provided by government and other organizations; makes its availing process easier for the craftsmen.
Design contributions to create a service for skill exchanging platforms which supports the idea of exposure to the craftsmen - BARTER SYSTEM OF SKILL knowledge?
New methods to give/provide certification of their ability/ capacity in the craft or any particular skill
Collaboration with textile designers to generate print patterns ex. Using shadow play of pots and tawas of various sizes
Scope for venture into jewellery and other accessories - time saving
Platform to make and sell natural dyes like the laal mitti, using various local materials
Opportunity for cot making and selling - collaboration with road side restaurants, dhabas etc.
Interventions in labour involvement – introducing women’s contribution in the production process- division of labour
Design interventions in terms of branding of the products highlighting the significance of the community identity intact - Prajapati Pottery (PP)
Design interventions to attract the nearby city to the village (by doing what).
Creating a connecting channel between the contemporary terra-cotta market to the cluster to increase its market sector.
Promoting the labor involved as a marketing strategy to add purchasing value to the craft.
Tapping into the increasing local population and studying its need and to cater to that market segment.
Recreation of age old artifacts of pottery in order to preserve the and showcasing in exhibition and fairs, creating a documentary out of it
Design intervention in terms of souvenir products and crafting experience to attract foreign and local tourists in return adding exposure to the cluster.
Using health benefits of using natural clay products as a marketing strategy to increase the sales. (Concept of going back to roots)
Material based
Design intervention with bringing in an alternative raw material in place of the existing one which works better with low heat for firing and drying.
Design interventions in creating a new product line using the left out broken pieces.
Design interventions by exploring and introducing new materials into the existing material.
Design intervention in creating a new composite material from the left out broken pieces to be used in making a new product line.
POTENTIAL BRIEFS
1) Design intervention to work towards design development of the existing form line of the products during off season.
Current context: Continuing the production of the same form line for a long time without a change in purpose
Idea: Service connecting designers/design studios/students doing craft based projects with potters craft community for product design development.
Intent:
Understanding the choices of contemporary market and bringing it to the attention of artisans.
Creating a new product line with forms and purpose tapping the demand of the market.
Tapping this market and production can become a better source of income and wise usage of time during the off-season.
Target audience: Artisans who are continuing the craft practice in Shaktinagar society.
Users who demand for unique products and are subjected to fast changing trends.
2). A service where we link and provide a platform to organize skill transferring through organised workshops by the craftsmen in the educational institutions nearby or to the enthusiasts across nearby cities.
Current context: no income for craftsmen during off season.skills and crafts are vanishing because it's left unattended, changed perception towards craft,crafts not being an aspirational job.
Idea: A service that provides a platform to organize skill transferring in nearby educational institutions.
Intent:
An off-seasonal opportunity for the craftsmen to earn income during the off season.
Possibilities: To give knowledge about the craft practices in India and to mention them in the syllabus which gives an equal value to the crafts like the other professions that are made aspirational through the textbooks since childhood.
Social responsibility and creating strong identity since childhood
Target audience: Students in educational institutions
3) Design interventions in creating a new product line using the left out broken pieces.
Current context: Pottery involves huge dependence on weather conditions and skill of the artisan. The process involves a significant amount of breakage of products due to various reasons. Some of the reasons include - uneven drying or firing, presence of impurities, human error while making the pot, shipping/transporting/ carrying mishaps, missed cracks while making, while stacking or storing; lack of packing or support while drying, firing or storing; unsuited weather conditions
Idea: Try new space accessories, product, decorative accessories built using the broken pieces. The designs can be brought up with collaboration of artisans and designers
Intent:
making use of the existing resources to create an income during off season handling the storage issues created by broken pieces.
This will give the freedom to think if any utilitarian aspect of broken pieces can be tried out as well
This may lead to finding new joinery materials adding to the decorative value and life of the products thus formed
4)Design interventions by exploring and introducing new materials into the existing material works better with low heat for firing and drying.
Idea: finding new material that requires low heat for firing and drying.
Intent:addressing the issue of the product not being able to be furnaced during the rains in the monsoon season and inadequate facilities.
Target audience: craftsmen.
Current context: open kilns outside the houses to operate the furnace, women collect the branches as fuels that create difficulty during monsoon season.
5)Creating a connecting channel between the contemporary terra-cotta market to the cluster to increase its market sector.
Current context: since the middleman is connecting the artisans they are not really aware about the current demand ,market and current trend that is going on. This made it difficult for them
Idea: connecting existing community with the contemporary market
Intent: to make them aware about the market and to make them
6) Creating a brand identity including a digital experience of the seasonal craft community which highlights the sustainable craft practices in concurrence with mother earth.
Major issues after/during covid’19
Less demand/no sale for the products
Lack of exposure /visibility
Difficulty to restore life (might need external support)
No salary/no income (cannot take up other jobs)
Negative economic effects
Potters losing out in the competition in the market
Absence of transport facility due to lockdown
Absence of requirement in the market
Lack of space - Stocking of products and raw materials, without sales, without product collection, without product seekers
Loans & Debts - pending to repay
Online platform where we can see the activities,life and environment of artisans according to the choice of the season. Highlights the effects of season on their culture. In the post Covid-19 scenario there is a greater greater chance that potters lose out in the competition. This platform gives an opportunity for them to reach out to more customers and will get exposure.
FINALIZED BRIEF
Creating a brand identity including a digital experience of the seasonal craft community which highlights the sustainable craft practices in concurrence with mother earth.
Targeting In-Season period accomplishing
Not disturbing the production process already in place
Not utilizing additional energy deriving mechanism in production
Increase in sales
Increased exposure and connectivity to market
(or Exposure and connectivity to a wider market)
Market segment widening
Identity creation and establishment of awareness about the pp and the community lives and practices
Increase in the economic value of product per piece
Customers experiences the creation following the nature which is part of our identity creation about the practice and community
Off- season solution of space environment accomplishing
Availability Limited to a certain location
Mode of teaching/learning environment
Customers do not get to experience the process of creation which is in terms with nature.
Major ethical stand
Creating identity for the community and production process
Promoting the natural production process and awareness
Not delving into the additional use of electric kilns
Not consumerism centric but rather nature centric
Project brief, Mission, Vision, Objectives, Goals, Strategies and Action plans for the service