India has a rich heritage of diverse cultures. Handicrafts are a mirror of the cultural identity of the ethnic people who make them. In order to understand the influencing and interdependent factors related to creative ecology, we started understanding the process of craft making and the creative aspect of it. We realized that craft ecology is more than just "craft" and has a bigger purpose to it. To validate this understanding we started digging into different resources available on the internet. To understand the current scenario, we digitally connected with craft professionals and other important parties which are working for the betterment of Indian crafts. Following is an overview of a research methodology we followed for understanding Indian crafts hoping in a modest attempt at keeping its flame alive.
Intent - Social Innovation
Method - System Thinking
Vehicle - Entrepreneurship
Wicked Problem
Tensions and conflicts in needs, preferences, and values of stakeholders
Forms of social interactions and relations between stakeholders desired and required for local creative craft practices
Inclusion and participation of end-users, especially those who are at the risk
Opportunities for modes of (monetary and non-monetary) 'exchanges' of ideas for addressing issues of inclusion and governance for creative ecology .
Intent on reading these papers- to understand the various variables and forces that act upon the creative ecology of the craft sector.
To understand the content through different perspectives and changing contexts of similar topics.
We first learnt how to ‘efficiently’ read a research paper.
The topics were selected following the Design Roots, focusing on ‘peer review journals’.
The papers read were majorly under 3 categories- solution orientated, importance of design, and creative ecology with respect to craft.
First we read the abstract, to gain knowledge about the content of the research papers. The paper required to be read multiple times, skimming and scanning, highlighting and taking notes.
Problems, gaps and opportunities, and solutions/ strategies provided in the paper to have a deeper understanding.
Formation of interconnections between acquired knowledge.
Various types of research papers. Some focused directly about the topic, some indirectly. Talking both tangible and intangible aspects related to the craft sector.
The information gathered from the papers indirectly catering to the craft sector (research methodologies) was used as a lens to view creative ecology while developing the Giga map. (will be explained later)
Critical reading and thinking to derive insights and their linkages from the papers.
Highlighting and understanding variables.
Building interconnections by developing a basic framework with a non linear approach.
Various aspects considered for Giga map
Splitting into 3 groups - to have extensive and diverse aspects, efficiency of time and resources with different points of view. Combination of methods to achieve the right kind of content for previous and existing scenarios which enhanced our peer learning.
Through research papers, webinars and interviews, and interactions with stakeholders we synthesized the data.
Understanding how the craft ecosystem is affected in recent years by collecting secondary data from webinars betweens the stakeholders.
Collecting different perspectives of experts belonging from different fields of work.
Interpretation of every field’s issues including through the lenses of Covid19 and opportunities that could require design interventions.
Collection of all the relevant webinars conducted by possible stakeholders.
Segregation of all the webinars into categories of different facets of the craft ecosystem.
Diverse selection of webinar by group members to bring in different perspectives from everyone.
Understanding the work ethics and culture in every field. Identifying how the behavior of work culture shifts from place to place.
Understanding the involved stakeholders along with their roles in every scenario.
Discussions about ongoing trends in the industries and their driving forces.
Understanding the difficulties and emergency situations faced by various stakeholders along with their impacts on the entire ecosystem.
Capturing all our gathered information into a simplified visual bubble diagram.
Identifying gaps and appropriate solutions from creative experts.
Extending our analysis by thinking of possible interventions in different opportunities through bubble diagrams.
Segregation of all the opportunities through an affinity map to have a clear understanding of diverse broader areas.
Secondary research provided a better outlook of the current situation
helping us analyse the gaps and also building connections.
Getting to know different points of views of different craft enthusiasts.
Understanding the approach of different craft enthusiasts to overcome the challenges faced in the craft sector in the current pandemic scenario
Understanding the collaboration of different craft stakeholders who constantly through reforms and strategies help in the betterment of the craft sector.
Awareness and knowledge expansion on design thinking when clubbed with craft knowledge.
Understanding the creative ecology of craft.
Understanding the craft ecosystem by collecting primary data from stakeholders ‘actually’ involved in the process.
Understanding the current scenario from their perspective.
Going beyond the formal analysis by trying to understand the creative practices connected to their craft.
Firstly we brainstormed possible stakeholders and built connections
Stakeholder mapping was done by forming interconnections, by going through the previously read research papers and identifying the significant stakeholders
Shortlisting stakeholders on the basis of their significance and approachability.
Framing the intent and suitable questions according to the stakeholder to collect the required information.
Conducting interviews both telephonic and video conference calls according to the convenience and availability of the stakeholders.
Online survey form generated for understanding the consumer mindset towards craft.
Preliminary analysis and organization of the data through recordings and notes.
Understanding their work culture, problems/ obstacles faced, knowing about scope of improvement and their needs and requirements from their perspective.
Arranging the primary data provided from the stakeholders and understanding their interconnections with each other through bubble diagrams for individual stakeholders.
Obtaining project specific information from the stakeholders for the further analysis.
Affinity clustering according to the potential topics which helped us identify the gaps.
Primary research provided a better understanding of the situations according to the current scenarios compared to secondary research.
Role of different stakeholders provided us with different perspectives and understanding according to the fields.
Craft educators provided us information from design point of views, roles of design and designer with other stakeholders.
Our perspective about stakeholders broadened by understanding the various fields that are involved in the process of sustaining craft ecology.
There is a need for stakeholders of the craft community to understand each other's viewpoints.
Understanding the Indian Craft ecosystem through visualisation of existing theories methods. Giga mapping as an effective tool to aid our capacity to understand & work with complexity.
Creative Thinking in craft as the starting point of the map
Compilation of varied fields of knowledge from the research papers to get an overview
Building models of theories, issues, related to craft ecology
Group Discussions and critical thinking
Generative maps that allow multiple opportunities to map further
Inter Relations between concepts
Identifying Gaps and opportunities
Multiple iterations of maps to gauge
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