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

1.  Tensions and conflicts in needs, preferences, and values of stakeholders

2.  Forms of social interactions and relations between stakeholders desired and required for local creative craft practices 

3.  Inclusion and participation of end-users, especially those who are at the risk 

4.  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.

• 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.