Participatory Design Workshop

with Tharu Artisans

As part of the Social Design and Research course for the Batch of 2022 at the School of Design, students participated in a five-day participatory design workshop with artisans from the Tharu community. The workshop aimed to introduce students to social design practices through direct engagement with a traditional craft community, laying the groundwork for future design interventions that could support and benefit the community.

The Tharu Women Artisans

Seven women artisans from Pindari village, Sitargan, Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttrakhand, participated in the workshop, They have been practicing tradition grass basketry for many years, having learning the craft through generations within their families. For most of them, this craft is not only a cultural practice but also their primary source of livelihood.

Interaction

The workshop was conducted in an open, collaborative setting on campus, encouraging dialogue and equal participation. Artisans took on the role of educators and storytellers, guiding students through the entire craft process while sharing personal stories, cultural values, and the historical significance of grass basketry within the Tharu community.

Students engaged in hands-on learning, conversations, and interviews, gaining insights into both the technical aspects of the craft and the socio-economic challenges faced by artisans, such as income instability and limited financial returns despite years of skilled practice.

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Products & Materials

Through the workshop, students explored material sensitivity, patience, and collaborative making. Together with the artisans, they created a range of grass-based products, including coasters, baskets, cups, hairpins, and experimental objects.

Beyond the physical outcomes, the workshop enabled students to understand the cultural context of craft, the importance of sustainable livelihood models, and the role design can play in supporting artisan communities. The learnings from this phase formed the basis for the next stage of the course, where students developed design interventions aimed at benefiting the Tharu artisan community.

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