THE CONCEPT OF ‘TIME TRAVEL’ HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INTRIGUING ONE FOR ANYONE, INDEED. WHAT IF WE COULD TRAVEL BACK OR FORTH IN TIME AND SPACE? HOW WOULD WE ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND AND DEFINE THE CONTEXT IN THAT TIME AND SPACE? WHOM WOULD WE PROPOSE, CONCEIVE, DESIGN AND MAKE THE ‘ARTECRAFTS’ FOR?
Craft is becoming History to be found in Museums. It is dying with TIME and Culture remains only in Documents. Craftsmen have lost the strength to move ahead, so TIME has moved on, leaving them behind, Machines have displaced Craftsmen and Culture have changed to Trends.
A group of 20 enthusiast NID M.Des students from various disciplines like Apparel design, Textile Design, Toy & Game Design, New Media Design, Ceramic and Glass Design, Product Design, Strategy Design Management and Lifestyle and Accessory Design are actively working on the international open elective at the National Institute of Design, Paldi on 16th January 2017.
Pravinsinh Solanki a bamboo lover and a bamboo product designer who is also heading the furniture department at National Institute of Design is mentoring the International open electives “In NO Time” (Innovation with Time). Bhakti Panchal a young furniture designer from National Institute of Design and master bamboo craftsman Subrata Sarkar are assisting Mr. Solanki and supporting the students.
The objective of the international elective is to design and develop the CRAFTS, creating more job opportunities for CRAFTSMEN and preserving the CULTURE intact. It also focuses on new design, design diversification, branding, packaging, and marketing strategies. The other purpose is also Women empowerment and makes them self-equipped with technology.
Bamboo is a very versatile and sustainable material to be explored to start with.
The day one started with an informal student introduction understanding each other interest areas and choice of selecting the “In No Time elective”. As a token of memory personalized bamboo badges were distributed to the students which were laser cut with their names etched.
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Mr. Solanki gave presentations on “Living with Bamboo” and shared some of his professional work around the world. He spoke about different uses of bamboo from accessories to furniture, interior, and architecture. His encouraging talks filled the atmosphere with energy and enthusiasm.
The first task given to the students was to come out with a unique business plan for the Indian crafts. A business plan where the students have to design strategies to promote the Indian crafts to the international market. The students were asked to study in detail the Indian crafts, materials, techniques, market etc. and come out with a unique solution which can provide better job opportunities, crafts awareness and craft education.
Some students shared their experiences from the day 1
