Tag: design

Batik design partnerships in Indonesia

As a craft, batik seems quintessentially Indonesian. After a dispute with Malaysia about its origin, UNESCO in 2009 officially recognised batik as part of Indonesia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. To celebrate, President Yudhoyono declared 2 October to be batik day, and called on all Indonesians to wear their national costume with pride every Friday. This proved … Continue reading Batik design partnerships in Indonesia

‘Indian Art – Its Neglect’ ;by Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi’s words from nearly 100 years ago. What has changed? Unlimited production, the competition for increase in quantity and the unceasing search for markets form even now the most prominent and characteristic features of national programmes. They are, no doubt, framed by those who have been unable to rid themselves of the mesmerism due to … Continue reading ‘Indian Art – Its Neglect’ ;by Mahatma Gandhi

The law court or the market? How should we share designs?

  A core element of the Sangam Project is a set of standards for best practice, resulting from dialogue across the network. The Make it New Again: Models for Innovation in Traditional Craft conference at NID in Ahmedabad identified some key concerns in craft product development. It is important now to open up these concerns … Continue reading The law court or the market? How should we share designs?

Fashion design with a conscience

Western designers working with traditional artisans in India creating products for a consumer market with an ethical consciousness. How can the designers contribute to the artisan communities in a sustainable way? Bhukhu is an appliqué embroiderer from the small village of Marharbat, near Barmer in Rajasthan, India. She is sixty-four years old. Bhukhu learnt the … Continue reading Fashion design with a conscience

Mutual Respect: Draft Standards for Product Development

Draft Standards for Best Practice in Transnational Craft-Design Partnerships Part 2 This Best Practice document includes standards that help guide those seeking to ensure an ethical basis for product development involving designers and artisans. They pertain to situations where the concepts of a designer and craft skills of an artisan are combined to develop a … Continue reading Mutual Respect: Draft Standards for Product Development

Make it New Again starts in Ahmedabad on 22 November

Make It New Again: Models for Innovation in Traditional Craft 22-24 November 2012 National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India Craft is a form of production that uplifts communities, tells stories that connect people together, and fills our world with beauty. India is a treasury of the world’s craft traditions, clothing, sheltering, feeding and adorning people … Continue reading Make it New Again starts in Ahmedabad on 22 November

Australia India Design Residency–Reflections by Trent Jansen

I arrived in Delhi late at night and having never spent time in India previously I was of course amazed by the apparent chaos of the place. For a very ordered and organised person, the sights, sounds and machine guns that greeted me at the airport were all a concern. I took a Taxi to … Continue reading Australia India Design Residency–Reflections by Trent Jansen

The making of Sangam

A few months ago, I found out about the Australia India Design Platform. This platform is meant to act as a catalyst for creative partnership between the two countries. I was contacted to give a name and identity to this three year program on craft and design. After much thought and consultation, we settled on … Continue reading The making of Sangam

The journey begins

Sangam – the Australia India Design Platform was launched in Melbourne on 21 July.   During the day, RMIT Industrial Design hosted the Ethical Design Laboratory’s workshop into ethical labelling. Experts from around Australia met to develop a set of standards for creative collaborations. Representatives from law and design, alongside leading practitioners, considered best practice for … Continue reading The journey begins

On the one hand Spring, and on the other, Autumn

Today in the South our calendars tell us that this is the beginning of spring. But as trees come into blossom here, the leaves will begin to wither and die in the North. In his novel Rasselas, Samuel Johnson attempted to discover the secret of happiness. After many adventures, he concluded that any happiness is … Continue reading On the one hand Spring, and on the other, Autumn