Suruchika Gupta

2584

Deconstructing Craft

The studio started with the ‘search’ and ‘understanding’ of the concepts related to craft to critically examine what constitutes the craft sector and its different facets. The exercise started with students’ brainstorming through mind maps, which were further branched into broader categories. The mind maps were extensively developed iteratively, where key concepts were simplified and elaborated in order to arrive at a conclusion. These categorizations were further revised based on paper readings by the students which were followed by debates on key concepts and forming a collective and individual understanding. From the many sub-categories identified from the mind map, 10 primary factors were selected to be studied as paradigms. Every student then researched on individual paradigms and made presentations for the same. The second part of the exercise was to look for design practices, and study the ‘paradigms’ that they follow. The categorization process was indeed intensive and in depth. The process was redone and reviewed several times by student and faculty discussions and debates. Understanding the paradigms and evaluating design practices, helped the students not only to broaden their knowledge but to also be able to situate their position in the craft sector, for the current semester studio project and future. Paradigm is a ‘subconscious’ construction of ‘mass mind’. It is a ‘typical model’ and a collection of commonly accepted ‘concepts’, ‘assumptions’ and ‘practices’. It acts as a determining factor for different discourses. Paradigm Studied: MarketingSite & Client: Bougainvillea, the creative veranda | Ms. Ishita ParikhWhat: Exhibition space Design


Report Content

Summarizing research done on marketing as a craft aligned paradigm into a poster.

Self analysis exercise done by us to understand and decide on what do we want to do in the craft sector.

Design project - Who

Client and design brief

Existing layout of the space - Bougainvillea

Proposed layout for the gallery - Bougainvillea

Showcase table - technical drawings. (Plan, elevation, section and exploded views) The table has been designed in a similar language that of the shelf. The top is detachable hence giving the flexibility to have options and per the mood and requirement and also easy storage. Use of Bougainvillea gives the table it’s statement and identity of belonging to the bougainvillea gallery.

Hanging shelf The idea behind this was to create a minimal and flexible design which should also be durable and has a low maintenance cost. Here also the shelf is detachable from the frame for easy storage and we can have 2-3 available options for the shelf to choose from and use as per the mood and requirement. The frame is kept white to blend with the walls and the shelf in distressed finish to match the language of space designed for.

Display unit - partition I started designing with the partition unit. The initial idea behind this was that it will act as a showstopper showcase and we can display a few feature products on this unit. Also if there is nothing to display for the unit it should look like a space divider – partition in place. Moreover it had to be light weight and movable. Here the use of steel cables give it a partition like look and also create a partial visual barrier. Simultaneously they act as a separator

Pictures of final products designed for the gallery space - Bougainvillea