Design and Technical Upgradation Workshops and Projects
Shristi in association with the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) and RD&TDC, has guided craftsmen in the process of developing, designing, costing and also marketing their product, and suggesting proper usages and investment of the income generated ensuring that the end products so produced are competitive in cost, better in utility services and aesthetic in nature.
Various design and technical upgradation workshops have been conducted for the artisans in Terracotta, Metal, Glass Enamel, Sea Shell and natural fibres like Sholapith, Shitalpati and Cane and Bamboo.
The design of the workshops is to teach artisans about the important properties of the materials used, tools and tackles with they work so that they can utilize their resources beneficially. An overview of the raw material properties and craft based industry and appraisal of the type of machineries used is imparted to artisans. Unique prototypes are craeted with the help of an expert designer and marketed at various urban centres.
Integrated design and technical development projects are also conducted for artisans on a regular basis.
The projects cover in a phased methodical manner various issues starting from the existing raw materials and bringing it at par with international standards.They cover aspects of design and technological factors that are important in developing the craft. Training is given in raw material processing, design inputs etc. and also knowledge regarding the market scenario of the products.
In Terracotta craft, the focus is especially on sections like raw material quality and its preparation, glazing (both at low temperature and at high temperature), technology inputs in terms of equipment, tools and furnaces/kilns. Design, which needs to be kept in mind when creating specific products, is covered during the course of the workshop and artisans are guided in analyzing the day to day problems they face and helped in resolving these.
The artisans have highly benefited from these workshops. The unique prototypes developed at these workshops are regularly marketed at various fairs and exhibitions through out the country. The artisans are exposed to various markets in the metros and made aware of the contemporary consumer demands so as to bring about innovations in their product and make them more appealing to the changing need of the urban consumer.
The benefits to the artisans are:
- Development of prototypes for the export market- the proddesigns oriented towards production of good and exotic items for mass appeal.
- Reduction of cost of manufacturing with use of strategic management and contemporary technology.
- Inculcation of ability in artisans to bring about innovations in product design by working with a designer