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  • Revival Of Indian Craftsmanship Through Product Design | TADialogue | IIDA 2024

    India’s rich craft heritage is at a crossroads. While artisans have preserved age-old traditions, they struggle with financial security, lack of recognition, and limited access to modern markets. This exploration into the revival of Indian craftsmanship is not just about preserving the past but about ensuring its relevance in the future. How can we create products that honor heritage while embracing innovation? How do we empower artisans in a rapidly changing economy?

    In this episode the panelists Romit Savla from Soch Design Studio, Sankalpa from Thumbimpressions, Jenny Majmudar from BESO and Shashank Gautam from Mianzi shed light on the challenges artisans face, the potential of technology in craft revival, and how designers can lead the shift toward more responsible, meaningful production.

    Preserving Craft & Empowering Artisans

    Handcrafted products hold cultural and artistic value, yet artisans often remain invisible in the market. Designers are now integrating traditional techniques into contemporary design, but beyond aesthetics, artisans need fair wages, representation, and direct access to buyers.

    Handmade vs. Machine-Made: Finding a Balance

    While machines offer efficiency, they cannot replicate the soul of handmade products. Every handcrafted piece carries history, skill, and individuality. Instead of seeing machine-made goods as competition, the goal should be to integrate both approaches—retaining craftsmanship while utilizing technology to enhance production.

    Bridging the Resource & Funding Gap

    Despite India’s vast artisan network, access to training, funding, and infrastructure remains uneven. Without structured support, artisans struggle to innovate or scale their work. A shift in investment—financially and structurally—is necessary to sustain and grow traditional crafts in a modern economy.

    Revival Of Indian Craftsmanship

    Technology as an Enabler, Not a Replacement

    Artisans are not resistant to technology but lack resources to adopt modern tools. Digital fabrication, AI-driven production, and automation can streamline processes while preserving the essence of craftsmanship. The key lies in introducing innovation without diluting traditional skills.

    The Power of Digital Media

    Social media and online platforms have transformed how artisans connect with buyers. Digital storytelling and e-commerce allow handmade products to gain global visibility, shifting consumer perception from craft as a luxury to craft as a necessity. Designers and brands must use these platforms to promote the people behind the products, not just the products themselves.

    Attracting Younger Generations to Craftsmanship

    Many young artisans abandon traditional crafts due to financial instability and lack of respect for the profession. To revive interest, craftsmanship must be repositioned as an aspirational career through education, mentorship, and economic incentives.

    Sustainability & Ethical Craftsmanship

    Handmade products inherently support sustainability by valuing quality over mass production. Instead of competing with mass manufacturers, artisans should embrace their uniqueness—leveraging storytelling, ethical production, and craftsmanship to appeal to conscious consumers.

    The Future of Indian Craftsmanship

    Craftsmanship must evolve with intention, integrating technology, sustainability, and tradition. As new generations and industries embrace handcrafted design, the future lies in creating products that don’t just serve a function but tell a story, one that respects heritage while embracing progress.

    Revival Of Indian Craftsmanship

    The revival of Indian craftsmanship is not just about preserving tradition—it’s about evolving it for the future. By balancing technology with artistry, investing in artisans, and shifting consumer mindsets toward mindful consumption, we can ensure that handcrafted design remains relevant and valued. Architects, designers, and buyers all have a role to play in shaping a sustainable craft ecosystem where artisans are recognized as innovators rather than relics of the past. The future of Indian craftsmanship lies in collaboration, conscious choices, and a renewed respect for the hands that shape our culture.

    Nestled In An Ecological Environment, Eden Moss Tells A Story Of Purity | Urbane Ivy

    “Even within the smallest green lies all the purity and freshness of Eden.” This idea became the seed for Eden Moss, a home nestled in an ecological environment and imagined as a breath of freshness, evoking the scent of mud after rain, and seamlessly intertwined with nature while still embracing comfort and contextual charm. Nestled […]

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    Layered Architecture Brings Out The Cultural Memory Of The Client’s Vision | Tales of Design Studio

    In Tiruppur’s industrial heartland, where the rhythm of textile mills sets the tone, the layered architecture in this Villa offers a quiet counterpoint. Shaped by stillness, proportion, and cultural memory, the home reflects the clients’ vision for a contemplative retreat. Set on a square plot within a gridded residential layout, the residence embraces architectural restraint […]

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    Sanctum Is A Home Within Nature, Built With Nature | ma+rs

    Nestled in what was once a coconut orchard, Sanctum serves as a sanctuary for a retired couple. Their daughter & a feline companion join them to offer a tranquil environment for everyday goings-on. The site is a 60’ x 90’ portion of land with six coconut trees. Two teak wood & silver oak trees, each […]

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    Openness In Structure And Spirit Is The Soul Of This Urban Home | Archemist Architects

    Tucked into the calm, tree-lined lanes of Nagarbhavi in Bangalore, Avani Residence rises as a poetic response to the chaos of the city, a vertical sanctuary where light dances, materials breathe, and space unfolds in gentle rhythms. Designed by Archemist Architects for a family of four, the residence is a nuanced interplay between constraint and […]

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    This Bespoke Cafe Is A Bold Experiment In Layered Raw Textures And Sculpted Forms | UrbanNest Design Studio

    The designers envision Asterix Café as a flagship destination that challenges café design conventions. While coffee culture often associates with warm, pastel tones, Asterix dares to be different by embracing darkness as its defining aesthetic. Designed by UrbanNest Design Studio, the bespoke cafe is a bold experiment in creating a multi-functional, community centric space where […]

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    This Home With An Earthen Design Opens Out To Lush Farms Outside And Cosy Interiors Inside | Bhutha Earthen Architecture Studio

    Adorn, a home filled with earthen design and the laughter of a family of four, nestles in the peaceful neighborhood of Selvapuram, Coimbatore. “On one side, it shares boundaries with cozy family homes; meanwhile, the other side opens to expansive fields dotted with tall trees.” The fresh air scented with greenery sets a calming atmosphere […]

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    Open Courtyards And A Biophilic Design Connect The Outdoors With The Indoors | R+R Architects

    Situated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Anandvan residence beautifully embodies biophilic design, fostering a deep connection with nature through its thoughtful integration of outdoor and indoor spaces through open courtyards. Open Courtyards And A Biophilic Design Connect The Outdoors With The Indoors | R+R Architects Location The location and surroundings played a significant role in determining the […]

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    The Chair Affair | India’s Iconic Furniture Design Competition 2025

    What if the simplest object in your home could turn into a design icon? Tectona Grandis Furniture and The Architects’ Diary come together to introduce the Chair Affair. This is India’s first-of-its-kind furniture design competition that dares architects and designers across India to rethink the most essential piece of furniture – the Chair. Beyond function, […]

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    This Kindergarten School In Mysore Is Redefining Classrooms By Opening Into The Nature | Baya Studios

    In a calm and serene residential area of Mysore, a 10,000 sq. ft. site with mature mango and coconut trees set the stage for Eden Kindergarten school. One half of the land was already occupied by an existing block, while the other half was shaded by the canopy of old trees. Instead of altering this […]

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    Farmhouse Designs in India: 15 Inspiring Styles To Know

    The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]

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    Wari Watai is Transforming Interiors with Sustainable Craftsmanship