Product Design
2019-onwards
(82 items)
2009-2018
(337 items)
1999-2008
(188 items)
1989-1998
(46 items)
1979-1988
(31 items)
1969-1978
(51 items)
Product Design
2019-onwards
(82 items)
Bottle Opener
by Rashi Gupta
by Rashi Gupta
A bottle opener is the device that enables the removal of metal bottle caps (crown caps) from glass bottles. More generally, it might include corkscrews used to remove cork or plastic stoppers from wine bottles or can openers. The brief was to create a universal opener, thus the product is to be used single-handedly. Additional features like can opener and water bottle openers were added to make it more functional.
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Shenoy Innovation Studio (SIS) | Z-Line Petrol Pump | Open Design School (MHRD) | Window Mounted Solar | Low Cost Vein Tracer for blood extraction
by Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy
by Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy
B.K. Chakravarthy's Shenoy Innovation Studio project's attention is directed towards disruptive as well as sustaining innovation for the development of new and futuristic products and services that will delight users. The methodologies developed in the studio apply to large industries in both the private and public sectors, as well as small-scale industries, the government sector, and the craft sector. It intervenes in the education system with the industry in a mutually beneficial collaboration. This helps to increase levels of excellence and relevance in learning, teaching, and research. Another creative project by B.K. Chakravarthy was the Z-Line petrol pump. The bulky lower half, combined with a slender top portion, ensured minimal damage of the kind to which earlier designs of fuel dispensers had been vulnerable. The hydraulics were housed in the lower half, while the electronics were housed in the upper half. High accuracy in manufacturing and a notable reduction in cost ensured that the Z-line quickly bested its competitors. The modular design with a card slot system was designed to be maintenance-friendly. As the electronics were placed above the stipulated minimum of 1.2 metres, the Z-line dispenser did not require a flame-proof junction box. Dynamic and forward-looking in appearance and gesturing towards a future of radical innovation, the Z-line became a key icon of Indian roadways in those times. The Open Design Schools (MHRD) project's objective is to extend the reach of Design Innovation education through a combination of online courses and blended learning. Hence, it is a combination of MOOCS and workshop practice. The aims of the Open Design School are to bring design education to a large number of aspirants and to provide them with hands-on training in workshops all over the country under expert mentors. This experiential learning is the key to Design Innovation Pedagogy. The Window Mounted Solar Project was a thorough understanding of the specific challenges faced by users, which proved to be a turning point in this case. A window-mounted solar oven with a deceptively simple design that eliminates the need for a conventional oven. Some of its benefits are: it preserves nutrition; slow cooking means tastier food; it is cheaper than the costly LPG fuel; it minimises danger; no electricity or flame needed and it saves fuel. The Low Cost Vein Tracer for Blood Extraction has been designed as a simple, light-weight device that humanises a simple technology (NIR Spectroscopy), helping medical practitioners easily identify the veins during vein-puncture procedures, reducing patients' trauma. Difficulty locating veins, especially in children, obese people, and people with darker skin, results in several needle pricks that cause trauma, discomfort, and injury. NIR Spectroscopy is an existing technology that can easily be applied to solve the problem, in particular. This technology can actually be used by the masses— in busy and frugally run blood camps, blood banks, small and medium sized hospitals.
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Sigma III foil sealing machine | Forklift Truck for Voltas India Ltd
by Prof. Vijay Bapat
by Prof. Vijay Bapat
The Sigma III foil sealing machine was the project of Prof. Vijay Bapat. Sigma III Touch Cap Seal’ is a Pacmachine Award (2012) winning project where the challenge was to redesign the form of the new generation of foil sealers launched by Electronic Devices,Mumbai. The old sealing machine form was susceptible to being misused for keeping sundry things, making it prone to accidents. The sloping forward sealer body improved the aesthetic appeal by making it look dynamic. The whole assembled machine was packed in wooden crates, resulting in expensive packaging for export to other countries. A modular design approach was taken to shift to paper corrugated box packaging. Due to this design approach, we could achieve a substantial weight reduction from 140 kg to 80 kg and freight costs reduced to $300 from $1250 as the packing and transportation have become simple. Showing how form can improve function and reduce costs, Sigma III has been appreciated even at international design platforms like the IF exhibition. Another important project by Prof. Vijay Bapat was the forklift truck for Voltas India Ltd. Due to heavy competition from Korean and Japanese fork-lift trucks, the forklift truck division of Voltas was losing its leadership position in the diesel fork-lift market. The challenge was to achieve an international aesthetic look without changing the internal components. The major design contribution is a footboard visible from the top level that improves the operator’s comfort in climbing down. The red model shows the design improvements with half a tonnes of weight savings, achieved due to a 150 mm lower west-line. With improved fuel efficiency and increased speed, the company could position the product as a premier truck. The improved aesthetics and user comfort without changing the basic chassis, helped the company recapture local as well as foreign markets. This design is going strong in the market even today.
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Designing a Retro Indian Office Chair
by Arjun Abhilash
by Arjun Abhilash
For my P1, I decided to make a chair. For this, I started out looking at a wide range of iconic chairs, and after discussing with my guide, I selected the Indian office chair by Piere Jeanneret. The project was to redesign this chair to make it modern. I researched a lot about the history and heritage of the chair. I also looked into different kinds of wood and joineries. I also did my parallel product study, which was mainly newer versions of the chair made by passionate studios. For ideating, I started out by exploring and trying a wide range of ideas. As I was exploring various concepts for the final design, I also started working with wood parallelly and made joineries and dowels so that I would have a better idea when I make the final chair. After the final concept was ready, I made a 3D model of the chair and then proceeded to make it out of wood.
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Elderly friendly chair- Furniture design
by Arjun Abhilash
by Arjun Abhilash
For project 2, I decided to work on furniture for the elderly. After discussion with my guide, the project evolved into Chairs for the elderly. For this, I took interviews of the elderly and also did my share of secondary research. After I did my primary and secondary research, I got a lot of insights. This helped me to come up with my brief: design a chair for the elderly, which is very easy to get in and out of and is also very comfortable. Then I proceeded to do ideation, and from the ideation came the concepts. Then I made mockups of the concepts, and the final design of the chair was also ready. Then I made a full-size working rig to test.
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Agricultural Tool Redesign, Thoomba
by Jake V. Abraham
by Jake V. Abraham
Growing your own crops is a good action from our part. To do this, you need tools. Tools for planting, maintenance, harvesting, and storing it. During one of such harvest processes, I came across a hurdle. We were using a long pole sickle to pluck fruits, and the home-made tool was not enough as the trees were too tall. Increasing the height meant much heavier weight and that was not a suitable solution. This led me to want to create a tool for harvesting fruits irrespective of the tree height. When I started researching about this, I came across an entrepreneur who had the same idea as e and created what I had envisioned and made it much better. This led me to look into other agricultural and farming tools, and the thoomba (a Kerala shovel) caught my eye. We had an assortment of thoombas at my home and nearby houses. All of them happen to be quite old, ranging from 10 to 30 years or older, and were usable due to handwork maintenance. Inspired by the redesigning of the long pole sickle, I decided to redesign the thoomba to make it last longer in better conditions while improving it.
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Exploring growth patterns in bamboo slats using 3D printed joinery
by Kathir Eshvar
by Kathir Eshvar
During the course of this project, I attempted to combine different pieces of bamboo slats using 3D printed joinery to get interesting forms and patterns through the combination of both materials. I began with a few pieces and slowly refined and expanded them as the project went on, which I will be discussing in this report.
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A product to help with restlessness symptoms of ADHD/Anxiety
by Kathir Eshvar
by Kathir Eshvar
Restlessness is a common symptom exhibited by those with both ADHD and anxiety disorders. This often results in them showing these symptoms and fidgeting in a public situation, which might be misunderstood as this often happens subconsciously and is the result of wanting to keep moving. And when they can’t do it worsens their anxiety or makes them frustrated. While people have found ways around this and have different things they use to fidget. This project aims to understand the problem space and design a product that might fit the user’s needs better. I conducted user research and drew upon my own experiences to get a deeper understanding and used that to arrive at a design brief, which I used to work on ideation and conceptualization and come up with the final product.
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Exploratory Project on Constructive Toys
by Kathir Eshvar
by Kathir Eshvar
This report documents the process I followed during the course of my project and the final output I arrived at. It was an exploratory project where I combined different materials and tried to make a set of pieces that can be joined to construct different forms. It initially began with deciding the materials to explore with and then deciding the different methods of joining and what purpose for the toy to serve and progressed from there. The final output involves joining bamboo pieces using 3D-printed joinery to create different forms and shapes.
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Designing a Porsche bike for the year 2050
by Pratyush Negi
by Pratyush Negi
In this project, I have attempted to design a bike for a car manufacturer. A challenge to create a bike for a company that has never made a motorcycle, and in this case Porsche. Being inclined towards cars more, I have been sketching cars more than bikes. For my P1, I wanted to do something interesting; hence, I chose to design a bike, which I knew would be challenging and fun. The project begins with the study and analysis of the brand Porsche. Dr.-Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, usually shortened to Porsche, is a German automobile manufacturer specialising in high-performance sports cars, SUVs, and sedans, headquartered in Stuttgart, BadenWürttemberg, Germany. In this explorative creative project, I create a scenario where a Porsche bike is being used in Mubai 2050. I use my understanding of Porsche design to try to create a bike capturing the essence and spirit of the brand.
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Designing an Adult CPR Classroom Training Manikin
by Sarthak Kanchan
by Sarthak Kanchan
A new adult CPR classroom training manikin was designed, aimed to increase awareness and better educate the general civilian population about CPR, its benefits and risks. The Manikin comprises three components: a compressible torso, the compression piston, and a skin cover. The major aim of the project was to design a manikin that assists students regarding compression force and depth and hand placement. The manikin is designed to be compact and easy to set up and pack up, saving a lot of the instructor’s effort and time. The instructor can carry multiple manikins in a bag. A 3D CAD model with meticulously designed parts has been created keeping in mind manufacturing methods and constraints. This manikin focuses on compression-only CPR. Rescue breathing training features are yet to be developed. A working prototype for user testing and evaluation is to be made.
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Manuplating Bamboo by the Application of Heat
by Tarun Karthick
by Tarun Karthick
The aim of the project was to explore the bending property of bamboo. The explorations led to the creation of the bamboo bending jig.
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Designing Play Furniture
by Tarun Karthick
by Tarun Karthick
The aim of the project was to create an object that combined play with furniture for kids of kindergarten age. The object would play an active part in the kids' imaginative play. It would be used independently by the child without the adult having to intervene. I wanted to make a piece of furniture for my P! but chose to work with ceramics instead as we were not certain as to when we’d be back on campus and have access to the studios. With hindsight, it would’ve turned out alright if I’d gone with it, as we made it back pretty early on into our P1s. So, I was very much determined to make one for my second project.
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Designing a Chair to show contrast between eastern and western culture
by Abhishek Chandra
by Abhishek Chandra
Traditionally, in Asian culture, people prefer to sit on the floor. Even in modern days, we have a habit of sitting cross-legged, fold-legged on the floor, bed, any flat surface, even on a chair. In western culture, people are used to sitting on a high, raised platform like a chair or bench stool. The concept of a chair, in itself, is a western thing from the history of the chair.
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A Walker for elderly people in India
by Abhishek Chandra
by Abhishek Chandra
This photo was captured on a bus in Singapore; I think it admirably describes a perspective of the city very well. My experience of living in a developed country has taught me the possibilities of improvement in our daily lives and the lives of elderly people. If we look at the most aged countries in the world and how they have handled the issues, especially walking-related problems, there are some very interesting interventions. There are specialised assistive devices for specific age groups and situations. By looking at these interesting products, naturally, I get into thought about implementing the same in my own country. But, even if I can, this would not make any sense without the context. Because those are two different situations, cultures mean different sets of problems. India's population is growing at an unprecedented level, and so is the elderly. Increasing longevity and falling fertility have dramatically increased the numbers even more. According to the Population Census 2011, there are nearly 104 million elderly persons (aged 60 years or older) in India. And it is expected to grow to 173 million by 2026, by another report released by the United Nations Population Fund and HelpAge India. This situation becomes a problem when you see the on-growing elderly abuse the country. After retirement, many elderly people are forced to live a life of humiliation, abuse, and isolation.
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Human Demands of Sustainable Aviation
by Vishnu Priyan
by Vishnu Priyan
The first phase of the project, which lasted from October 2020 to May 2021, comprised an analysis of the approaches and tools that are used by the engineers within the SE 2A research cluster. A main aim was to reveal tacit assumptions, which guide the work of the engineering projects, and to investigate parameters and metrics that are applied within these projects. Here, the focus was on the engineers’ understanding of sustainability as well as their underlying assumptions of passengers’ and airport residents’ needs and demands with respect to sustainable, low-noise, safe, and reliable aviation.
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National Salt Satyagraha Memorial at Dandi
by Prof. Kriti Trivedi, Prof. Raja Mohanty, Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy & Prof. Shilpa Ranade
by Prof. Kriti Trivedi, Prof. Raja Mohanty, Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy & Prof. Shilpa Ranade
The National Salt Satyagraha Memorial at Dandi, Gujarat, was created to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's iconic Salt March of 1930. Several faculty members from IDC IIT Bombay—Prof. Kriti Trivedi, Prof. Raja Mohanty, Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy, and Prof. Shilpa Ranade—played significant roles in the conceptualisation and design of this memorial. Their collective efforts aimed to create a space that not only honours the historical event but also offers an immersive experience to visitors through the integration of art, storytelling, and technology.
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Lightweight palanquine for Vaishno Devi
by Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy
by Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy
One of the most well-known pilgrimage destinations in India, Vaishno Devi, is the target audience for an inventive lightweight palanquin that was created by Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy of IDC IIT Bombay, especially for the pilgrims. The design's main goal was to provide a lightweight, safe, and ergonomic substitute for conventional aeroplanes, which are frequently unwieldy and uncomfortable for both passengers and bearers. The pallet is far easier to carry than conventional wooden allets because it was made with lightweight, strong materials like aluminium or composites. The palanquin's ergonomic shape guarantees the comfort of both the bearers and the pilgrim being carried.
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Success story of Navi Mumbai, Film for Asian Development Bank Institute, Tokyo
by Prof. Mazhar Kamran
by Prof. Mazhar Kamran
Prof. Mazhar Kamran of IDC IIT Bombay directed the film Success Story of Navi Mumbai, which was made for the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) in Tokyo. The film highlights Navi Mumbai's planned development and expansion, a satellite metropolis built to relieve Mumbai's traffic and urban strains. It demonstrates how Navi Mumbai was envisioned and created as a planned metropolis with areas that were carefully designed for business, industry, and residential use. The movie highlights the initiatives taken to guarantee sustainable urban growth, emphasising public facilities, environmental concerns, and transit systems.
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Air purifier for NEERI
by Prof. Nishant Sharma
by Prof. Nishant Sharma
Prof. Nishant Sharma from IDC IIT Bombay developed an air purifier in collaboration with the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). The project focusses on creating an efficient, cost-effective solution for improving air quality in both indoor and outdoor environments. The purifier uses advanced filtration methods to remove harmful particulates, pollutants, and toxins from the air. This technology ensures high purification efficiency while maintaining low energy consumption. It is designed with eco-friendly materials; the purifier aims to minimise its environmental impact. It is also built for durability and ease of maintenance.
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Sculpture at IIT Bombay
by Prof. Raja Mohanty
by Prof. Raja Mohanty
The sculpture at IIT Bombay designed by Prof. Raja Mohanty from the Industrial Design Centre (IDC) is a notable artwork that reflects his deep engagement with storytelling, visual language, and artistic exploration. Prof. Mohanty, known for his expertise in illustration, book design, and the use of traditional Indian art forms, likely incorporated these influences into the sculpture's design.
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Voice-based netbanking for the elderly, with Bank of Baroda
by Prof. Anirudha Joshi
by Prof. Anirudha Joshi
The Voice-based Netbanking for the Elderly project, led by Prof. Anirudha Joshi, IDC IITB, in collaboration with Bank of Baroda, aims to make digital banking more accessible to senior citizens. Recognising that many elderly users face challenges with conventional online banking interfaces due to difficulties with technology, the project seeks to offer a more intuitive and user-friendly solution through voice interaction. The banking system is designed to be navigated via voice commands, making it easier for elderly users who may not be comfortable with traditional touchscreen or text-based inputs. Common banking tasks like checking balances, transferring money, or paying bills can be accomplished through simple, guided voice interactions.
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Uniform Design for BSF Mahila Motorcycle Riders for the Republic Day Parade
by Prof. Kanika Jolly
by Prof. Kanika Jolly
The Uniform Design for BSF Mahila Motorcycle Riders for the Republic Day Parade by Prof. Kanika Jolly was a specialised design project aimed at enhancing both functionality and aesthetics for the Border Security Force (BSF) women riders. The design considered the rigorous physical demands of the motorcycle stunt performances while incorporating cultural and symbolic elements reflective of national pride. The uniform was crafted to balance safety, mobility, and comfort, ensuring that the riders could perform with ease during the high-profile event. Prof. Jolly's work focused on integrating modern design with traditional values, making the riders stand out during the Republic Day Parade.
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New Sansad Bhawan Security Officers’ Uniforms
by Prof. Kanika Jolly
by Prof. Kanika Jolly
The New Sansad Bhawan Security Officers’ Uniforms designed by Prof. Kanika Jolly aimed to create a modern and functional aesthetic for security personnel at the Indian Parliament. The design focused on comfort, durability, and professional appearance, incorporating materials suitable for varied weather conditions and demanding physical tasks. The uniforms likely featured distinct elements that reflected the authority and responsibility of the security officers while also promoting a sense of national pride. Prof. Jolly's approach would have emphasised both practicality and visual impact, ensuring the uniforms met the needs of the officers while presenting a polished image to the public.
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Uniform design for Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) – PRO cell
by Prof. Kanika Jolly
by Prof. Kanika Jolly
The Uniform Design for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) PRO Cell by Prof. Kanika Jolly was focused on creating a distinctive and functional uniform tailored specifically for the Public Relations Officers within the CRPF. The uniform was designed to convey authority and professionalism, making the PROs easily recognisable in public engagements. Emphasis was placed on selecting materials that provide comfort for long hours of wear while allowing ease of movement, particularly during interactions with the public and media. The design likely included strategically placed pockets for carrying communication devices, documents, and other essential tools required for their role. Incorporating elements that reflect the values and traditions of the CRPF fosters a sense of pride among the officers.
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Story Books
by Prof. Raja Moahnty
by Prof. Raja Moahnty
Prof. Raja Mohanty, known for his work in storytelling, illustration, and bookmaking, has authored and illustrated several storybooks that often blend traditional Indian folklore with contemporary themes. His storybooks are notable for their artistic approach, merging rich illustrations with compelling narratives. His stories often draw from Indian folklore, mythology, and cultural traditions, bringing ancient tales to life in modern contexts. As an artist and illustrator, Prof. Mohanty's books are visually rich, using illustrations to enhance the storytelling experience and engage readers of all ages.
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Die Grinder Attachment for Marble Carvers
by Aamod Narkar
by Aamod Narkar
Marble carving is one of the oldest art forms involving marble. The craft of carving shapes from stones began long before painting. Artifacts have progressed from this point to where they are now. They are not only durable and resistant, but they also have a traditional sense of style. Marble carvings have a unique place in the world of art. As the technology has been developing, it has led to an increase in the extent of the use of power tools for carving. Most of the artisans working in all tier city categories have shifted to the use of power tools from hand tools. Due to the increase in the demands of the marble products, power tools have contributed to assisting the artisan to develop designs faster. The most commonly used power tool for carving is a die grinder. Usage of the die grinder for carving is a skillful task and requires the artisan to be precise and attentive while working with it. It was commonly observed that this die grinder was customized by the artisans to help them perform their tasks better. The customization was majorly for gripping, water connecvtivity and blowing of dust. My project specifically looks at these clusters of artisans working in small-scale workshops and attempts to solve all the customizations made by the artisans on their die grinders with the help of a single attachment that attempts to solve the basic requirements of the artisans by externally clamping over it.
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CardioAssist: CPR Assistive Device for Adults
by Aamod Narkar
by Aamod Narkar
Cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of deaths around the world, and as per the news reports, that scenario is similar in India. Many articles have reported young people as victims of cardiac arrest, proving that cardiac arrest is not restricted to any particular age, gender, or profession. One of the major issues around cardiac arrest in India is its lack of awareness and lack of information on measures to be taken after witnessing such a case. CPR is a life-saving skill that can revive the victim from the arrested state if help is provided correctly within the given time. The bystander CPR rate is very low in India; hardly around 2% of the population is aware of the techniques of CPR. As the majority of the cardiac arrests happen outside hospitals, it is highly likely that only a lay bystander will witness a victim getting an arrest, and hence a bystander plays a very important role in saving the victim’s life. Creating awareness amongst people about CPR through trainings and seminars is very important, but relying just on these training sessions to create immediate impact on improving the bystander CPR rate in India is ambitious. Hence my project aims to develop such a design solution that encourages and assists a bystander to provide CPR to the victim. A cost-effective, portable, and easily available solution that could be operated over the victim by the bystander until the emergency medical service reaches the site.
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Design of an Air Purifier for Indian Mid-Income Group
by Amit Kumar
by Amit Kumar
This is a college course project in an effort to understand the design process that is followed to design any product for general consumers. The topic selected for the project was the redesign of an air purifier for the Indian middle-income group. The concise brief can be quoted as “To design a range of air purifiers for middle-income groups, keeping in mind usability, serviceability, portability, ergonomics, aesthetics, interface or navigation, and visual semantics as features." The issues targeted were selected based on interviews that were conducted during the project. Air quality is deteriorating around the globe rapidly, and to mitigate that problem for metropolitan cities, an air purifier remains the only solution. As a necessity, that product becomes an integral part of our lives. Following the design principles of Dieter Rams, who said, "Good design is often invisible," the goal is to make the product with the best possible interaction for the user to make it invisible.
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Docking, Locking & Charging Solution for shared Micro-Mobility (Yulu)
by Amit Kumar
by Amit Kumar
This report examines the docking, locking, and charging solution for Yulu, a prominent shared micro-mobility provider. It evaluates the existing infrastructure, locks, and charging facilities, focusing on usability, durability, and security. The operational implications, such as user experience and vehicle distribution, are analyzed. Finally, potential enhancements are proposed, such as smart docking systems, advanced anti-theft mechanisms, and dynamic charging infrastructure. This study sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in the shared micro-mobility sector, providing insights for service providers to improve their operations and enhance customer satisfaction. Keywords: shared micro-mobility, docking, locking, charging, Yulu, usability, security, user experience, operational challenges, enhancements.
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Origami Inspired Lighting Solutions
by Aryan Gajwe
by Aryan Gajwe
Home decor and lighting is one of the booming industries in recent times. With every developing technology and sustainable light fixture, space illumination has been explored to a great extent. On the other hand, origami is one of the ancient crafts that is still being practiced and is an integral part of cognitive development. This project involves intense exploration of origami as a functional craft. This project focuses on exploring the origami forms and principles to design lighting solutions.
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Occupational Therapy Kit for patients suffering from ALS/MND
by Aryan Gajwe
by Aryan Gajwe
This study aims to design an occupational therapy kit for individuals in stages 1 and 2 of ALS or MND, to be used conveniently at home. The kit will consist of a variety of exercise tools targeting muscles in the fingers, palm, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. The objective is to help patients maintain their range of motion, improve grip strength, and reduce muscle wasting in their upper limbs. The designed kit emphasizes affordability, accessibility, and portability, allowing individuals to engage in therapy sessions without the need for frequent hospital visits. The tools within the kit are designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, facilitating ease of use. Additionally, exercise performed with the assistance of these tools can be personalized by the occupational therapist to suit the specific needs and condition of each patient. By providing a comprehensive therapy kit, this study seeks to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of occupational therapy for individuals with ALS or MND. The convenience of using the kit at home promotes consistent engagement in therapy, enabling patients to proactively manage their condition. This approach holds the potential to improve the maintenance of upper limb function and enhance the overall quality of life for individuals living with ALS or MND in the early stages of the disease.
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CLIPPA - Designing a nail clipper for Geriatric who have trouble reaching their toe nails
by Ashuj Chawda
by Ashuj Chawda
Post pandemic, our lifestyles have changed, which has allowed me to think about and address problems that came with the pandemic. Being quarantined at home meant staying away from loved ones and avoiding physical contact with anybody. There are situations in which the geriatric or the elderly have to stay away from their loved ones too, and there are many tasks that they need to perform alone throughout the day. Nail clipping of the toenails is one such task that can involve bending and stretching. This is almost an impossible task for the elderly, especially if he or she is obese or has back problems. My project focuses on problems associated with nail clipping of the toenails of the elderly and the obese; here I have explored various possibilities of the automated chipping of the nails using just the feet. The explorations involve the use of a spiral blade that chips off the extra, protruding nails of the toe fingers. The device is named Clippa, from the word clipper. Problems like disposing of the nails after chipping have also been addressed.
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Jogee Backpack - An semi-formal backpack for the wanderer in you
by Ashuj Chawda
by Ashuj Chawda
This project is about designing a backpack that fulfills the needs of an office-going person who has to travel for 3-7 days but doesn’t want to shift from his office backpack to a travel backpack. In the process, I have outlined the way backpacks are made in the industry and how various materials can be sourced, especially in the Mumbai region.
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Polika Polika - A tale of pottan Theyyam
by Athira E
by Athira E
Theyyam, a ritualistic performance related to myths and tales, is the most prominent and spectacular form of art in Malabar (the northern region of Kerala, southern India). Theyyam is a form of worshipping gods, goddesses, and legendary heroes that is based on a relatively straightforward idea: following appropriate preperformance rituals, the god or goddess of a temple temporarily manifests itself in the body of a powerful man (the performer), elevating him to divine status. One of North Kerala's most ancient indigenous and mystical ceremonial art forms is this one. It's known that there are 400 varieties of theyyam in northern Kerala. ‘Pottan theyyam’ is one of the major kinds among them. It stands out from the project's goal, which is to gain a thorough understanding of "Pottan theyyam" in particular and various aspects of theyyam in general. this crowd due to a lot of intruding and entertaining factors of it. The project's goal is to gain a thorough understanding of "Pottan theyyam" in particular and various aspects of theyyam in general. It also aims to develop a brief, epic novel for children between the ages of 8 and 12 that can depict the actions of pottan theyyam, who gave their life in defense of a social cause.
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Spirometer for kids
by Athira E
by Athira E
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a leading cause of illness and mortality worldwide. According to WHO estimates, 65 million individuals suffer from moderate to severe COPD. COPD killed about 3 million people in 2005, accounting for 5% of all deaths worldwide, and it is expected to be the third greatest cause of death by 2030. Developing countries are rapidly changing. Socioeconomic development, industrialization, urbanization, changing age structures, and changing lifestyles have resulted in a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), like COPD, in the countries. India contributes a considerable and growing proportion of COPD mortality, which is considered to be among the highest in the world, with more than 64.7 estimated age-standardized death rates per 100,000 people in both sexes. Crude estimates suggest there are 50 million COPD patients in India. Among which the disease is very much noncommunicable in kids. Spirometers are breath analyzers or devices used for conducting spirometry tests for the diagnosis of respiratory issues like COPD & asthma. This project is to redesign the spirometer for kids of 5-10 years old to encourage them and test their lung function for the betterment of their lives.
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Flexo - Designing for Improved Care; Physiotherapy Equipment for Parkinson's Patient
by Athira E
by Athira E
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system. It is characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing cells in a specific region of the brain called the substantia nigra. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting signals that regulate movement and coordination. As dopamine levels decrease, individuals with PD experience a range of motor and non-motor symptoms. The primary motor symptoms of PD include tremors, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), rigidity (muscle stiffness), and postural instability (balance problems). Non-motor symptoms may include cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and autonomic dysfunction. PD is a progressive disease, meaning symptoms worsen over time. While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, various treatments, including medication, physiotherapy, and lifestyle modifications, aim to manage symptoms and improve quality of life for patients. However, there is a need for innovative equipment that targets the specific challenges faced by PD patients. This project aims to fill that gap by designing advanced personnel physiotherapy equipment that addresses the unique needs of PD patients, focusing on improving motor function, balance, and mobility. The report outlines the design process, technical specifications, functionality, and potential benefits of the developed equipment, along with recommendations for future improvements and implementation. Through this project, I hope to contribute to the advancement of physiotherapy interventions for Parkinson's disease, ultimately enhancing the well-being and functional abilities of affected individuals.
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Exploration on BAMBOO JOINERY
by Infant Bibin I
by Infant Bibin I
This joinery exploration project is focused on studying and understanding the potential of bamboo as a versatile material for varied applications and how its functionality can be maximized by creating a new joinery system. The project aims to create a new joinery system that is more application-centric, scalable, adaptable, and has a unique growth combination for varied creative applications. This new joinery system aims to connect bamboo strips or solid bamboos without any external puncturing or carpentry tooling but with the use of tensional/elastics members.
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Design of Compliant hardware for Plastic Doors
by Infant Bibin I
by Infant Bibin I
This increased building construction has resulted in increased production of doors and door hardware. Door hardware is an essential component that makes any board or plank into a usable and functional door, and as a result, there is an increasing demand for the door hardware market on a global scale. Metal hardware industries are well developed and matured currently, having great designs and functionality. On the other hand, when it comes to plastic hardware, it remains the same over the years. This project tries to create a system to leverage the plastic hardware, especially for PVC/UPVC doors that are primarily used for lavatory spaces and temporary installations of enclosures. And also, the main objective of this project is to create an integrated system for hardware designs that should be easily manufactured at the same time as being compliant. The ideations were mainly driven by factors like creating the hardware with a smaller number of parts, easy to assemble, and positively impacting user kinematics.
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Furniture Design with Banana Stem Fibers
by Infant Bibin I
by Infant Bibin I
Banana is one of the most important fruit crops grown in India. After the harvest of fruits, huge quantities of waste biomass from pseudo stems were burnt or left in situ, causing detrimental impacts on the environment. This thesis presents a comprehensive exploration of product design for a furniture range made by utilizing leftover banana stems as the primary raw material and primarily focuses on environmental sustainability and empowering rural women and promoting through the utilization of banana fiber while also delving into craft and form exploration. The research begins with an analysis of the social and environmental context, highlighting the impact of banana fiber made for a small group of rural women at Melakkal village. This model can be used throughout India’s banana-growing regions, and it also highlights the need for sustainable alternatives in the furniture sector. To ensure the viability and marketability of the designs, the report emphasizes material-specific testing. Mockups are created to evaluate the structural integrity, load-bearing capacity, and overall comfort of the furniture. To bring the final designs to life, prototypes were developed in collaboration with industrial manufacturing partners. Different treatment methods, such as boiling and dyeing, are explored to enhance the durability, color options, and customization potential of the banana fiber ropes. In conclusion, this report presents a holistic approach to product design for a furniture range made with banana fiber ropes. The integration of craft and form exploration, material-specific testing, and empowerment of rural women contributes to the overall sustainability and social impact of the project.
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Gondhal - Commune with Divine
by Malhar V Pilvalkar
by Malhar V Pilvalkar
Maharashtra, like all other states in India, is rich in culture, heritage, and traditions. There is a variety of rituals, ceremonies, and traditions that bring people close to the divine energy. Out of many, Gondhal is also one. Gondhal, in literal translation, means 'chaos,' which depicts chaos through good vibrations that dispel all evil. Gondhal is one of the Kulachara or Kula dharmas, that is, the family traditions of certain Brahmin and Maratha families in Maharashtra. Gondhal The ritual of gondhal is considered ‘vidhinatya,’ which means ritualistic performance. It is mainly performed after auspicious events such as marriage or upanayana (initiation into studentship); in some regions, it's performed as part of the festival of Navaratri. A gondhal is performed to express gratitude to the kula devata (patron deity of the family). It's believed that the ritual calls the deity to the house and asks her to bless the family members and to kill all the evils.
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Redesign of a Reusable water bottle
by Malhar V Pilvalkar
by Malhar V Pilvalkar
This is a college course project in an effort to understand the design process that is followed to redesign any product for general consumers. The topic selected for the project was the redesign of a reusable everyday water bottle for young Indian users. The concise brief can be quoted as “to design a range of water bottles for young age groups, keeping in mind usability, handling portability, ergonomics, aesthetics, and visual semantics as features.” The issues targeted were selected based on interviews that were conducted during the project. Disposable plastic water bottles contribute a major part to global plastic pollution. Reusable plastic bottles are a significant countermeasure to this problem. After the pandemic, people have become more conscious about health and fitness. Reusable water bottles are one of the products used by wide user groups involved in sports and fitness.
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Modular Acoustic Treatment System for workspaces
by Malhar V Pilvalkar
by Malhar V Pilvalkar
In the modern era of open-plan office layouts and collaborative work environments, and noisier cities, the challenge of managing acoustic disturbances has become increasingly critical. The comfort, efficiency, and general satisfaction of an office's inhabitants are directly impacted by the acoustic quality of the space. Organizations are now investing in cutting-edge technology to create a conducive auditory environment that encourages focus, privacy, and efficient communication as a result of realizing the importance of acoustic comfort. Every modern society uses its buildings continuously and intensively, placing everyone in them for most of their daily activities. That makes it important to design healthy modern workspaces considering all the factors like privacy, collaboration, lighting, ventilation, ergonomic workstations, cleanliness, etc. This project tries to understand how noise pollution affects attention spans, stress levels, and general job satisfaction. Being aware of the negative impacts of excessive noise will help to design better soundscapes. Along with acoustical properties, the design also focuses on interactions of a user with his surrounding physical space. The design tries to break the rigidity of conventional partition cubicles. And add more value to the product in terms of usability and experience. The design also employs the principle of modularity to explore more interactive design. Concepts like fabric manipulation and paper engineering are explored to achieve surface development and modularity.
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AR For Institute Events- Use Of AR For Project Display During Exibitions
by Mohammed Hazique Kola
by Mohammed Hazique Kola
By employing augmented reality, information such as advertisements, posters, and announcements regarding upcoming events, launches, festivals, and more can be communicated without the need for printing posters, pamphlets, and other physical materials that result in waste generation. Our objective through this project is to propose an alternate solution that employs AR to disseminate information, not only reducing waste but also paving the way for further advancements in the digital space.
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Redesign of mughlai street food stall
by Mohammed Hazique Kola
by Mohammed Hazique Kola
Street food business in India is one of the fastest growing businesses in India and it is the next big thing in the food and restaurant industry. Eating street food in India is a delightful experience. It is not just the lip-smacking taste; it is also the culture and cuisine that makes you go gaga over the food served. The rich diversity of cultures of which India is proud is reflected in the variety of cuisines served in the streets of India. One of such is the Mughlai cuisine. This project aims at redesigning the street food vending cart that serves food prepared with charcoal. Street food is an inseparable part of urban culture. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata boast about their street food. In this project, I have looked at the iconic Mughlai street food served in Mumbai. I tried to look at the Mughlai street food and various dependencies that street food businesses have. I analyzed the system of street food vending in this particular cuisine and tried to design a solution for the businesses that want to start a new street food venture. This product caters to the restaurant owners who want to expand business in the street food market and the new entrepreneurs that want to establish a Mughlai street food brand.
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Smart Glove for Control And Interaction of Electric Super Bike
by Mohammed Hazique Kola
by Mohammed Hazique Kola
This design report explores the requirements of future cities and the emerging trends in the automotive industry, specifically focusing on the need for seamless interactions. The project presented in this report introduces designed gloves that facilitate control and interaction with electric super bikes. The automotive industry is undergoing significant advancements with the emergence of electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and connected car technologies. These trends are shaping the future of transportation and influencing the design and functionality of cities. With the rise of electric vehicles, it becomes crucial to develop solutions that enable seamless interaction between vehicles, infrastructure, and users. Several companies are actively developing future concepts and initiatives that embrace seamless interaction. These concepts include advanced user interfaces, augmented reality, wearable technologies, and intelligent mobility solutions. Companies like Tesla, Google, and Apple are investing heavily in research and development to create innovative products and services that redefine the way we interact with vehicles and cities.
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Blooming with Elegance- Icons Featuring the beauty of Magnolia Champaca Flower: A Floral Inspiration
by Mugdha Dengle
by Mugdha Dengle
The goal of this project is to design a collection of icons inspired by the Magnolia Champaca flower. It will creatively depict its anatomy, cultural significance, and mythological meaning in 2D & 3D form. Through the exploration of its beauty and charm, visual appeal, and icons are designed that capture the essence of flowers. “Golden petals, fragrant and bright, Magnolia Champa, a pure delight. A floral gem, of beauty and grace, A fragrant symbol of life’s sweet embrace.” The poem beautifully describes the alluring qualities of the magnolia champa flower: its golden petals, fragrant aroma, and pure grace, making it a symbol of life’s sweet embrace. Native to India, Champa is a well-known flower that holds immense significance in South Asian culture. The flower is widely recognized for its unique and pleasing fragrance. In Theravada Buddhism, champaca is believed to have been the tree used by the fourteenth Buddha, Aththadassi, to attain enlightenment or Bodhi. In India, these flowers are commonly used for worship in temples, both at home and outside. Additionally, they are often worn by women and girls as hair ornaments to enhance their beauty and for their natural perfume.
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Breast Cancer Early Detection Device
by Mugdha Dengle
by Mugdha Dengle
This project’s main goal is to create a portable detector that can be used to evaluate breast anomalies in women 35 years of age and older in order to help with early breast cancer detection. Breast cancer was once thought to be a condition that only affected women over the age of 50. The incidence of cases of breast cancer in younger age groups has, however, increased significantly during the past ten years (30-40 years). Studies on the current technologies employed for the initial scanning of breast tissue for cancer diagnosis were done as part of the procedure. The gold standard for diagnosing breast cancer is mammography, which is followed by additional confirmation tests for the patient. However, all the tests are to be done in a hospital. This can only be apparent during regular health checkups or self-testing. Additionally, the majority of malignancies tend to go undetected until an advanced stage, after which the patient survival probability is poor, making early detection essential for survival. Therefore, there is a need for education on the importance of regularly checking breast tissue for abnormalities. The goal of this project was to create a device that can be used by women in the comfort of their homes as a part of the self-examination process and is beneficial for the target user group. Without anyone’s assistance, users would be able to understand this unaided. Women could use this equipment to not only check for anomalies but also to become more cognizant of these irregularities in their bodies.
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New Age Bus Stop With Air Purifier
by Mugdha Dengle
by Mugdha Dengle
Air pollution has emerged as a pressing concern in urban cities across India, posing a grave threat to the health and well-being of the population. Among those most susceptible are daily commuters who rely on public transport, exposing themselves to harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, hydroxides, and nitrides, further compromising their well-being. To combat this issue, a modern bus stop has been developed, integrating advanced air purifiers capable of efficiently eliminating hazardous PM2.5 level particles from the surrounding air. This innovative bus stop design adopts a sustainability-focused approach, aiming to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint by harnessing solar power for electricity generation, thereby minimizing its environmental impact. Moreover, this cutting-edge bus stop incorporates a range of smart system features to enhance the commuting experience. Supplementary amenities like public Wi-Fi systems, mobile device charging stations, and interactive maps of the surrounding area may also be included to further augment the passenger experience. Furthermore, this bus stop design prioritizes the promotion of health and wellness. It offers a secure and comfortable environment for commuters, featuring improved lighting and ergonomic seating arrangements. By seamlessly integrating functionality, sustainability, and passenger well-being, this modern bus stop endeavors to address the challenges posed by air pollution while elevating the overall commuting experience for urban dwellers.
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An Exploration on Bamboo Joinery
by Naiga Catherine
by Naiga Catherine
Bamboo, as a building material, has high compressive strength and low weight and has been one of the most used building materials as support for concrete, especially in those locations where it is found in abundance. Due to a distinctive rhizome-dependent system, bamboos are one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, and their growth is three times faster than most other species of plants. They are a renewable and extremely versatile resource with multipurpose usage. Among many uses of bamboo, housing is one of the major areas of application, especially in the wake of residential shortages around the globe. Bamboo as a building material is conventionally associated with the regions of Southeast Asia and South America, where the climate is best suitable for its cultivation. In many of the nations, bamboo is used to hold up suspension bridges or simply make places of dwelling.
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Designing an aerobic human powered food composter for everyday use in residential spaces for or a middle-class family up to 4 members to give ready to use compost as the end product
by Naiga Catherine
by Naiga Catherine
India faces major environmental challenges associated with waste generation and inadequate waste collection, transport, treatment, and disposal. Current systems in India cannot cope with the volumes of waste generated by an increasing urban population, and this impacts the environment and public health. An average person in India wasted 137 grams of food every single day. That is 0.96 kg per week or 50 kg per year. In India, 40% of the food is wasted, which is equivalent to Rs. 92,000 crores a year. Every year waste generation per person is increased by 5%. By 2050, India is expecting a landfill of 88 sq. km, which is almost equal to the size of Delhi. Population growth and particularly the development of megacities is making waste management in India a major problem. The current situation is that India relies on inadequate waste infrastructure, the informal sector, and waste dumping. There are major issues associated with public participation in waste management, and there is generally a lack of responsibility towards waste in the community. There is a need to cultivate community awareness and change the attitude of people towards waste, as this is fundamental to developing proper and sustainable waste management systems. Sustainable and economically viable waste management must ensure maximum resource extraction from waste, combined with safe disposal of residual waste.
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Design interventions for PARKINSON’S Accessory to resolve freezing of gait
by Naiga Catherine
by Naiga Catherine
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide, significantly impacting their mobility and quality of life. One of the most distressing symptoms experienced by Parkinson's patients is freezing of gait (FOG), characterized by sudden and temporary immobilization of the lower extremities. This report explores design interventions aimed at alleviating the challenges associated with FOG, with a focus on developing an innovative accessory to mitigate this symptom. The report begins by providing a comprehensive overview of Parkinson's disease and its impact on gait and mobility. It delves into the intricate mechanisms underlying FOG, highlighting the complex interplay of motor, cognitive, and environmental factors contributing to its occurrence. By understanding these underlying factors, it becomes possible to identify potential design opportunities for interventions. A thorough review of existing research and technological solutions for FOG intervention is conducted, outlining the strengths and limitations of current approaches. This literature review serves as the foundation for proposing a novel accessory designed specifically to address FOG episodes in Parkinson's patients. The accessory considers factors such as portability, usability, and effectiveness in triggering movement initiation during FOG events. The design process is outlined, incorporating user-centered methodologies such as interviews, observations, and iterative prototyping to ensure the accessory meets the unique needs and preferences of Parkinson's patients. Various design iterations and user feedback are incorporated to refine the final accessory, considering aspects such as form, ergonomics, sensory stimulation, and biofeedback mechanisms.
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MiFro
by Parth Rathod
by Parth Rathod
Be it cappuccino or cafe latte, foamed milk is an important part of coffee preparation. The invention of espresso machines enabled baristas to steam milk before adding it into espresso to make coffee taste creamier and richer and enhance the coffee-drinking experience. India’s coffee culture is expanding as we move into the Third Wave. This leads to innovation in home brewing techniques and tools. Every year, a number of specialty roasters are born in India, each one vying for market share by using beans that are legitimately sourced and expertly roasted and promoting best-in-class machinery to produce the ideal cup of coffee. There are a wide variety of products available to grind and brew coffee at home, but foamed milk receives very little innovation. In cafes, milk is foamed using a steam wand that creates microfoam that gives milk a velvety texture. Little to no milk frothers used at home can achieve microfoam. To improve the enjoyment of coffee drinkers and makers, this study examines the home production of microfoam using a manual milk frother at home. This report explores the coffee culture and design trends of the products available in the market, finding a gap to introduce a product that adds to the coffee-making experience at home. MiFro is a frother that attempts to produce microfoam that resembles that of a cafe and adheres to the design aesthetic of modern products that may be displayed on your kitchen platform.
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NavigAble- A computer input device for ALS patients
by Parth Rathod
by Parth Rathod
This report presents the design and development of a computer input device aimed at improving cursor navigation and control for patients suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease that gradually impairs motor functions, making conventional input devices challenging to use. The primary objective of this research was to create an intuitive and effective cursor control device that would enable ALS patients to navigate computer interfaces with greater ease, fostering improved independence and access to digital resources. A comprehensive approach was employed, combining principles of assistive technology and user-centered design. The design process encompassed an in-depth analysis of the specific challenges faced by ALS patients in cursor navigation and an exploration of existing assistive technologies. The proposed cursor control device utilizes innovative technologies tailored to the varying degrees of motor impairment observed among ALS patients. The device’s ergonomic design and customizable settings further contribute to a personalized and comfortable user experience.
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Future Gadgets as seen through science fiction movies Human Machine Interactions (HMI)
by Pranay Gurumukhi
by Pranay Gurumukhi
The intent of working on human-machine interfaces (HMI) is to improve the interaction between humans and machines, making it more efficient, intuitive, and natural. This involves developing technologies that allow humans to control and communicate with machines through gestures, voice, touch, and other modalities. By building interest in future tech HMI, we hope to inspire and educate people about the possibilities and potential of these interfaces. This includes exploring new technologies such as brain-computer interfaces, augmented reality, and haptic feedback, as well as improving existing interfaces such as touchscreens and voice assistants. The ultimate goal is to create interfaces that are more human-centric, enabling us to interact with technology in more seamless and meaningful ways.
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Re-Designing a helmet for the young age group
by Pranay Gurumukhi
by Pranay Gurumukhi
According to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways statistics, 4 lives are lost every single hour because of fatal head injuries suffered by motorcyclists in India. A shocking 78% of the riders do not wear helmets, which leads to grave injuries. A majority of these accidents take the lives of children and pillion riders, who are at a much higher risk of a head injury in the event of an accident. Therefore, motorcycle helmets for women and helmets for kids are also equally important when it comes to staying safe on the roads. Wearing good-quality helmets that meet safety benchmarks can prevent fatal head injuries and save your life. Also, insurance payouts are hassle-free when you have a helmet on during a mishap. In most cases, insurance adjudicators often conduct an investigation before paying out insurance coverage. If you failed to abide by any traffic laws, there could be a potential problem in receiving the insurance money. So, a word of advice: never forget to put on your helmet, even if it is a short ride to the grocery store.
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Designing a compact Wheel Chair For MND – ALS Patients
by Pranay Gurumukhi
by Pranay Gurumukhi
MND stands for Motor Neuron Disease, which is a group of progressive neurological disorders that affect the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling muscle movement. The most common forms of MND are a) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and b) progressive bulbar palsy (PBP). The affected nerves stop sending messages to the muscles, gradually leading to weakness and thinning (atrophy/wasting) of those muscles. This is known as neurodegeneration.
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Smart Cradle
by Prathmesh Pedamkar
by Prathmesh Pedamkar
A working couple living in urban areas where they are unable to give appropriate attention to their baby without compromising their professional life. And it becomes a concerning aspect if the couple lives in a nuclear household without a family member to watch the baby. People also search for goods that appeal to them and meet their aesthetic preferences. This project looks at the overall concerns of such parents and facilitates a cradle that could help them take care of the baby without compromising much of their other commitments. I conducted the necessary research throughout the project to look at the various existing solutions and the needs of the users. Then, using all the information acquired, I am proposing a solution. The cradle, along with addressing the concerns of the user, also goes forward with maintaining the aesthetics, such that it looks like furniture that one will want to have over other products in the market.
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Fine Motor Occupational Therapy (OT) Kit for Parkinson’s
by Prathmesh Pedamkar
by Prathmesh Pedamkar
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder affecting the central nervous system, characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing cells. This leads to a decline in dopamine levels, resulting in a wide range of motor and non-motor symptoms. While no cure for Parkinson's exists, treatments like medication, therapies, and lifestyle modifications aim to manage symptoms and improve patients' quality of life. Occupational therapy (OT) has emerged as a valuable approach for symptom management, especially when initiated early. In line with this, the project focuses on providing fine motor therapy for Parkinson's patients in the comfort of their homes. The design process involved a comprehensive approach, combining expertise from neurologists, MND specialists, occupational therapists, and individuals with Parkinson's disease. Research was conducted to understand the specific fine motor challenges faced by individuals with Parkinson's and to provide effective solutions. Furthermore, prototypes were developed and tested iteratively, incorporating feedback from both occupational therapists and individuals with Parkinson’s. The report outlines the design process, technical specifications, functionality, and potential benefits of the developed equipment, along with recommendations for future improvements and implementation. By advancing the field of occupational therapy interventions for Parkinson's disease, this project seeks to enhance the well-being and functional abilities of individuals affected by this challenging condition.
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Redesign of Bullet Resistant Jacket For Anti Terror Attack Force
by Sagar D Dabherao
by Sagar D Dabherao
In the past, people have protected themselves from injury with different types of materials. In the earliest days, people used animal skins as barriers to injury and attacks. As weaponry advanced, they added wooden and metal shields to their defensive arsenals. Today various grades of bulletproof armor are worn to protect from advanced ballistic projectiles. A bulletproof vest acts as a protective layer against fast-moving projectiles such as bullets in times of war or a terrorist attack. India has recently come up with its own standards for ballistic applications, while the types of bulletproof vests available as per set specifications in the market are limited as well as do not cater to user comfort. Current bulletproof vests, worn by the Indian armed forces and special task force commandos, are quite bulky and are more generalized rather than specific to a particular application. Almost all armed forces use a similar type of vest, which sometimes puts the life of the user in danger due to its rigid and bulky construction. This project focuses on redesigning such a bulletproof vest that is customized to a specific category, taking its user into consideration, is comfortable, and does not compromise on safety but rather improves it.
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Steam Cooking Device
by Sagar D Dabherao
by Sagar D Dabherao
Starting from a personal steam cooking device for an individual, the project went through a lot of refinement and upgrades at every stage of the process and ended with a steam cooking device for esteemed fine dining establishments specializing in Asian cuisine. Though the device is made for an individual to enjoy the experience of cooking, the goal is to influence as many people as possible with the pleasing experience. It is a premium appliance that also caters to the needs of culinary experts to create new dishes. The project pivoted a lot throughout the process as my understanding of the subject grew deeper. Learning through books, TED Talks, and primary and secondary research gave very valuable insights that I wanted to apply to my product. Bringing in the “design for senses” aspect brought in various new concepts to explore. The product achieved an organic form inspired by nature and yet is geometric.
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Designing a table lamp to facilitate ambient and task lighting
by Shankara Vigneshwaran V
by Shankara Vigneshwaran V
Conventional lamps have been proven to be inefficient for use as work lamps for a variety of reasons, and a sizeable population prefers to use no light while working with screens at night; this leads to eye strain and more chronic disorders if continued regularly. Table lamps provide a middle ground for using as work lamps or to brighten up the surroundings a bit while working but have been slow in adaptation. In this I attempt to identify the reason for the low adaptation of table lamps and to improve upon their design for using them in mainly work environments.
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Designing a peeler for those affected by Cerebral Palsy
by Shankara Vigneshwaran V
by Shankara Vigneshwaran V
Cerebral Palsy is a non-progressive disease caused by damage to the brain and can present itself in various ways and is diagnosed at a very early age, and the caregivers of those affected are trained to deal with the problems caused by it along with those affected, leading to them being cared for almost throughout their lives, but most cases of cerebral palsy are under GMFCS level 2, meaning they can serve for themselves given the right tools, and there has been a trend of increasing want to care for themselves among those affected by a lot of chronic illnesses, including CP. Peeling is an integral task in elevating one’s cooking, and most solutions for other aspects of cooking involve readymade materials or improvised shortcuts, and there is a massive gap in the market for products that can help with peeling in the market of assistive care.
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Kopa- Menstrual Cup Sterilizer
by Shivani Mule
by Shivani Mule
Menstrual cups are a revolutionary product in women’s menstrual health and hygiene sectors. Being reusable and affordable, it is a sustainable solution for the sanitary waste being generated per woman per cycle. It is gaining popularity amongst the youth and working-class women, but still, there is a huge number of women who are skeptical about it. Menstrual cups are also receiving a positive response from women in urban and rural areas as they are low cost and low maintenance. Despite being a reformative product, certain issues have to be addressed to increase engagement and user numbers. The project deals with the development of understanding the issues with the process and developing a tangible product solution for the same.
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Alora- Lactation Massager
by Shivani Mule
by Shivani Mule
Breastfeeding is considered one of the most pious and selfless practices throughout different cultures and beliefs. It not only endorses the mother-child bond and nutrition but also encourages sustainable living and long-term health benefits. Over the years, mother and child care facilities have enforced better development and nourishment of both mother and child. There are several products in market promoting breastfeeding and natal care. However, there is a niche market for postpartum care products, as the later stages of postpartum are still not thrown light on. One of such issues is the breast engorgements, clogged milk ducts, or mastitis. The concern is severe and not well addressed. New mothers unaware of the pain and guidance tend to suffer, especially mothers who don’t have assistance. The product helps assist the mother in lactation by providing massage and comfort for better flow of milk and resolving the discomfort caused by engorgement or mastitis.
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Device to Stabilize and Secure IV insertion site for pediatric patients
by Snehal Gaikwad
by Snehal Gaikwad
An invasive device is a device that, in whole or in part, penetrates inside the body, either through a body orifice or through the surface of the body. Period of use: Short term. In medical terms, intravenous"—or IV, for short—refers to the administration of substances into the body through a vein or veins. INTRA means IN and VENOUS means VEIN. It is commonly referred to as a drip. IV therapy, therefore, works by delivering fluids directly into your veins.
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Designing an interactive product to educate and raise awareness about menstrual health and hygiene among rural adolescent girls
by Snehal Gaikwad
by Snehal Gaikwad
The project aims to design an interactive product that effectively educates and raises awareness about menstrual health and hygiene among rural adolescent girls in India. The lack of knowledge and resources surrounding this topic often leads to health issues, social stigma, and educational setbacks. By starting a conversation around this taboo subject, the project seeks to empower girls and provide them with the necessary information and tools for managing their menstrual health effectively. The interactive product will serve as an engaging educational tool, covering essential topics such as menstrual hygiene, the menstrual cycle, and available resources for menstrual management. It will employ various mediums to cater to different learning styles and literacy levels. The project acknowledges the constraints of limited resources, technology access, and cultural taboos. However, it will strive to overcome these challenges by adopting cost-effective approaches and tailoring the content and delivery methods to suit the rural context. It will aim to create a safe and supportive environment where open discussions about menstrual health are encouraged and girls feel empowered to make informed decisions. Ultimately, this project seeks to bridge the information gap and empower rural adolescent girls in India by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage their menstrual health effectively. By breaking the silence and fostering open conversations, the project endeavors to promote positive change, reduce stigma, and improve the overall well-being and educational outcomes of these girls.
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Taking Control
by Snehdeep Singh Pabla
by Snehdeep Singh Pabla
Taking Control is a design exploration exercise focusing on controlling Parkinsonian tremors in the upper limbs of patients. A study was conducted on the various methods employed by current designs in the space. A variety of nonpharmacological therapies were evaluated with the help of professional guidance, research papers, and other secondary research methods. Degrees of freedom were identified and chosen to be controlled with the means of the orthoses with no compromise in user comfort and confidence.
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Everyday cookware designed for better handling
by Snehdeep Singh Pabla
by Snehdeep Singh Pabla
This project is an attempt to redesign the three most commonly used utensils in order to improve their handling and usage. The project started with researching inclusive design and how to remove systems of exclusion from the cooking spaces. This involved how people who are not abled-bodied feel excluded on various levels. I interviewed people from all over the country, of different age groups, occupations, and abilities, in order to understand their cooking habits and preferences. The insights gained from these interviews were then categorized and prioritized. Ideas were generated by using these newfound insights in order to create design concepts. These concepts were then prototyped and tested in order to create the final designs.
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Nourish | Dysphagia Therapy Device for Parkinson's patients
by Snehdeep Singh Pabla
by Snehdeep Singh Pabla
This project aims to design and develop a portable therapy device for Parkinson's patients suffering from the swallowing disorder known as dysphagia. The device based on the VitalStim NMES protocol integrates sensors and electrodes to induce electrical current to specific (which are patient-specific) throat muscles, which helps in muscle re-education. By thorough research of the medical and human condition, feedback, and guidance from medical professionals, the design aims to be a patient-friendly device that provides tailored therapy that tracks the progress of the user's muscle response over time. The result will be a device that aims to allow the patient easy access to effective therapy without having to journey to the hospital and enjoy their gastronomic life without pains.
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Exploration in Form 2D Icon and Symbol
by Susovan Gupta
by Susovan Gupta
In this book, a collection of icons and symbols based on 5 different IoT devices are explored in different styles. The IoT-based devices are smart curtains, smart lights, smart yoga mats, smart yoga mats, smart planters, and smart coffee makers. The future era of IoT-based devices is rapidly approaching and is poised to have a significant impact on the way we interact with objects in our daily lives. IoT, or Internet of Things, refers to the network of devices that have the ability to connect to the internet and collect and exchange data with each other. Its promise to provide us with unprecedented levels of convenience and control over our environments. I have designed a set of icons for different IoT-based devices, which will help people better understand the idea and their functions. These icons can be used in various places, such as manuals, user interfaces, and marketing materials, to communicate the features and benefits of IoT devices. The icons are designed in different art styles to cater to different preferences and needs. The refinement for this icon set was done with basic geometric shapes, adding a touch of organic twist, and flat colors were used to give it form and a 2D shape. The icons are instantly recognizable and convey their intended meaning in a clear and concise way, making them a valuable asset for many IoT-based devices.
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Designing a Hydrothermic device for children to help relief from common cold
by Susovan Gupta
by Susovan Gupta
This project initially started when I got frustrated with my use of a cheap steam vaporizer. But as I researched more into the topic and market, I started looking at one big gap, or you can say a big danger, that needed to be solved. One thing that came to my notice, again and again, is that small children are severely suffering from scalds caused by steam inhalation. As parents, the very important goal is to do whatever they can do to safeguard and improve their child’s life. For that, knowing the right thing to do and making sure the general safety is maintained is crucial. But very often mishap occurs. And that, in my opinion, can be solved through design. Every day almost 100 children present to the emergency department with burn injuries in the UK. During the covid-19 lockdown, there was a 30-fold increase in burn injuries in the pediatric department. But these incidents occur due to their natural child characteristics, such as a) curiosity, b) limited understanding of danger, c) limited ability to react quickly to contact with hot liquid or steam. Therefore, I understood and took up this project to design a device as an alternative to a dangerous steam vaporizer to help relieve the common cold. Also, as there is already a presence of nebulizers and other medicine-delivering devices I want to design the device where not necessarily medication is needed.
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Furniture Design and Standardization For Indian Navy
by Susovan Gupta
by Susovan Gupta
In an ever-evolving world, where technology and innovation have become the driving forces of progress, it is imperative that we adapt our surroundings to meet the needs and aspirations of those who serve our nation. The Indian navy, with its critical role in safeguarding maritime security, deserves no less. With this in mind, we embark on a transformative project aimed at designing and developing modern-age furniture for navy ship interiors while standardizing the design for improved manufacturing processes. The objective of this project is to enhance ship habitability and create an environment that not only meets the functional requirements but also prioritizes the well-being and comfort of the sailors who spend extended periods at sea. We recognize the significance of quality sleep and recreational facilities in maintaining the physical and mental health of our servicemen and women. By providing them with better sleep and recreation options, we aim to optimize their performance and overall satisfaction during their time on board.
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Designing A Tool Bag For Doorstep Bicycle Repair Executive
by Uppili Nithin Soorya B
by Uppili Nithin Soorya B
Everybody would have used a bicycle at some point in their lives. It is also regarded as the best form of transportation on the planet that doesn't hurt the environment, and it's not only about the environment—it also keeps our bodies in shape and makes us feel healthy. However, the demand for bicycles surged significantly after the effect of COVID, and people began to purchase bicycles to maintain their health and fitness. Therefore, just as any product in the world needs routine maintenance to prolong its life, the same holds true for bicycles. But people with their hectic work schedules, some people find it difficult to maintain their bicycles. Being unable to transport their bicycle to a nearby shop. Keeping this in mind, a few doorstep bicycle repair service startups launched the business where customers must schedule an appointment to service their bicycle, and then the technician with his tools goes to the customer's home and repairs the bicycle. Observing the issues faced by the technicians while repairing the cycle, I tried to offer solutions to the technician by designing them a portable tool bag that enables them to increase the efficiency, reduce the strain created in their back, and reduce the mess that happens with the existing toolbox/bag. This tool bag will be helpful for people who will be traveling in locals while going to their customer houses.
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Adaptive Writing And Cutting Device For Individuals With Hand Arthritis
by Uppili Nithin Soorya B
by Uppili Nithin Soorya B
The ability to use essential tools such as scissors and pens is often taken for granted, but for individuals suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, these seemingly simple tasks can become incredibly challenging and frustrating. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints, causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation. The condition can significantly impair fine motor skills, making it difficult to grip and manipulate objects like scissors and pens. Being able to use these tools effectively is crucial for daily tasks, such as writing, cutting paper, or even performing basic self-care activities. The inability to use these tools can lead to a loss of independence, reduced quality of life, and increased dependence on others for assistance. While technology has certainly introduced digital alternatives, the tactile experience and versatility provided by these tools remain unmatched. Adaptive tools and techniques can be developed to assist individuals with such conditions, but these alternatives may not fully replicate the functionality and ease of use offered by traditional scissors and pens. This project focuses on designing and developing an adaptive writing and cutting device specifically for individuals with hand arthritis. Limited availability and high costs of existing products for arthritis have been identified through research and interviews with rheumatoid arthritis patients.
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Desert cooler Redesign
by Vaibhav Watile
by Vaibhav Watile
India has a summer season from the month of March to May, and although geographically it’s a peninsular country, it also has vast terrain that faces hot and dry climatic regions. In summer, the maximum ambient temperatures are as high as 40-45 oC during the day and 20-30 oC at night. Considering the climatic conditions, evaporative coolers are the best suited for the region. It works on the principle of evaporative cooling, hence the name. Desert coolers are most efficient when assembled outside the house, as the evaporation is fast, leading to more cooling. However, there are humidity issues when assembled inside the house. The cooler assembled outside the house has to experience major shifts in temperature, with constant contact in water; metal desert coolers in this scenario tend to get rusted over time. However, its usage is during the summer season only, and during the off season it needs to be stored.
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Optics based Play Design for Secondary School Children
by Vaibhav Watile
by Vaibhav Watile
In a child’s life, play has an important role in improving their linguistic, psychological, motor, and psycho-emotional skills. The project aims towards creating a play based on science principles, which is fun, engaging, and involves learning. Amongst various topics, optics was selected, based on the need and scope to create a play out of it. The play had to incorporate hands-on activities that would allow children to strategize and explore, with different elements that actively engage children. This would involve puzzles, challenges, and games that require them to apply optics principles to solve problems and complete tasks. The game is focused on engaging children to think with an understanding of basic optics principles, learn different strategies that they would employ to win the game, and also make them think in two- and three-dimensional spaces. The play is aimed towards learning at school; it also can be used by the parents while homeschooling their children. The targeted users are the students of classes 6th, 7th, and 8th, which is the age group of 11-13 years. The idea was to explore and look for various ways in which the play can be enhanced in a way that the play accommodates different concepts of optics. Due attention was given to make the play more intuitive, which would make it easy to start and navigate as they play.
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Designing a Prayer Aid for Salah
by Zaid Khuram
by Zaid Khuram
The salah is a special form of worship that is the second most important pillar of Islam after the shahada (testimony of faith). It is an obligatory form of prayer performed five times a day as commanded by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The salah involves a number of physical movements—standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. It also involves the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran in Arabic along with a number of dua. The salah is performed by Muslims five times a day. Each of the five prayers has names—Fajr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha—and has a prescribed number of units to be performed during that prayer. The required physical movements within salah—standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting—are performed in a fixed order to complete rak’ahs (units) of prayer.
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Redesign of an Insulin Pen for Adolescent Type 1 Diabetics
by Zaid Khuram
by Zaid Khuram
This project is an attempt to redesign the insulin pen for adolescent diabetic users. The initial part of the project included a literature review of existing research done in the area of insulin delivery methods to validate the project area and understand the existing usability and design problems faced in this product category. I reflected on my own experiences growing up as a diabetic, as well as conducted user interviews to get a deeper understanding of the contextual problems. An iterative ideation process was adopted to work on solving the difficulties of a stable grip, controlled injection, and injection site tracking. Concepts were created and evaluated before the detailing and development of the final design.
Details >>2009-2018
(337 items)
Signature Tail Lights
by Amol Pakhale
by Amol Pakhale
The objective of this research project was to document the people’s feelings and understand the inclusion and connectedness in signature tail lights of a vehicle using some case studies as a medium within the constraints of the project description. A concept of signature tail lights has been already developed in the history of automotive industry to add a brand value to the company. Through this process report, the author will explain the documentation for the project, analyzing some example through case studies, existing concepts and forms of selfexpression as a designer. The journey will then take you through the process of how the concept of signature tail lights evolved through generations and the concrete nature of which came into being through academic research, thought and analyses. The report explains all the relevant aspects of this subject. Details and insights on the research methodology results will be found in this report.
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Hands on science & Core of economics
by Amol Pakhale
by Amol Pakhale
Since the last three decades and more, Eklavya has been striving to translate this dream into a lived reality for all children. Working towards the goal of social change through meaningful education, it conducts researches and evolves curricular models at the micro level and attempts to implement them in the mainstream system to bring about change in the school education system in India. Since my childhood I had touch with this organization through my schools and here in IDC I got to know more about this organization from Prof. Raja Mohanty. So my past willingness to work with this organization becomes true through this internship programme. Eklavya was set up in 1982 as a non-government registered society. From the onset, it took up the academic responsibilities of the landmark Hoshangabad Science Teaching Programme (HSTP), then being jointly run by the state government and two voluntary organizations, Kishore Bharati and Friends Rural Centre. Alongside, it developed and implemented the innovative Social Science Teaching Programme and the Primary Education Programme (PRASHIKA) in the government schools of Madhya Pradesh. More recently it worked with the National Council of Educational Research and Internship (NCERT) in developing the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005 and the syllabuses and textbooks based on the NCF. Eklavya continues to actively seed and develop academic programmes for curricular change in elementary education, at the micro level, and mainstream them through government and non-government agencies. It has now initiated work in curricular research and material development in language and math in the primary stages and science and social sciences in the high school stages. This work of curricular critique, research and material development fuels its ongoing engagements with the State Councils of Educational Research and Internship (SCERTs) of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh in providing them academic resource support in developing curricula and textbooks in various subject areas. Teacher professional development is another area that Eklavya is engaged with through research, material development and conducting teacher capacity building workshops. Eklavya also works with the community in about 100 villages in five districts of Madhya Pradesh to run learning centres (Shiksha Protsahan Kendras) for first generation school-goers. This attempt to enhance community involvement in education and build linkages with the government schools to demand quality and efficiency. In addition, 70 libraries in government middle schools spread over 6 districts in Madhya Pradesh try to entrust the ownership and management of the libraries in the hands of children. Regular reading-writing activities in the libraries are also positively impact the learning of language and other subjects in children. (Eklavya introduction n.d.)
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Mass manufacturing building components for affordable housing
by Amol Pakhale
by Amol Pakhale
Now a day’s houses are not affordable due to high land value and lack of mass production in building components. Mass production not only reduces the price of component but it also provides high quality surface finish at very less period of time.The idea is to design and develop mass producible building components like door – window, balcony, staircase, plumbing and electrical systems etc, which can help us to reduce the overall cost and time during construction, which would help us to make houses affordable for lower middle class people.Many cost effective and time saving alternatives are explored prior to implementation of mass manufacturing components for housing during this
program and that could be implemented with high time and high technological research. Some of these alternatives may be discarded after little study; some
appear immediately attractive; and others must be studied at some length before their attractiveness can be evaluated.This project identifies the need of a faster system of housing delivery and attempts to determine the appropriate form, process and techniques for industrialized
housing, which can cater the need, in Indian context.
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Accommodation system seat/berth layout for force ventilated air cooled coaches of Indian Railways
by Amol Pakhale
by Amol Pakhale
The objective of this design project is to explore ways of increasing people’s comfort and connectedness in a public and private space using a good accommodation system concept as a medium within the constraints of the
project description as per the Indian Railway scenario.
The interior design, sleeper comfort and manufacture efficient design for reduced energy consumption are the three essential factors for a successful operation in the competitive world. Scientific design of sleepers for increased comfort of the passengers is seldom seen.
The overall aim of this project was to design a ‘Force ventilated air cooled sleeper coach’ with enhanced interior, reduced mismanagement in accommodation and increased comfort for the passengers. Design of passenger coaches must combine the state-of-the-art technology and the best of aesthetics with an Indian touch. Through this process report, the author will explain
the design process for the project, analyzing for example existing design of self-expression in public spaces. The journey will then take you through the process of how the concept came into being through rigorous academic
research, user study, thought and analyses. The report explains all the relevant aspects of these processes.
Details of and insights on the research methodology results will be found in the final design of the project.
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A Visual Ethnography on Cashew factory workers of Kerala
by Arun Raj R S
by Arun Raj R S
Kollam in Kerala is known as ‘The cashew capital of India’. It holds a major share in the total cashew produced and exported. With around a hundred cashew processing factories both managed by the government and private groups, the cashew sector gives employment to more than 40,000 workers. Surprisingly, 95% of them are women. These people have been working in the factories throughout their life and it is carried over by the next generations. The KSCDC Elampalloor factory is around 300 metres from my home and I never got any chance to see what is happening in the factory even though I see lot of women going to the factory for the work. This project is a study on the culture, behaviour and life of the working population in cashew factories.
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Explorations in potter’s wheel and design of a tea-set
by Arun Raj R S
by Arun Raj R S
Visva-Bharati University is one of India's major Central Govt. funded autonomous university located in Santiniketan,West Bengal. It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore who called it Visva Bharati, which means the communion of the world with India. Silpa-sadana is the one of the department coming under Visva –bharati university, which is founded by Rathindranath Tagore in 1921.He is the youngest son of Rabindranath Tagore. Silpa-Sadana is a pioneering institute in India in developing cottage and small scale industries. It has two units: Training and Extension Wing. Shantiniketan one of the renowned place in India for art and crafts being an engineer turned design student, I would like to expose myself in crafts and craft based design for a holistic design approach. which would introduce me to a new perspective of product design. Also from my two experience in Industry and from the discussion and suggestions from Prof.Rao, Prof.Sandesh and Prof.Kumar Esan the idea of doing the internship in Santhinikethan seems convincing . As a product design student I am very keen to work with lighting design, and from the facilities of shantinikethan pottery is one of the suitable medium to pursue my interest. Hence I choose ceramics as my area of internship
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Redesign of a Vestibulator for the children with Cerebral Palsy
by Arun Raj R S
by Arun Raj R S
The aim of this project is to redesign a therapeutic equipment for treating children with Cerebral Palsy. CP or Cerebral (brain) Palsy (malfunctioning) is a birth related disorder in children which damages specific parts of the brain which controls their posture, muscle movement and co-ordination. An organ called the vestibular organ behind our ear gives the sense of balance, posture and co-ordination in us. This organ malfunctions in the children with CP. So, these children may not be able to sit, stand or walk depending on the severity of their CP. Hence, we need to assist these children. They can be brought to a better life by treating them with therapeutic exercises that can externally stimulate the vestibular organ. This product stimulates the vestibular organ of the CP affected children in three different axes through linear, gravitational, rotational and tilting motions in different combinations of postures like sitting, standing, kneeling, prone, supine and quadruped. The ‘redesign’ is developed by bench marking the vestibulator designed by Dr. Sayyed Ali Hosseini (as part of his P.hD programme at Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay, 2007). Also, the parallel products in the market were also studied. The redesign is suited for physiotherapeutic centre scenario for treating children with 2-6 years of age. Betterment of the CP children are the primary concern.
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Design of a platform safety system for passengers in Indian Railways
by Arun Raj R S
by Arun Raj R S
Indian Railways are one of the largest networks in the world which carries millions of people day by day from place to place. Such a big network is very difficult to handle. It has to address all the needs of the travelling population. So from these needs, what should be in the top priority? When we travel from place to place our prime need is to reach safely. So it is the main problem that has to be addressed in an area which is dealing with lot of people’s life. So when we travel in the train, these questions come to our mind. Are we safe in the train? Do the authorities take any measures to make us safe in the travel? If not, what can be done to make that train travel safe? All these questions directed towards the need for a system of safety in the railways. To figure out where the problem lies and how can we solve the problem through design thinking. So this project is aimed at a high level of safety for the Passengers in Indian Railways. And in the journey, the project was focussed into the passenger safety in Mumbai sub-urban rail. Mumbai sub-urban stations, trains, its passengers and their behaviour were studied to focus on a main problem. The gap between the train and the platform was identified as a major problem in the design. A platform gap filler was designed to give maximum safety and to prevent the commuters falling into the gap between the train and the platform while boarding and alighting the trains.
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Design Management: Analysis & Recommendations for Design and Degree Show
by Avinash Jayakumar
by Avinash Jayakumar
This document presents a concise overview of the learning and recommendations from Design and Degree Show 2014. It is meant to act as a broad guide for future Design and Degree Shows to be organised by IDC. It is assumed that the current trend of organising a degree show exhibition combined with a conference will be continued, however the format of the same has not been commented upon in order to maintain a guideline that is applicable broadly. It’s recommendations and guidelines are drawn from my pesonal experiences as one of the Overall Coordinators of Design and Degree Show 2014. The report presents an overview of the all the teams involved in organising the Design and Degree Show at IDC and their essential functions, along with suggesting prudent ways to plan and execute schedules. The main recommendations are that the show should be combined and organised as the flagship show of IDC and held annually. The document also recommends that students start planning the event and contacting speakers and sponsors around mid-September. The event should also be held only in VMCC, IIT Bombay and the Nehru Centre phase should be scrappedfor future shows due to logistical troubles and increased participation of public and industry at the IIT Bombay event in recent years.
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Waste Management Solutions for Mumbai
by Avinash Jayakumar
by Avinash Jayakumar
Solid Waste management is a global issue requiring urgent attention. It is a particularly severe problem in Indian cities like Mumbai as the overwhelming population and continuous growth combined with poor management strategies by local government leads to visible garbage pile-up almost everywhere, causing reduction in quality of life for citizens. Existing ‘pick-up and dump strategies’ are ineffective due to the lack of space, and negative environmental side effects of landfills. There is an urgent need to reduce the quantity of waste being sent to landfills. The study undertaken by this project has shown that littering is also common because existing dustbin solutions are not user-friendly, have no visibility and are poorly deployed. This project studies the context of the current problem and offers implementable design solutions to allow more effective solid waste management through increased segregation to reduce landfill waste, proper disposal of solid waste by citizens through higher bin visibility, and improving civic sense through education.
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Study of communication systems Used in new generation personal Car
by Avinash Prabhune
by Avinash Prabhune
When human discovered wheel and its applications; since then his progress takes a fast track. Today Personal mobility became very important part of our day to day life; although the fuel shortage and global worming going to became big issues in next coming decade. The new revolution in the automobile technology is on the door step, very efficient electric batteries and advance computing technology making automobile very efficient. The companies like “google” taking interest in the driverless car technology. Very soon we are going to see the smart vehicles which ensuring the safety and fast transportation In the near future car can predict the traffic density and plan your trip accordingly. The real time data about road, city, car health condition, will be processed by inbuilt computer and helping us to manage efficient transport system. Smart phones allow us to connect anybody in the world, imagine what if your car able to communicate with you and give status updates about maintenance schedule of itself? Isn't it great!
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Summer Internship at Integral Enterprises Auroville
by Avinash Prabhune
by Avinash Prabhune
Auroville (City of Dawn) is situated along the coast of Tamil Nadu and was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, a disciple of Shri Aurobindo Ghosh. The township was designed by architect Roger Anger. Auroville has a number of small scale industries that are heavily based on traditional arts & crafts. Units associated with theAuroville foundation design, manufacture and distribute products such as scented candles, incense sticks, soaps and naturalcosmetics, pottery and ceramic ware, gemstone jewellery, wooden furniture, food products such as cheese and baked goods, etc. There is also a presence in the leather products industry, with a major brand such as Hidesign being based close to Auroville.
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Solar Cooker For High Rise Buildings
by Avinash Prabhune
by Avinash Prabhune
The LPG price hikes every month triggered the thought on Solar Energy which could be a clean and abundant source of energy. There are many types of solar cookers available in the market, but they are not that efficient. Each one has its own pros and cons. In a rapidly urbanizing India, the user segment this product is targeted towards are the people who live in high rise buildings because they don’t have space to use solar cooker and the old solar cookers fail to match their fast-paced life style. For using present type of solar cookers, the users need to have open space where they will get continuous sun light and the users need to track the sun all day. All these usability issues are the reason why urban users are not willing to consider this as an alternative to conventional cooking methods. This new kind of solar cooker will be mountable in the window or wall like a window AC, while facing towards south where sun is available all year round. Thus the accessibility becomes very easy from inside the house itself and the users need not go out. The cylindrical form provides uniform sunlight all day long. The ‘Dabba’ perception about the box-type of solar cooker has been broken by this new design. The efficiency has been improved and the time taken for cooking is drastically reduced, as compared to any other kind of solar cooker.
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Design a Vermicompost Unit For Housing Society
by Avinash Prabhune
by Avinash Prabhune
The global view of waste management is disturbing. As the world's population has increased and become more urban and affluent, the production of waste has heightened by alarming rates - which in turn is a major cause of concern since it is an evidence of overuse of natural resources. Discarded materials, the byproduct of excessive consumption, are being produced faster than other environmental pollutants or harmful gases. Today, solid-waste management is one of the highest expenses to municipal financial plan. Waste problem is more grave in emerging cities rather than in rural areas. Unless we tackle this serious issue adeptly, the planet will have to bear the brunt of increasing waste burden. The tonnes of rubbish clearly reflect that the present disposal and processing capacity is probably not sufficient to deal with the rising growth of waste. Ironically, all these facts essentially point to one concern and it is perhaps of a greater consequence than anything else -the Basic Human Attitude. The seeds of this potential problem were sown quite early by our outlook towards waste and our ignorance in handling it. The importance of segregation of waste into wet and dry units is till now quite unknown to our society. That waste can be a source of value if handled efficiently is still unbeknownst to us. The aim of this project is therefore to motivate and educate the society to look at waste in a different perspective-in turn making each one of us responsible to understand – that recycling waste can be rewarding in terms of the output and give a sense of satisfaction in improving the health of our planet. This is achieved by looking at waste as a resource to obtain soil/compost of the finest fertilizing qualityby recycling the wet waste after segregation at a house-hold level through vermicomposting. The idea is to have a unit with the necessary components installed within the premises of a housing society to create a byproduct (vermicompost) for the residents which may eventually be marketable
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Study Of Kinetic Art
by Deepanwita Ghosh
by Deepanwita Ghosh
The topic for the Design Research Seminar is Study of Kinetic Art. This field of art caught my interest when I was previously working on an immersive light experience project for my curriculum. The works of U-Ram Choe, a kinetic artist from South Korea was very fascinating and inspiring. Thus it got me curious to go ahead with this project. The origin and developments in art and how kinetic art was formed was studied. The various ways in which movement was interpreted was noted and how the works of the artists in that era were influenced by ‘movement’ was studied. The works from the era of 1860 till today was researched and it was noted that the innovators in plastic arts have worked with a lot of different materials and technology as eras have passed transforming the image of movement in art into a genuine art of movement.
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Summer Internship at Integral Enterprises Auroville
by Deepanwita Ghosh
by Deepanwita Ghosh
Auroville (City of Dawn) is situated along the coast of Tamil Nadu and was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, a disciple of Shri Aurobindo Ghosh. The township was designed by architect Roger Anger. Auroville has a number of small scale industries that are heavily based on traditional arts & crafts. Units associated with theAuroville foundation design, manufacture and distribute products such as scented candles, incense sticks, soaps and naturalcosmetics, pottery and ceramic ware, gemstone jewellery, wooden furniture, food products such as cheese and baked goods, etc. There is also a presence in the leather products industry, with a major brand such as Hidesign being based close to Auroville.
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Immersive Light Experience
by Deepanwita Ghosh
by Deepanwita Ghosh
The idea of this project was to bring in the visual attributes of natural light (colour, illuminance and perception of motion) to create an immersive experience that helps a person to relax. So how can these visual attributes translate into relaxing a person? Relevant data was collected on light, relaxation, colour - for example - studies have revealed that colours have an effect on our cognitive responses and certain wavelengths help in calming the mind, a theory on which Chromatherapy is also based. Relaxing can be even more enjoyable if the light is soft. Information on immersiveness and its significance in any experience was also obtained during user studies and interviews. Finally all the research study was combined to get a comprehensive knowledge to bring out the Immersive Light Experience. The project brief and user details was then defined. Ideas were generated from which concepts were detailed and tested to simulate the desired effects to reach the final concept level.
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Redesign of CPAP Device
by Deepanwita Ghosh
by Deepanwita Ghosh
Recent studies and medical surveys on neonatal mortality have shown that India accounts for the maximum percentage of deaths among newborns worldwide, which is 28%. These newborn infants pass away primarily due to either of the following causes: infections due to prematurity, asphyxia, low birth weight, or pneumonia—complications that hospitals with low-end facilities cannot handle. Even if these infants stabilise and get discharged from the hospitals, they are susceptible to frequent chest respiratory infections and may have problems with asthma or other problems caused by the environment they go back to. The first 20–25 weeks after birth are a period of viability in which the infants are susceptible to acquiring infections if proper care is not taken. Three main reasons why, despite India’s growth, neonatal mortality rates remain high are: (i) socio-economic factors ii) a lack of infrastructure; iii) insufficient specialised staff for prenatal, postnatal, and post-natal care. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) equipment is a recent break-through innovation in the field of neonatology that is efficiently life-saving. The CPAP device is used in most developed countries to cure the causes of infant deaths mentioned previously. In spite of being a great boon, this equipment has some issues and problems associated with it that have been identified after studies and discussions with doctors. The objective of this project is therefore to facilitate the use of a CPAP device by making it compact, portable, easy to use, and easy to maintain. Use of the CPAP device in multiple directions was thought of, like during transit (emergency vans), in local clinics, where the accessibility of the people to obstetric care is much easier, and in hospitals, wherever its use is relevant and such that infant lives could be saved. The final concept arose from insights gained while considering the direction for establishing a local clinic.
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Muscular skeletal disorders associated with Micro Workstations
by Edu Mohan
by Edu Mohan
Telecommunication has taken a major leap since radio was invented and the first radio signals were transmitted in the 1901 . Ever since man has been trying to reduce size of the telecommunication devices and it has come to an era where every common man can afford a mobile telecommunication device . These devices also incorporated various other value additions like music players and cameras . This emerging trend has been serving man a great advantage as he can have everything he wants in his pocket . The shrinkage in dimensions has given an adverse effect to the humans because the human dimensions doesn’t change according to the new device coming in market . Hence the mismatch causes various musculoskeletal health issues along with other issues . This project aims to study and document a few of such musculoskeletal disorders caused by mobile telecommunication devices .
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Summer Internship at UT-Darmstadt
by Edu Mohan
by Edu Mohan
ALARP is a consortium of companies and universities
from 5 European countries: Italy, Germany, Great Britain,
Austria and Israel.
This topic concentrates on conceptual models for
warning / alerting signals and devices with ergonomic
man-machine-interfaces (HMI). Safety of railway workers is a serious concern of most industrialized countries. Surface transport workers are facing very high risks since they often operate without service interruptions. The railway situation is even more peculiar, since vehicles are constrained to tracks and therefore drivers have much less margins to react in case of emergencies and therefore workers are much more
exposed to injuries and fatalities. This vision is supported
by many analyses and published reports
- Most staff fatalities and serious injuries continue to be as
a result of being hit by a train;
- Most staff member deaths occurred in open line
accidents, whereas most serious injuries to staff members
were incurred in accidents in stations.
Therefore safety requirements for railway trackside
workers are very strict and necessary.
In Germany today stationary railway automatic track
warning systems (ATWS) are being used at railway
construction sites. ALARP (A railway automatic track
warning system based on distributed personal mobile
terminals) is project partially funded by the European
Commission whose goal is the study, design and
development of a safety-critical Automatic Track Warning
System (ATWS) for railway track-side workers
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Designing of a primary health check up kiosk for HealthATM group
by Edu Mohan
by Edu Mohan
Health care has always been a primary concern for man. Health is not just mere absence of illness or diseases. It is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being (WHO, 1946). Due to the changing lifestyle of the population and with the growth in modernization, people are forced to lead a hurried day and maintain an unhealthy diet, thus leading to various health issues. The nature of these health problems are such that they affect both genders equally and in early ages leading to health deterioration. The major problem is that often initial discomfort is ignored. The visible symptoms appear too late to take a precautionary measure thus leading to a chronic condition. Hence awareness and frequent health checkups are necessary for remaining on the safer side of life. Providing easier means to take control of the health is the solution this project is proposing. The idea is to create an automated self-service health kiosk so that the consumer can have quick, convenient and affordable access to the knowledge of his state of wellness and avail primary and preventive services on time. The kiosk can be installed in high traffic areas such as malls, gyms and corporate lounges. People can take five to ten minutes out of their busy schedules to get a comprehensive primary health report. This report can be used as a baseline for future consultations if necessary. Thus people can take charge of their health condition and well being can be ensured.
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Creative engagement for the Autistic: A design approach
by Edu Mohan
by Edu Mohan
Autism Spectral Disorders(ASDs) are a range of neuropsychological disorders which affects an individual. One is born autistic due to various genetic, environmental and psychological conditions before, during and after birth. ASDs are non curable. The severity can be controlled by timely identification and appropriate therapeutic measures. In Indian context alone, the numbers go as high as one out of 88 children. ‘Shraddha’ is a non profit NGO, based at Mumbai, which is working towards the betterment of the situation of young autistic adults. The institution provides them with vocational training and involves their abilities creatively for making small products. These products are sold and the Shraddha students are given back a small incentive. The aim of my project was to work in close collaboration with Shraddha and come up with a range of products and also design the process through which these products can be created by the people at Shraddha, keeping in mind their abilities and disabilities.
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Nature and Form
by Nikhil Das K.V
by Nikhil Das K.V
Design research seminar project is a part of final semester at IDC, IITB. I have opted `Nature and Form’ for my area of project because of the tremendous interest in bio-mimicry. The main objective of this project is to study one organism in-depth and identify specific characteristics or parts of it and find a design application for the characteristic. Nature has solution for all kind of human needs. It is possible to solve all these needs by observing nature and how plants and animals tackle challenges of their environment. The word Biomimicry is very relevant in this present world technology and researches because nature is the best teacher who has gained experience through many years of evolution. The creative solution which inspired from the nature can be much more sustainable than others. The discipline of Biomimicry takes its name from the Greek words ‘bios’ which means life and ‘mimesis’ which means to imitate. As its name might suggest, Biomimicry involves the study of nature’s designs and mimicking them to solve human challenges. Janine Benyus, one of biomimicry’s pioneers defines it as ‘innovation inspired by nature’
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Exploration in Ceramics and development of flower pot cum lighting product
by Nikhil Das K.V
by Nikhil Das K.V
Visva-Bharati University is one of India's major Central Govt. funded autonomous university located in Santiniketan,West Bengal. It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore who called it Visva Bharati, which means the communion of the world with India. Silpa-sadana is the one of the department coming under Visva –bharati university, which is founded by Rathindranath Tagore in 1921.He is the youngest son of Rabindranath Tagore. Silpa-Sadana is a pioneering institute in India in developing cottage and small scale industries. It has two units: Training and Extension Wing. Shantiniketan one of the renowned place in India for art and crafts being an engineer turned design student, I would like to expose myself in crafts and craft based design for a holistic design approach. which would introduce me to a new perspective of product design. Also from my two experience in Industry and from the discussion and suggestions from Prof.Rao, Prof.Sandesh and Prof.Kumar Esan the idea of doing the internship in Santhinikethan seems convincing . As a product design student I am very keen to work with lighting design, and from the facilities of shantinikethan pottery is one of the suitable medium to pursue my interest. Hence I choose ceramics as my area of internship
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Household Aquaponics system
by Nikhil Das K.V
by Nikhil Das K.V
The project is aimed at studying aquaponics, implementing it in urban context and promoting the technology through this urban home product. The urban population has less access and opportunity to farming due to space, resources and time constraints. The Aquaponics technology has been in existence for over the last 3 decades, yet it is not so common to the masses. In a developing country like India, where the balance between the rural and urban population, is rapidly shifting towards the latter, issues like food insecurity becomes a major concern. Urban farming is the one answer to solve this problem and it takes conscious effort for that. The product could be used as a serious farming as well as a hobby/destressing element in the urban homes.
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Barrier Free Ajanta: Resign of Palanquin System
by Nikhil Das K.V
by Nikhil Das K.V
‘Barrier free Ajanta’ is aimed to design and develop an accessible system which will resolve the existing accessibility issues of Ajanta caves, a world famous historic monument at Fardapur in Aurangabad District of Maharashtra. The Ajanta caves are a complex of 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves containing paintings and sculptures which is a perfect example of Indian art and tradition, especially Buddhist religious art. Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Because of these reasons, thousands of pilgrims, foreign and domestic tourists visit this site every year. The visitors also include a large number of elderly and physically challenged people. For some, visiting Ajanta caves is akin to making a pilgrimage. But for the elderly and handicapped people, the rough terrain, steep inclinations and large number of steps makes this an arduous task. Just like other people, they also have equal rights to visit and enjoy these places. In this project, I have tried to conduct a detailed research on present accessibility systems and barriers in the existing scenario. My research and study is based on some design considerations. Primarily, the design should enhance accessibility of the elderly and people with disabilities. The new systems should not destroy the current livelihood of the porters and designed system should also keep Ajanta’s heritage value. The design should further reduce the porter’s efforts, and be part of a system that provides more safety and comfort to visitors. The palanquin system is the existing answer to these accessibility issues. The role of palanquin in Ajanta is tremendous. The existing palanquin is made from wood or bamboo by local carpenters or the porter himself and is carried by four male porters. The palanquin is the only accessible system for elderly and physically challenged people. Introducing a new system to this context will be difficult and impractical, so I focused on ‘redesign of palanquin system’ for the scope of my project.
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Summer Internship at LEDeG
by Rahul Anand
by Rahul Anand
In 1978, four years after Ladakh was opened to tourism, Helna Norbreg Hodge, Started the 'Ladakh Project' over the concern that the winds of change might prove too strong for the fragile roots of a culture that had developed tenaciously over the millennia in an equally fragile environment and change would need to be carefully guided. LEDeG has a Rural Building centre about 16 kms from its main office. The centre has various facilities to manufacture building materials ranging from CSEB blocks to Ferro cement roof vaults. It supplies these building materials to local construction sites. The rural building centre at Leh, has been trying to achieve quality CSEB blocks for quite some time (around two years).
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Designing Interactive Exhibits/Installations for Information Access
by Rahul Anand
by Rahul Anand
Exhibitions are spaces where emotional connections and experiences happen. As a child, I was fascinated with exhibitions, and science museums, because these were the spaces where information was experienced through moving, and getting involved with the objects. The joy of watching little turbines generating electricity in a dam model was unparalleled. These experiences and information was not available anywhere. A lot has changed since then. Information technology has made information and experiences available in the virtual world. Slick animations, websites and apps make all rich information accessible at your fingertips.
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Understanding Wearable Computing Devices
by Rahul Anand
by Rahul Anand
What if you can have more than five senses to experience the world ? What if your direct perception of the world can be altered ? With Wearable computing devices this true augmentation of human capabilities is becoming ever more possible. These devices are changing the way we see, we perceive and do things. In recent years there has been an exponential rise in development of wearable products and it is considered as the next breakthrough technology in computing. It is important to understand the potential that wearables have to offer. Almost every day, a new wearable device sees the light of the day, but a majority of them have failed to make an impact over the people. What is the reason behind this failure? This research based project tries to understand why wearable computing is important and most importantly it raises questions , finds out the problems that wearables suffer from, currently. It tries to answer how these pitfalls can be avoided to create the next generation of successful wearable computing devices. A comprehensive literature study was done to understand
the history and development of wearable computers, the
visions proposed and what is the state of wearable as of
now. An analysis of over 500 devices, with focus on 20
different devices helped in assimilating the overall picture
of the current generation devices, their functions, target
areas and shortcomings. Over the course of project, the
author used four of the class leading wearable devices to
understand the benefits, and faults in them. To gauge the
importance of wear-ability, fashion, individual choices and
role of technology in our lives, a user survey involving 250+
users was conducted.
The findings of the research brought out the fact that when
computers are wearable, they become a part of our identity and become much more than just products. This calls
for a collaboration of product design, interaction. User experience design, fashion design and hardware engineers to
conceive and build devices together, to be able to cater to
each individual’s needs, choices and usage pattern. Moving beyond fitness trackers and phone repeaters, wearables
need to make use of breakthrough technology to change
the way we interact with information, data and execute
tasks using computers. Based on the inferences and understanding gained during research, a suitable use case scenario is identified and an experimental wearable product is devised responding to the scenario. A music creation glove which allows musicians to create, save, learn and share music on the fly was proposed and discussed with a set of music makers and possible users. The device was prototyped and during a survey, it was received well in its second version itself. Wearable devices have definitely come a long way, and with hardware becoming ever smaller and smarter, they are putting ever more power onto our bodies. Getting these devices right might be the key to solving a multitude of specific problems that people suffer from, ranging from algorithm assisted artificial limbs to replacing the screens and their limited size to consume and create information.
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Stereotypical Character Design in Indian Context
by Shashank N. Sawant
by Shashank N. Sawant
Stereotyping is defined as an "oversimplified attitude people hold toward those outside one's own experience who are different.” Stereotypes arise as a result of incomplete or distorted information accepted as fact without question. A stereotype is simply a widely held belief that an individual is a member of a certain group based on characteristics. Due to the process of over-generalization within social perception, stereotyping leads to a great deal of inaccuracy in social perception. Sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion and physical ability are various categories which exist in stereotyping. The most prevalent and controversial forms are sex and race. Racial studies have found that descriptions such as Jews are shrewd and ambitious, African-Americans have special musical and athletic ability and Germans are methodical and efficient, are commonly used to label these ethnic groups. Slowly, society has been making a slight transition away from stereotyping. Unfortunately it is a difficult process, especially since we rely on second-hand sources for our information for the majority of our knowledge. The main outlet of second-hand information is the mass media. As a result of depending largely on the second-hand source of mass media, mass media in turn plays a major role in determining the content of our culture. Stereotyping is a product of culture, therefore, mass media have a strong influence in supporting and tearing down stereotypical characteristics.
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Summer Internship at Wings44
by Shashank N. Sawant
by Shashank N. Sawant
Wings 44 is an Industrial design firm that operates from Shiroli MIDC, outside Kolhapur city. It was founded by Amey R Ghatge, an IDC alumnus. Wings 44 specialises in Material handling and storage, Industrial furniture and automation. It strives to keep 'man' as the main element around which the design process revolves including machine, environment, manufacturability and economics.
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Lighting Systems Design for Temples using New Technologies
by Shashank N. Sawant
by Shashank N. Sawant
History fascinates all of us. It speaks to us in various forms, through ruins, scrolls, stories and memories. In India, we are blessed to have temples and other monuments which weave the seamless tapestry of our existence since times immemorial. But as the footsteps of time approach louder, and modern technologies penetrate deeper and deeper into our lives, the insensitivity to these heritage structures is on the rise. Lighting which forms the crucial part of the temple-going experience is often neglected and thoughtlessly laid out. This is seen in terms of the entire system. Any damage to the structure results in permanent loss of our cultural heritage. The project was conceived and executed keeping this ?pain? in mind. Within the scope of the project, it has been tried to address all issues related to lighting within the context of heritage temples. The issues that fall within this gamut include light sources, fixtures, wire management, switches and power supplies to some extent. Accordingly, we worked within the context of Ambernath temple. The temple is a classical structure built circa 900 A.D., and is in need of urgent attention. Referring to books and in consultation with scholars, the temple was separated into zones and the lighting need for each zone was identified. The possible places where lights could be mounted were also identified. These included blank lintels and pillars. The crowd movement patterns through the temple were observed. The present power supply, switches and light sources were also listed. Various luminaires and design directions were explored. Since the brief was to remain unobtrusive within the temple space, the luminaire was a simple channel designed to house the LED lights with temple motifs engraved on it. The module ensures protection, repeatability and variations in motifs across locations.The lights were then fabricated under collaboration with VinLED. Various luminaires and design directions were explored. Since the
brief was to remain unobtrusive within the temple space, the
luminaire was a simple channel designed to house the LED lights with temple motifs engraved on it. The module ensures
protection, repeatability and variations in motifs across locations.The lights were then fabricated under collaboration with VinLED and were installed in the temple for pilot purposes after obtaining necessary permissions from the Archaeological Survey of India.The design was further scaled down and copper cut-pieces were fabricated in Kumbharwada, Mumbai.Throughout the project, enough attention has been paid to keep the proposed systems culturally sensitive and unobtrusive within the sacred space that is the Indian Temple.
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Lighting for Rural India
by Shashank N. Sawant
by Shashank N. Sawant
According to the 2011 census, 68% of our population still lives in rural areas. Despite all the development schemes and incentives that the government provides, a large chunk of our population is still oppressed, socially and economically. Absence of light, or darkness, is a very powerful metaphor of this divide. The project set out to remedy this hardship. Over the course of the project, more emphasis was laid on user and usability issues of the product. To observe the daily tasks and identify the needs and of people in rural India, field studies were carried out. The initial field study was to understand the people, the social structure, the activities, tasks and hardships in rural India. This helped gain an idea of rural psychographics, the attitudes, interests and opinions of rural people. A second field study was carried out in which rural folks were given a solar lamp to handle and usage patterns were observed. Important insights were gained from both the excursions, which helped shaped the functionalities and usability of the product. Based on these insights, opportunity areas were looked into which had scope for lighting. They included possible interventions in night schools, community gatherings, medical emergencies, dedicated task lighting for rural occupations, etc. Simultaneously, ideations were carried out to give a form to possible solutions. Initial explorations included ideas like flexible neck lamps, disc lights, simple cubical clustered lamps, light cylinders, value lights, triangular lights and others. Amongst these, the concept of value lights was found to be more beneficial than others. The idea was a product that could be split into three light components that could be used for three disparate tasks. The lights come together to form a single product whose combined value is more than the sum of its individual. The lights provided include: • A focussed light for outdoor excursions in dark, wayfinding • A diffused light for general indoor purposes • A secondary low power light for auxiliary activities.The selection of these tasks was done on basis of needs identified in the
user studies. The components are stacked vertically providing a sense of
hierarchy and separation of purpose. The uppermost component is a
torch, with high power beam of cold light with illumination of around
150 lumens and a beam angle of up to maximum 30 degrees. The central
component provides warm ambient light for general activities with an
illumination between 250-300 lumens. The lower light is a secondary
light of 150 lumens meant for auxiliary tasks like short trips to the
washroom, the cattle shed or to be hung outside in the verandah.
Further, by incorporating solar technology, we free them from
dependence on unreliable power grids and take them back to the purest
source of energy: the sun. The solar panel doubles up as docking panel on
which the lights are docked. The lights can be detached from the panel
and hung on the wall, while the panel can be placed outdoors for
charging. The primary battery pack in the solar panel gets charged thus
and then discharges into each of the lights’ individual batteries when the
lights are again docked onto it indoors. The central light is the main hub
to stack the components and to connect electrically with the docking
panel. The focus was to formally integrate the three distinct lights with
emphasis on stacking the components. Efforts have been directed to
make the product maintenance free and keep the assembly as easy as
possible.
The proposed strategy for marketing could either be a Government
scheme, with participation from NGOs or a corporate venture as a part of
social responsibility. Else, it could be manufactured under a social
entrepreneurship venture with nominal profits. The product is designed
to fit seamlessly in a rural household. It aims to assist more than one
rural activity in night time. The result is not a mere artefact that is just
one more addition to the market, it is a product that is sensitive to the
needs of rural India and addressing the disparate needs of this diverse
rural sector.
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Courtroom Drama
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Clay is so directly linked with life it is so natural. Like life it is full of surprises. I was always fascinated to know how people transfer lump of clay into useful products. To me it always gives a sense of excitement with every single piece which we make, because every time result is different and the unpredictable feature makes it much more fun. The beauty of its rebirth again & again, gives you a childlike feeling, it tells you that it is ‘OK’ to be wrong and you can mend the mistakes. Pleasure of doing it all, from scratch to end, makes you the sole owner of your creations.
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Leathercrafts at Shantiniketan
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
A unique & beautiful tradition of craft, commonly referred to as Santiniketan Leather Products, has over the course of more than three quarters of a century carved out a distinct identity on the world stage. Its appeal is both popular and artistic, its charm both exotic and future embrasing. Its delicate aesthetics is informed by a singular artistic tradition (the artistic heritage of santiniketan) and its innate aesthetic affiliation to an organic world. Like the discrete charm of the place itself, Santiniketan and its surroundings, this craft of leather products too owe its origins to the many-sided meditations of the poet, artist and thinker Rabindranath Tagore, more commonly known to the world as the famous poet laurate of the east and the winner of the nobel prize for literature in 1913. A process that started with the poet's father, Debendranath Tagore, and carried forward by the poet himself, the santiniketan's journey from a barren land to a thriving cultural microcosm cradle in a rich natural environment is an amazing story, and one of the more unique offshoots of this grand meditations in the grand tradition in leather crafts. The artistic heritage of santiniketan has a rich and engaging history. From its inception to date, santiniketan and its culture has been a pioneering force in the world of art & culture, and a leading aesthetic conscience of the region. Its unique aesthetic tradition is shaped by its innate affiliation to the organic environment and nature. As a result a remarkable aspect of this tradition has been its responsive interpretation of nature and the environment, a feature that lends its nuances heavily upon the crafts of this place, and none more so ever than on the leather crafts tradition. Thus the decorative style of the traditional leather crafts of santiniketan traces its roots back to the creative and ornamental interpretation of nature, a style which is at once inimitable and sighlty. Over the years, informed by the creative inputs of the master artists of santiniketan and ingenious solutions by the local artisans, Santiniketan leather craft has become a force in the world of crafts, appreciated by the craft lovers all over the world.
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Design of Low Cost Alternative Fuel Chulha
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
The project aims at improving the rural cooking scenario in India for the people who are dependant on firewood as the sole source of fuel for their daily cooking. The idea initially was considered for the dwellers of the Sunderban region who apart from being firewoood users are inhabitants where transportation of coal and other fuels difficult due to absence of well organised roads. Apart from using some alternative fuel (crop refuse in this case), it is emphasised that the design be flexible enough so that it can be manufactured locally with availble materials and existing technologies. Its not just about making the product and selling it to them, its about incorporating it into their daily lifestyle. Replacing the hearth from someone's house is more than a design challenge. It calls for making the technology availble and more importantly comprehendible so that it becomes adapted to a certain cooking culture. Also it needs to accomplish by a device that is affordable to those living below the poverty line.
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Design of a forced air ventilation system in Sleeper coaches for Indian railways
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Indian Railway sleeper coaches have always been dependent on the windows for natural ventilation. Be it hot or cold or rainig outside, closing the windows was never a feasible option. It only meant sacrificing on the passengers comfort and the proper ventilation. The open windows also invites in loads of dust at high speeds and passengers are often prone to theft of their belongings due to open windows. The project thus is carried out from a proposal by the Indian railways for developing a forced air ventilation system for a sleeper coach thus eliminating the need for openable windows, and depending on them for ventilation. The project also aims to improve the overall hygiene and cleanliness of the coach.
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Color by interaction
by Sugandha Jain
by Sugandha Jain
In our day-to-day life we are surrounded with colors. Color is in everything that we touch or see, but then also we overlook the visual interaction of colors and how it is affected by different parameters like form, intensity and placement. This report discusses the various factors, which affect the visual perception of color. It briefly describes the various components of colors and its typ
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Pottery Internship Report
by Sugandha Jain
by Sugandha Jain
The project looked at inputs from industrial point of view for the small community based pottery industry with a view to offer better salability, novelty in products and modern outlook. This project involves study of different methods and techniques used in pottery along with study of contemporary and traditional products in ceramics. A detailed study of different techniques used in making of terracotta and ceramic products, which are available in the market was undertaken. The aim of the project was to identify the area of scope, and then develop a new range of products. To decide what range of products should be worked, on a mind map was created and the decision was made on the basis a considerable buyer segment available for the product, need of the product in the market and scope for possible range of explorations. Terracotta mood lighting was chosen as the final product range to design. Reason behind choosing lighting product thus that it plays a major role in ambience of any surrounding and it provides scope for variety of exploration, and the reason for selecting terracotta is that it is more ecofriendly than the glazed ceramic and it is easier to produce by potter’s community. Infrastructure required for making the final range of products are minimal, since non glaze work requires low firing temperatures. A wide range of explorations was done, starting from drawing inspiration from nature to bringing ‘Indian-ness’ in lighting experience. Explorations were also done keeping in mind traditional art and craft of India. The final concept has been put forward keeping in mind material and process optimization; easy do-ability, stack ability, simplicity and yet a new lighting experience. Patterns, which are used for the final concepts, are kept simple and easily doable drawing inspiration from basic geometric shapes and nature. The product can be used in the interior spaces of domestic environment, theme based restaurants and resorts.
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Ceramic products for traditional pottery community
by Sugandha Jain
by Sugandha Jain
The project looked at inputs from industrial point of view for the small community based pottery industry with a view to offer better salability, novelty in products and modern outlook. This project involves study of different methods and techniques used in pottery along with study of contemporary and traditional products in ceramics. A detailed study of different techniques used in making of terracotta and ceramic products, which are available in the market was undertaken. The aim of the project was to identify the area of scope, and then develop a new range of products. To decide what range of products should be worked, on a mind map was created and the decision was made on the basis a considerable buyer segment available for the product, need of the product in the market and scope for possible range of explorations. Terracotta mood lighting was chosen as the final product range to design. Reason behind choosing lighting product thus that it plays a major role in ambience of any surrounding and it provides scope for variety of exploration, and the reason for selecting terracotta is that it is more ecofriendly than the glazed ceramic and it is easier to produce by potter’s community. Infrastructure required for making the final range of products are minimal, since non glaze work requires low firing temperatures. A wide range of explorations was done, starting from drawing inspiration from nature to bringing ‘Indian-ness’ in lighting experience. Explorations were also done keeping in mind traditional art and craft of India. The final concept has been put forward keeping in mind material and process optimization; easy do-ability, stack ability, simplicity and yet a new lighting experience. Patterns, which are used for the final concepts, are kept simple and easily doable drawing inspiration from basic geometric shapes and nature. The product can be used in the interior spaces of domestic environment, theme based restaurants and resorts.
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Exhibition Design for DDS 2014
by Sugandha Jain
by Sugandha Jain
Exhibition is a process of exhibiting exhibits in a way that could appeal and be understood by people who comes to view it. Exhibition design is about designing the space in which products or exhibits are exhibited. It is a continuously evolving field, with the requirement of coming up with lots of creative and practical solutions. It’s about a challenge of developing communicative environments that ‘tell a story’ in a three-dimensional space. Industrial Design Centre is a premier design school in India, established in 1969, by the Government of India at the campus of Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai (IIT Bombay).There are currently 5 disciplines in IDC compromising of Industrial Design, Visual Communication, Animation Design, Interaction Design & Mobility and Vehicle Design. Design and Degree Show (DDS) 2014 is the annual design conference and showcase of design & works by the passing out batch of IDC from 5 disciplines. DDS is a very important event for IDC and it is only through this medium that the work which happens in IDC can be shown to people outside IDC, which includes designers from the industry, students, aspirant designers, layman etc. DDS exhibition should also reflect upon the design methodology and teaching of one’s learning in two years of IDC
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Form, Function and Structure studies in Nature and Architecture Design Research Seminar
by Tu’umay Allene Negash
by Tu’umay Allene Negash
The essence of architecture is articulation of spaces to serve speciic functions in a speciic way. Form is the result of how the physical elements such as walls, loors, roof etc are articulated through construction and material with the help of structural system. This manifests in the form which also articulate the meaning.The FUNCTION here also includes aesthetic function. A building must look interesting and convey a meaning. Ever since man set his foot on the planet he has been encountering nature. NATURE in this context is all the phenomena and products of nature animate, inanimate as well as phenomenon such as climate, wind, sunlight, rain, storm etc this encounters has taught man. Through analogies from nature, man’s problem can be solved optimally. Architects study art, science, and religion in order to understand the basic workings of nature, and then applied what they learned to solve the problems of the day. Over time the quantity and complexity of accumulated knowledge led to increased specialization among Architects, and breadth of knowledge has increasingly
traded for depth of knowledge. This trend continues today. An Architect interested in learning about other areas of specialization like biology, art science,
agriculture, mathematics, physics and so on in order to have clear knowledge how to solve problems of the current day. In short ‘Architecture is something about everything’. This implies Architects would have to study
the following challenges.
1. Contexts from many different disciplines and determine the contexts in each discipline
2. Specialization on the terminologies of the contexts of the disciplines.
These all needs effort and extended beyond the brief and
excursions into unfamiliar areas to research speciic problems.
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Low Cost Toilet for Rural Household
by Tu’umay Allene Negash
by Tu’umay Allene Negash
According to the 2011 Indian census 68.84% of the population are living in rural and 31.16% are urban dwellers. If we change the lifestyle of the 68.84% of the population obviously the urban areas will be positively affected, because the urban life is depending on rural resources. But majority of the people in rural area particularly in developing countries use an open field as "every man for himself" latrine. This is because most of the people in rural areas do not have knowledge on the negative impacts of defecting on open field. Misunderstaing of toilet use and poor disposal of waste material in rural areas leads to affect major health problems such as cholera, dysentry, diarroea, typhoid and stomach complications. This problem is a serious issue especially in developing countries and it needs to be improved from the base. It starts from changing the lifestyle of rural areas using clean and controlled sanitisation system in a safe and clean way by providing an affordable toilet for each household. This project solves some problems related to toilet in rural areas in particular developing countries like indian using the designed toilet pan which diverts solid waste from liquid wastes and providing sustainable sanitisation, which is focused on closed-loop management of excetra and saving of other resources such as water. This is achieved by narrowing down to the toilet pan and the waste management system in the chambers to use as a compost making.
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Street Furniture for Powai Special Focus on Lake Front Road
by Tu’umay Allene Negash
by Tu’umay Allene Negash
Public spaces are crucial components of the city in terms of the physical as well as social function they serve. These spaces not only form the image of the city and the way it perceived but also become places where people interact under collective identity. Public places are more than street, parks, maidans, beaches, play grounds, they also include waterfronts stations, markets and other places designed or designated for public uses. The basis of this project was to design a set of Street furniture for ’Powai’ lake front road which stretches 2.2 kms from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, main gate to Larsen & Tourbo ly over. The main goal of this project is to create clean ’Powai’ lake side and maintain it as a recreational area. This has been achieved by creating good urban open spaces for users and erect/build an iconic street furniture where it is needed. These furniture has been selected after the case study held to identify the problems faced around ’Powai’ lake front. Since maintenance is a big deal for street furniture, it has taken in to consideration that the maintenance cost would be at net zero cost by using limited advertising price displayed on the furniture. In this project more than seven furniture have been developed for ’Powai’ lake front namely Benches, Bus stops, Vending kiosk, Litter bin, Public convenience, Light poles, Ballads and Information boards. These products have same family look by form, shape, color, material used for all the furniture, and the concept used to relect the Powia-ness of the products which are derived from the design elements in the place, ‘Powai’. These are repetition of elements, combination of lines and arcs, free low of forms and shapes and the nature in Powai lake are some of the elements. Finally Bus stop with vending kiosk is detailed as a inal output
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Emotion Based on Light and Color
by Vinoth VV
by Vinoth VV
Initial idea of the project was to understand the emotions based on light and colour using some wearable device, which will help the designer and the lay man to set the mood and to take the informed decisions. But due to the time constrain the project this had to be converted to a research project where the said things are understood and proved using experiments. The whole process of the experiment introduced me to the research process starting from the literature review, designing questionnaire & experiment, defining protocol, Analysing the data, both qualitative and quantitative, descriptive statistics, box plot, finding co-relation and so on. From the understanding from the literature, there had been lot of work done around the colour and emotion, but less is been explored on the different saturation level of coloured lights. Due to time constrain the research if restrained to only two colours and analysis based on descriptive statistics and box plot.
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Increasing Biodiversity In the forest & Design for Sustainable lifestyle
by Vinoth VV
by Vinoth VV
Sadhana Forest started its ecological revival and sustainable living work on December 19th 2003. The vision of its founders, Yorit and Aviram Rozin, is to transform 70 acres of severely eroded, arid land on the outskirts of Auroville. In a spirit of human unity, their aim is to introduce a growing number of people to sustainable living and veganism. Their energy and resources are focused on the creation of a vibrant, indigenous Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF). The main activities of Sadhana Forest: Planting the indigenous plants that constitute TDEF, an ecosystem unique to this region, and one that is currently endangered and to support the local rural villages: By retaining water and filling the aquifer, Environmental education for all. We include as many children and young people in the process of ecological revival and sustainable living as we can. Our aim is to encourage them to share and propagate our vision of an ecologically responsible and sustainable way of living, and for them to help take urgent actions that are necessary for the future of their environment.
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Cold storage without external power
by Vinoth VV
by Vinoth VV
In a tropical country like India, with about 70% of population of India is engaged in agriculture, the importance of refrigeration can hardly be over-emphasized. Nearly 30 per cent of the country’s fruits and vegetables perish due to lack of cold-storage facilities. The estimation of growing need for household refrigeration products reflects upon the scope of the market of the product. But the fact that the refrigeration is the highest consumer of power only next to lighting, leads to the selection of natural ways of cooling and refrigeration. In the past around 4000 years from now, people in India and Egypt are known to produce ice by keeping water in the porous pots outside the home during the night period by radiative cooling or nocturnal cooling technique. On a clear night the water would lose heat by radiation upwards. Provided the air was calm and not too far above freezing, heat gain from the surrounding air by convection would be low enough to allow the water to freeze by dawn. Night sky radiant cooling has in modern times been forgotten due to widespread use of modern mechanical cooling systems and refrigerants. However, this type of cooling has roots in many ancient civilizations across the globe. The idea is to use the ancient technique to solve the current day problem of cold storage and without external power which will satisfy the need of the rural household and enhance their lively hood. Inference for the design is taken from the experiments conducted with the prototypes made for testing. The usability is given prime importance in the design. The device is designed with double walls with insulator inside to avoid conduction and mouth wide opened Abstract to increase radiation. Handling, locking mechanism, manufacturing were given importance considering the context and affordance of the home products. Device can be used for ice making regularly with the suitable atmosphere and storage of food. This enables the storage of freshly grown vegetables to last much longer than usual in a hot climate. Some enterprise can also use this as a business opportunity and make ice and sell. It is also great for using at a picnic or outdoor trekking where there is no electricity outside, but food or drinks need to be kept cool The disadvantage is the process of ice making is highly dependent on the atmospheric weather and need for a person to religiously engage in the process of ice making from keeping it in a proper place to taking it back at the right time.
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Hybrid Sourced Lighting
by Vinoth VV
by Vinoth VV
Lighting is a major issue during a long power outage in an energy-scarce country like India. Though there are alternate ways of generating power, they are highly seasonal, not very cost-effective, or require human effort, which leads to hybrid options. And the most viable solution lies in energy harvesting methods. The project evolved in two stages, with the first focusing on general research into alternate power and lighting as well as experimentation with a few techniques. With the inferences from the first phase, the second phase of the project was highly focused on the power production using the thermoelectric generator (TEG) and the scenarios in which it could be used. Initial ideation covers the possible chances of producing power using TEG in the house scenario without doing much labour. After a series of studies, the context of the kitchen, which is one of the most sought-after places and requires adequate lighting at any time of the day, is chosen for power generation as there is heat generation happening at least twice a day. During cooking, almost two-thirds of the heat is wasted in the surrounding air. The idea of the project is to harvest that energy using a thermoelectric generator and produce power that could be used for lighting and charging low-power gadgets. Thus, the project aims at developing a reliable secondary source of light and power and increasing the overall efficiency of energy utilisation in the house. Based on that, a user study and market study are conducted to understand the scenario and the possible applications of TEG. Experiments are carried out using an actual thermoelectric generator, and various levels of heat exchange possibilities are understood and concepts are generated as a result. The structural design of the product is chosen for its simplicity in manufacturing and ease of maintenance. The product will act as a secondary source of task lighting during load shedding and can support the charging of low-power gadgets.
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POSHAK- Traditional Attire of Rajput Women
by Akanksha Rathore
by Akanksha Rathore
Rajasthan leaves no senses untouched. The colours, yellows, blues, greens and red are a delight to watch. The state has a distinct music to it with kartals and dholak singing the bravery of warriors and songs of Thar desert and festivities. Rajasthani cuisine made of dried vegetables and spices has a distinct flavor and fragnance. Dal bati churma, ker sangri, badi, pithode, gatte are few to be named .The land restores and tell stories of its art and culture in the kind of architecture practiced, various handcrafted items, clothing etc. Each motif is quintessential to the place and represents the uniqueness of the land in the best possible way. The major population of Rajasthan is of Rajputs Who belonged to the warrior class of people and are an image of feudalism and chivalry. The entire cultural ecstasy of the nation with all its regality and beauty boils down in the cultural beauty of the state of Rajasthan. The first recorded Rajput kingdoms emerged in Rajasthan in the 6th century and small dynasties later ruled much of northern India. According to the Hindu Mythology, the Rajputs of Rajasthan are the descendants of the Kshatriyas or warriors of Vedic India. The Rajput ethos is martial, in spirit, and fiercely proud and independent, and emphasizes lineage and tradition. Rajput women have always been known for their grace and conduct. From an early age Rajput girls have always been told that they must learn modesty for when they marry they will have to live in a new family, accept its customs, and obey its elders. On the contrary the tales of their bravery and courage to fight against all odds and taking to war when in need are well scripted in history .Women of the clan are known for their sacrifices as sati and are preached till date as sati mata.
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Report on Khamir, Reha & IDC
by Akanksha Rathore
by Akanksha Rathore
Khamir in the Kukma district of Kachch is a platform for the crafts, heritage, and cultural ecology of the Kachchh region of Gujarat. It was founded in the aftermath of the 2001 earthquake to provide a venue for artisans, resource groups and institutions, buyers, suppliers, and craft enthusiasts from around the world to exchange ideas, collaborate, and learn. It works to strengthen and promote the rich artisanal traditions of Kachchh district. The name Khamir stands for Kachchh Heritage, Art, Music, Information, and Resources. Born in 2005, it serves as a platform for the promotion of traditional handicrafts and allied cultural practices, the processes involved in their creation, and the preservation of culture, community, and local environments. Their main aim is to shift consumer perspectives and raise the cultural value placed on crafts.
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Origami Inspired Furniture
by Akanksha Rathore
by Akanksha Rathore
The heart of the appeal of origami: exploring the surprising magic of just how far you can change that square only by folding. - Robert Lang
Origami is an art of transformation. The strong identity of its textures, patterns of its fold with the involvement of human mind and skill makes it distinct and significant. This project is an attempt to understand the material (paper) and its relation when subjected to origami. To take essence from these folds and lines and creating furniture that brings playfulness in environment surrounding us.
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Toys Designed to Narrate Jataka Parables Inspired from turned Wood Channapatna Toys
by Akanksha Rathore
by Akanksha Rathore
Toys are a bundle of little joy and enjoyment for toddlers and young kids. Toys have been associated with children throughout history and in all cultures, and will continue to do so. Play time counts as one of the most fundamental and significant parts of childhood. Those attractive little tits and tots that we assume to me quite cute find themselves a perfect place in a kid’s wardrobe. While kids are dependent on us for food, and all other needs, toys prove to be their companion and friend for the first few years of their life. Psychologically speaking, kids require space to stock out their thoughts and emotions. And toys are just an ideal source on which they can easily bank upon- they can play with them, get angry, or throw them around as the like.
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Data generative art installation
by Bhavik grover
by Bhavik grover
How can we create a space more experiential using generative art? The aim of the research is to implement a data generative art installation by integrating a physical space with technology where people can come and be a part of that space, the sense of inclusiveness and engagement will create an emotional experience . We targeted to make mundane space more happening , and to reduce gap between physical world and digital world by giving an immersive experience to user.
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CDI srinagar
by Bhavik grover
by Bhavik grover
Kashmir, also known as the "crown of India," is a valley surrounded by beautiful, snow-covered mountains, green gardens and fields, vast, quiet lakes, clear and sweet water rivers, and wildlife, making it "heaven" in true English terms. The people of Kashmir are as beautiful as its nature; men are friendly and strong, and women are beautiful and peaceful. The strength and texture of walnut, the wavyness of rice paddies, the smell of apple orchid, the colours of tulip gardens, the quietness of Dal Lake, and the sound of nimaz make it a most pleasurable and beautiful place to live. It has a diverse variety in culture and tradition as well; the craftsmanship of the people of Kashmir is richer than any other state’s craft. Papier mache, wood carving, copperware, pashingmina shawl making, khatamband, pinjrakari, kashmiri embroidery, silver work, willow wicker, shikara, and house boats all contribute to Kashmir's rich culture.
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Faucets for smart usage of water
by Bhavik grover
by Bhavik grover
Water wastage is one of the biggest problems of today’s modern world, and it is witnessed predominantly at the industry, household level. The project addresses the upper-class segment of a user where water wastage is prevalent in their daily household usage, and have targeted the areas where awareness about water wastage can also be provided, I have selected faucets because at household level user interacts with faucets mostly for his daily life water using activities, The faucets in basin area were focused because most number of the water usage activities. The project is to design a faucet that prevents water wastage in daily activities of brushing teeth, washing face, shaving etc., And also making the user interactions more intuitive and informative. I have tried to make the entire process experiential, with combinations of digital and manual interactions of faucets, Certain functions like manipulation of the flow, temperature control were taken into consideration for all concepts. The formal study for ideation has been done using semantics approach and features has been shortlisted by taking inferences from market research and semantic studies.
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Transformable Luminaire
by Bhavik grover
by Bhavik grover
A luminaire is defined as “a complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or lamps together with the parts designed to distribute the light, to position and protect the lamps and ballast (where applicable), and to connect the lamps to the power supply.” Since luminaries (lighting fixtures) were not previously defined, this new definition is meant to cover all aspects of a lighting unit, including the lamps that actually provide the illumination, as well as internal and external parts necessary for the proper operation of the unit. Luminaries can be of the traditional type, such as a recessed or surface-mounted incandescent, fluorescent or other electric-discharge luminaries. Luminaries can also be of the non-traditional type, such as fiber optics with the light source at one location and the fiber core or “light pipe” at another.
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Imagery from Buddhist thoughts on Ceramic ware
by Dattaram Chari
by Dattaram Chari
We all love beautiful ceramic artifacts and a decorative surface, of course, is the first thing noticed about any piece of ceramic ware and as with all things made with hand, the right concept makes all the difference. I have delved into exploring the virtually limitless world of ceramic art in the project. From the history to the abstract there are endless possibilities of expressions. The project focuses on philosophy behind the Buddhist Art forms and thoughts and exploration of imagery & details thereby breaking them into a structured reality with more simplistic details. With this project I have made an attempt to open up the creation of movement with the flow of shapes, lines, textures which delivers the beautiful imagery in the material. The theme, Gautama the Buddha, with its mystical presence, can be interactive in the sense that can invite the viewer to participate and interpret the piece of art.
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Internship at URAVU Indigeneous Science & Technology Centre
by Dattaram Chari
by Dattaram Chari
Indian design has always been indebted to its traditional design sector for identity within as well as outside India. The traditional design sector contributes significantly to the national income & accounts for 15 to 20% of country’s manufacturing workforce. A lack of technological and design upgradation, the changing preferences of consumers and sometimes and sometimes unethical policy level decisions have hit this creative and accomplished sector severely. The internship at URAVU Bamboo Training Centre & URAVU Eco links has helped me to understand traditional design sector and Bamboo as a new scope for sustainable design approach. It helped me to understand the material at depth & inspired me to go very close to nature & eco-friendly design. It was a decent and & happy approach to understand material from the local art & tradition inspired artists in the lush, green Wayand district. Initial motive to work in Bamboo eventually blossomed into understanding the traditions, culture & rich heritage of the place which itself resembles heaven in the God’s Own Country.
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Design of Contemporary furniture range inspired from the Traditional Sankheda Craft
by Dattaram Chari
by Dattaram Chari
India has been a powerhouse for vast cultural and ethnic diversity and craft. This has enabled a variety of motifs, techniques and crafts to flourish in various parts of this land. Wood craft has been one of the integral part of the rich tradition of handicrafts in India. The hallmark of Indian wooden furniture has always been durability, ethnic flavor, elegance and design, attractive colors, unmatched workmanship and subtle elegance. Even today the traditional Indian craftsmen use the simplest of the tools and adhere to their style of their forefathers which has helped to keep the traditions alive. Today craftsmen are engaged in making furniture, products for everyday use, toys and decorative items that are in demand in the market. One such work is Sankheda wood craft in Gujarat wherein the artist put forth their ideas about mythology, emotions in their work which is losing its potential market. As an Industrial design student the area of work i have dealt in this project is to understand the particular wood craft furniture, understand the artisan issues, and explore various possibilities & ideas to reposition the craft in a higher segment of market.
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Design of an user friendly ECG System
by Dattaram Chari
by Dattaram Chari
ECG , Electrocardiograph has become a routine part of any complete medical evaluation .The ECG waveform allows one to infer information about electrical activity associated with different aspects of a heart beat and is therefore of particular value for assessing an individual’s cardiac rhythm and heart health. In this project, an approach of systematic redesign of the ECG is done to obtain the desired results at conceptual levels. The project aims at intervention in areas of product usability redesigning an easy to use, cost effective aid and system to record the heart activities and make the process of ECG recording less cumbersome. Although products which help in ECG monitoring do already exist in the market, this project differentiates itself from other products by being better at user centric design aspect and by being affordable on a slighter note. I have tried to come up with a better model considering the findings & observations made during the project duration. The project report discuss on the existing user related problems in ECG recording and then derive to the research and redesign of the product.
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Imagery from Nature on Ceramics
by Gaurav Vaidya
by Gaurav Vaidya
The motivation behind choosing ceramics for this project was to understand the medium and play with it to explore various techniques while working. The journey of this project helped me learn different stages involved in ceramic tile making. The theme of the design research seminar is Imagery from nature on ceramics. This involved observing the beauty in nature around us, looking at the minute details which makes it alluring and depicting the essence of it on ceramic tiles in the form of visual images. Working in ceramic studio and making tiles with hands was a major part of this project. A disciplined rou - tine in working allowed me to understand the nature of clay and its behavior in different stages.
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Dhokra Casting: A Traditional Tribal Craft of Jharkhand
by Gaurav Vaidya
by Gaurav Vaidya
My internship happened in two parts. First part was to
observe and understand the things and the second part was hands on exprience with different materials. Both the parts were done in completely different environments.
In my first part of internship, through Tata Centre at IIT Bombay, I got a chance to visit MIT Cambridge, Massachusetts. A group of 20 students from IIT Bombay went there to see the problem solving approach and research methodology followed at MIT. There we observed the institute’s working culture, different lab facilities, presentation techniques etc. We also interacted with faculties, students and entrepreneurs.
One more important feature of the first part was that I got a chance to visit different museums like Museum of Modern Arts, NY and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston where I could see works of well known artist, product designers, graphic designers. And of course, the fun part like visiting places like Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, World Trade Centre, Central Park, Rockefeller Centre etc.To explore newer frontiers of design I was unfilmiliar with,in second part of internship I chose to work in a completely new environment rather than mainstream production and industry. To explore crafts, I went to Shantiniketan, Bolpur in West Bengal. Who would know the traditional crafts and art in Shantiniketan region better than an artist, Mr. Bidyut Roy who has spent more than 30 years of his life in Shantiniketan. I feel fortunate to stay with him and understand his philosophy and his views on different issues.During the second part, I explored various things and worked with different materials but majority of my time I spent on Dhokra Casting which is a traditional craft of Jharkhand. Within one mont of my summer internship, I could experiance and explore people, their life, style, food, culture from different places like New York, Boston, Shantiniketan (W.B.) and tribal villages in Jharkhand.
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Enhancing Livelihood Possibilities Of Dokra Craftsmen Through Their Craft: Redesign Of Dokra Door Handles
by Gaurav Vaidya
by Gaurav Vaidya
In my Design Project 1, I had experienced the traditional technique of dokra casting by doing it myself, from the initial stage to making the final finished product, with the help of traditional craftsmen in one of the tribal areas of Jharkhand. Design Project II is a continuation from Project 1, and it involves making aesthetically pleasing objects that will also find use in day-to-day life rather than being just decorative pieces. These products will not only be visually appealing, but they will also serve the functional purpose for which they are intended. These everyday utility products will invoke sensitivity about craft, its rich background, and inherited tradition in the minds of people seeing or using them. Working with dokra craftsmen has been a major part of this project, where I experienced the pleasure of making my own metal objects that can actually be used. While exploring the methods and techniques to make quality articles, I also thought of how making such usable metal articles would be easy and beneficial to the craftsmen in the villages to earn a better livelihood. This report outlines the detailed design process being followed while creating a range of Dokra door handles.
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Design of Cookware for residential Rice Cooking application using Steam from Solar Steam Generator
by Gaurav Vaidya
by Gaurav Vaidya
Solar energy is a clean and abundant source of energy. This energy is utilised for many applications, and cooking is one of them. There are various types of solar cookers available on the market, but they are not that efficient. Each one has its pros and cons. For using currently available solar cookers, users need to have an open space where they will get an ample amount of continuous sunlight. They also need to track the sun all day. The whole process of cooking takes place outside the kitchen, and it is a very slow and cumbersome process. This project is an attempt to make the whole cooking activity quick, easy, and inside the kitchen while using steam generated from solar energy for a single home's usage. The cost-effective steam generation technology developed by Heat Pump Lab and the Mechanical Department (IITB) is used, and the product that uses this steam is designed during this project. The 7Cs of innovation, as guided by Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy, were the design methodology adopted for the project. This report outlines the detailed design process followed during the project.
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Ema Keithel : The mothers’ market
by Hirom Ulemba Meetei
by Hirom Ulemba Meetei
Broadly speaking , a market can represents many things. When we are young we grew up learning market is a place where selling and buying happened . But as time passed by, it started revealing its own nature of relationship between people and its surrounding, and also behaviour and attitude toward the society. Thus, marketplace literally become a storyteller of that particular society. Yes, In this project, I’m trying to find out what Ema market actually tell us . Ema in manipur means “mother”, named as mother market, this market has been providing livelihood for the entire Manipur from generation to generation. Being run only by the women , this market has perform a significant role in empowering the women in the Manipur society. Its traditional and culture bonding with people have make this market one of the biggest market of its own kind in the entire country The project mainly focus on the daily activity of the women and their perspective of the market. It also try to cover some of the untold story of the women whose unbeatable power in bringing up their family .
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Summer Internship at Uravu
by Hirom Ulemba Meetei
by Hirom Ulemba Meetei
“URAVU” is a network of community based, non[1]profit organisation spread out in Wayanad district, Kerala state, South India. It works close with people, governments and business organisation for the implementation of sustainable development in local areas. Built with five main core branches , namely - Uravu indigenous science and technology study centre - Bamboo Nursery Unit - Uravu Eco Links Ltd - Bamboo Grove Project - Uravu bamboo village . This organisation is trying to improved the product and process development in bamboo handicrafts, furniture making and bamboo construction .It also helps in enhancing local skill and processing technique in handicraft and structural application of bamboo. Large number of their works include promoting community-led eco-tourism and local craftsmanship through local materials like bamboo and jute. The whole purpose of the study can be divided into two parts, the internship part which mainly focus on the product development for Uravu and its associated units .Then workshop part , a bamboo workshop which aims on developing structural application of bamboo on housing and furniture design for rural and tribal areas .
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Redesigning Deployable Mosquito Net Structure For Tribal Settlement
by Hirom Ulemba Meetei
by Hirom Ulemba Meetei
Malaria is always been a life-threatening disease from the time it has been known. Probably it’s one of our oldest enemy of all time, taking more human-life than any other disease. Each year millions of people died and around half the population of the world is put in risk due to this dreadful disease. Sub-Saharan Africa being the highest affected region followed by Southeast Asia and others, this disease spreads all over the world. In India itself, every year, thousands of people lost their life and another million were still living under the burden of this disease, with most of the case coming from rural areas (especially the tribal areas). Though we have known how to cure malaria from the beginning, it got an entirely different story in most of the tribal inhibited areas, often a darker one. It has been reported that 30% of the total cases in India come from this regions. Apart from poverty, poor health facilities and lack of proper education, the tribal regions are most of time isolated from the mainstream not only geographically but also socioculturally. Despite taking measures to prevent malaria including mosquito nets and other programs, the cultural barriers make it difficult to control the same. To understand the problems more critically, a Abstract field trip was planned with the help of SEARCH organization and visited different villages in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. One of the most important issue which come out from this study was the lack of seriousness about this disease in those areas. When further research is done, it opened up to many issues from economical to educational to cultural. But as part of this project, the focus is put only into the specific problems related with usages of mosquito net in this area. In the early stage, the project try to question the most common attitude of people toward the difficulties of not using the mosquito net, which were given to them through government. It also try to critically analyze the problem from the lens of cultural obstacles, the climatic hindrances and the typology of the houses toward this behavior . In the later section of the project, the issues is taken up to a design level problem and try to solve using different design approaches and methods. This includes mind- mapping, ideation, concept generation system design etc. Finally, as a deliverable of the project a deployable mosquito net structure named “Kavach” is created, which can be easily made by the local people, using locally available materials with minimum cost.
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Domestic Poultry Incubator for micro-poultry farming
by Hirom Ulemba Meetei
by Hirom Ulemba Meetei
Although India is one of the major countries in poultry production, it has not been able to meet the increasing demands of the nation completely. In many cases, this has led the poultry industry to use artificial drugs and steroid for faster growth. Hence people are diverting to healthier options such as organic eggs and chicken. This opens up an opportunity for rural areas to critically look at their methods of backyard poultry farming, which they have been following from ages. The project mainly aims at uplifting the socio-economic status of the villager through self employment. It focuses on putting relevant technology and design intervention in developing a sustainable poultry incubator which would be less dependent on electricity. The early phase of the project mainly includes addressing the problems in rural context , a research on various available incubator and the different technology which are used This is supported by a field study to Central Poultry Development Organization, Aarey colony Mumbai. In the later stage of the project, the concept is further narrow down with the help of various design method including brainstorming, idea sketching , concept evaluation , mock up model user feedbacks etc. Finally as a deliverable of the project a concept of modular domestic incubator which have a hybrid power system with both solar energy and electricity is suggested with a f maximum of 96 eggs capacity . A simple business module is also suggested which complement the idea of micro-poultry farming in community level.
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Design Thinking: Collection & Review of literature on design thinking for students of management studies
by Pai Sanket Satish
by Pai Sanket Satish
Design thinking has become a buzzword in most organisations and institutions over the past decade. This has given rise to multiple educational institues of various domains incorporating design thinking in their curriculum. This project examines some of the design thinking courses available to management students across the world. This study has led to generation of structure for an ideal design thinking course for management students.
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Internship at IN2 ON2 Food and Hospitality Pvt. Ltd
by Pai Sanket Satish
by Pai Sanket Satish
There has been a spate of ice cream centres blooming in major metro cities in India this year. The most interesting thing about some of these shops is that they use liquid nitrogen to create ice cream almost instantly in front of the customer. However, all these places, including the ones abroad, directly pour nitrogen in the mix used to prepare ice cream. We wanted to create a product which would do everything that these people do, while using indirect cooling. This project documents my summer internship with IN2 ON2 Food and Hospitality Pvt. Ltd where we tried to create this innovative product.
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Design for elderly: For safer and easier cooking
by Pai Sanket Satish
by Pai Sanket Satish
The ageing population of the world has seen an upward trend over the last two decades along with tendency of independent living by the elderly. Currently efforts are being made to create comfortable and safer housing environment for the elderly. However the kitchen still remains as the most neglected area in terms of redesign. This project tries to focus on the kitchen as the independent living facility in order to make cooking easier and safer focusing more on the women elderly population. The project started with primary and secondary study, leading to multiple insights in areas of mobility, posture, while using tools and consideration for user reach. These insights were then used to derive features and to come up with designs specifically for the food preparation area. The final design was developed after creating a test rig to check required heights for different activities.
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Design of a surgeon friendly laparoscopic device for electrosurgery procedures
by Pai Sanket Satish
by Pai Sanket Satish
A laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery where the surgeon creates small incisions on patient’s body in order to insert instruments and a light with a camera to perform surgical procedures. Even though this surgery results in quicker recovery time and lesser pain for the patients, it is highly demanding for the surgeons. Since the operations lasts for hours, there is a need to design and develop devices which minimize the surgeons discomfort while enhancing the usability. This project is an attempt to design such a device for the procedure of cutting and coagulating tissues during laparoscopic surgery. After constant trials and multiple mock up prototypes, the device is designed to gently grip the hand and uses flexible linkages to provide comfort to use, ease of assembly and maintenance.
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Multi-sensorial perception & Design
by Patric john
by Patric john
An object is never identified as the object at the fraction of the second. It would take, a few milli seconds for the brain to read the signals from eyes, ears or other sensory organs to sense and perceive it as an object. Depending upon the complexity of the object or its features, the time taken by brain can vary to perceive and understand. Design is a domain in which perception is much considerable and influential. In this Design Research Seminar i am curious to know about, how senses works & how perception matters in design. What are the elements or factors among senses and sensation which affects the perception.? The focus area of the project is to know about multi-sensorial perception in the framework of design. How a design with multi-sensorial (catering to more than one sense) perception, is different from a design which is single-sensorial (catering to only one sense). Can multi-sensorial design bring more value to a product? What are the possibilities and limitations of multi-sensorial perception in Design.
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Learning Woodwork
by Patric john
by Patric john
This report is part of Project I-summer internship in Silpa-sadana, Sriniketan. The duration of summer internship was around 1 month. The objective of the internship is to learn something new which supports my design knowledge and to apply what i have learned in the field of design. I worked in wood and learned the basics of wood working. I was also able to learn about wood and the hand tools for woodworking which helped me alot in learning woodworking. I focused a bit more on turning wood. I made a few flower vases and some other products. Well after one month of summer internship the experiences which I gained through it helped me to create a better sense towards crafts and design. Also the learning about the wood and understanding about other crafts in Silpa-sadana was very useful and informative. I further look forward in continuing woodworking and would suggest anyone in design/arts/architecture field to have a first hand experience in crafts from this place.
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Design of Food Kiosk for street vending: Urban Indian scenario
by Patric john
by Patric john
With over 1.2 billion people of various beliefs, religious practices, life styles, and cultures, India is the seventh-largest country by area and the second-most populous country. Urban India is a place where you can see and experience this diversity and variety. The project aims to design a food kiosk that will cater to these urban areas. Today, street foods have inseparably become part of urban culture. Due to the huge population and diversity of the urban population, even the street foods evolved and multiplied over time. Today, a large variety of traditional street foods and modern street food items are available. In this project, I attempted to look at these street foods as well as the various interconnected elements and stakeholders in the system and come up with a solution: a kiosk that could cater to a segment of street foods and vendors, thereby supporting and enhancing their business potential. The project also looks at a plan or strategy that would complement each stakeholder in this system and enable it to go forward in a better way.
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Design of Teaching-Learning Aids for Blind Children
by Patric john
by Patric john
A project which started with an objective of “Design Intervention for the blind”, progressed and specified with the objective “Help with design , the blind children to learn/make them teach about geometry in Mathematics”. This project investigates the existing/ current scenario and comes up with a few ideas which would help the blind children to learn about particular concepts of Geometry in maths. The project initially started with study about blind and other related issues of being blind. With the help of two organizations which help and support the blind, the direction was chosen and focus area was determined. Problem solving was one of the major priorities of the project which remained since ideation and progressed along with conceptualization and evaluation.
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Data generative art installation
by Shashank Gautam
by Shashank Gautam
How can we create a space more experiential using generative art? The aim of the research is to implement a data generative art installation by integrating a physical space with technology where people can come and be a part of that space, the sense of inclusiveness and engagement will create an emotional experience . We targeted to make mundane space more happening , and to reduce gap between physical world and digital world by giving an immersive experience to user.
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Internship At Uravu
by Shashank Gautam
by Shashank Gautam
Bamboo has a long and well-established tradition as a craft and building material throughout the world’s trophical and sub-trophical regions. It is widely used as a material for many forms of products and construction, in particular for traditional art and craft in rural areas. Bamboo is a renewable and versatile resource, characterized by high strength and low weight, and is easily worked using simple roots. It is widely recognized as one of the most important non-timber forest resources due to the high socio economic benefits from bamboo based products. It is estimated that there are 1200 species growing in about 14.5 million hectares area. Most of them grow in Asia, Africa and Latin America. And India is the second largest producer of Bamboo.
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Use Of Bamboo In Bicycle
by Shashank Gautam
by Shashank Gautam
Bamboo has a long and well-established tradition as a craft and building material throughout the world’s trophical and sub-trophical regions. It is widely used as a material for many forms of products and construction, in particular for traditional art and craft in rural areas. Bamboo is a renewable and versatile resource, characterized by high strength and low weight, and is easily worked using simple roots. It is widely recognized as one of the most important non-timber forest resources due to the high socio economic benefits from bamboo based products. It is estimated that there are 1200 species growing in about 14.5 million hectares area. Most of them grow in Asia, Africa and Latin America. And India is the second largest producer of Bamboo.(National Mission on Bamboo Corporation, 2015). Bamboo is one of the strane species of grass which nature endows. The mechanical properties of bamboo is unbelievable. Bamboo has been in wide usage since ancient times as a low cost material for houses, bridges etc.
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Climate Responsive Building Facade
by Shashank Gautam
by Shashank Gautam
The project investigates responsive building facade systems that adapt to the dynamic environmental conditions to regulate the internal conditions in a habitable space over different periods of time by exhibiting a state of motion and dynamism. Heat, Light and wind are the primary parameters for regulation, leading to energy efficiency and dynamic spatial effects. Passive and active skins using pneumatic actuators are developed through investigations of smart systems that integrate smart materials and smart geometries. The precedents in this domain have rarely dealt with individually controlled multiple parameters of heat and light in a single system, which is attempted in this project.
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Idital - Digitization of tribal script, Sora Sompeng
by Sony Salma Priyadarshini
by Sony Salma Priyadarshini
Sora Sompeng is the script of Sauras, a tribal group predominant in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Saura mostly uses Odia and Telugu to write their language. This has pushed Sora to the verge of extinction. Recently, a growth of interest in Sora Sompeng shows that there is a scope for reviving and digitizing the script. This project is an effort to analyse and understand Sora Sompeng in order to make a suitable typeface for the script. The focus was to understand aspects of the script, its visual features and the design decisions taken towards achieving this.
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Summer Internship At Uravu
by Sony Salma Priyadarshini
by Sony Salma Priyadarshini
The core idea that led to the formation of Uravu Trust in 1996 was revitalizing indigenous knowledges and upgrading productive skills of people were essential for ensuring sustainable development of rural areas. The trust’s activities were borne out of the realization that ensuring access to resources- natural resources used as raw materials for production; appropriate skills and technologies; finance and markets etc- was essential for overall development of marginalized social groups. The key objective of the organization is to improve livelihood sustenance of women & marginalized people through sustainable entrepreneurship.
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Cutlery Explorations using coconut shell
by Sony Salma Priyadarshini
by Sony Salma Priyadarshini
Coconut palm tree is one of the most valuable natural resources. It is called ‘Kalpavriksha’ meaning wish-fulfilling divine tree. It is because almost every part of the tree is used in some or the other way. Coconut shell has always been used as a cooking fuel and to make small multiple[1]utility bowls or serving spoons with simple bamboo joinery. Coconut Shell has remarkable properties such as strength, hardness, durability and resistance to fungal attack. These properties can be used to make products of different varieties and it has a huge scope in market. The project aims to change the perception of coconut shell to something that could be used creatively and aesthetically as a lifestyle accessory espousing crafts, craftsmanship and related livelihood. An in-depth study of coconut shell such as its anatomy, structure, composition, patterns and texture was done. Not only this, the variety of cuts to produce different forms was also looked into. Understanding appropriate and relevant tools to work with shell was one of the crucial parts of the project. This led to discovering new tools that could be used. Example of one such tool is the ordinary wire brush that could be mounted in the drilling machine to clean the insides of the shell. Prior to this, cleaning the insides of shell was done manually which was took more effort and was time consuming. After an initial phase of exploring possible product range, cutlery (ladles and spoons) was chosen for further exploration. Study of available cutlery, its anatomy, proportions and usage was done. Since the shell is Abstract hard, quick and dirty mock-ups were done through soft prototyping. In this, plastic balls were used in place of coconut shell. Similarly, other materials such as PVC pipes, styrene, soft aluminum etc. were also used. Joinery details to improve stability, strength and to enhance aesthetics of the product were tried out. Various mock-ups were made and the desired ones were selected to be developed with coconut shell. The process then focused on combining the shell with other materials such as bamboo, wood, steel, brass and aluminum for material exploration. The explorations fell in these categories: 1) Combing shell with natural materials such as wood, bamboo, cane etc. 2) Combining shell with industrial material such as steel, brass, aluminum etc. 3) Combining shell with both natural and industrial materials etc. We went ahead with the third category because it was a new area where industry and craft could come together. Three materials—coconut shell, aluminum wires and bamboo were used. Jigs were designed for easy production and replication of different parts in less time. As part of the final deliverable a range of a family of ladles was proposed. Branding and logo details were done to complement the product. ‘Utsavam’ which means celebration chosen as the name of the product range. This was to imbibe the celebratory nature of the product.
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Interactive methods to teach human anatomy
by Sony Salma Priyadarshini
by Sony Salma Priyadarshini
The primary objective of the project is to provide a means to educate small children about the human anatomy in a fun and engaging way. Understanding human anatomy and physiology consists of major part of learning biology. Unlike subjects such as maths and physics, biology needs a larger part to be understood and memorised. The subject gets complicated further as the student goes to higher classes. Unless the students have a strong grasp of basics, they tend to lose interest in the subject. Anatomy is linked with many other fields of study such as nutrition, keep good health, hygiene, physical education, sports etc. Understanding anatomy leads to clarity in other areas. Since most of the available materials are basically instructional, the project aims to facilitate the foundational learning of basic anatomical concepts in an alternative way where the child “learns through playing”. The final product had a kit which contained the different systems of human body in a simplified form in layers. This kit can not only be for demonstration school but also as an examination tool. The design was scalable in sense that more layers of other systems could be added if wanted. The product is affordable, simple and child-friendly.
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Visual Ethnography : KOLAM
by Shreelekha Lakshmipathy
by Shreelekha Lakshmipathy
Ethnography is a collection of qualitative methods used in the social sciences that focus on the close observation of social practices and interactions. These qualitative methods enable the researcher to interpret and build theories about how and why a social process occurs. They are particularly useful for elucidating the steps of processes that have not been well understood, and to create rich descriptions of people’s experiences. Qualitative research tends to be inductive and hypothesis-generating; that is, it helps the researcher make educated guesses about how or why a process happens. Quantitative research, on the other hand, tends to be deductive and hypothesis-testing; it helps the researcher determine how true such an educated guess is across a population. Ethnography’s unique contribution to qualitative methods is that it deeply examines the context in which activities occur, usually involving work by the researcher with participants as they go about their daily lives. An ethnographer also describes a situation by asking multiple people about an event, or by analysing multiple types of documentation, such as policies or historical records. In this way, ethnography allows the researcher to make fine distinctions and see ambiguities in the way a situation is interpreted.
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Report on Khamir, Reha & IDC
by Shreelekha Lakshmipathy
by Shreelekha Lakshmipathy
Khamir in Kukma district of Kachch is a platform for the crafts, heritage and cultural ecology of the Kachchh region of Gujarat. Instituted after the earthquake of 2001, it is a space for artisans, resource groups and institutions, buyers, suppliers and craft lovers from around the world to gather under one roof to exchange ideas, collaborate and learn. It works to strengthen and promote the rich artisanal traditions of Kachchh district. The name Khamir stands for Kachchh Heritage, Art, Music, Information and Resources..Born in 2005, it serves as a platform for the promotion of traditional handicrafts and allied cultural practices, the processes involved in their creation, and the preservation of culture, community and local environments. Their main aim is to shift consumer perspectives and raise the cultural value placed on crafts.
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DIY furniture using Bamboo
by Shreelekha Lakshmipathy
by Shreelekha Lakshmipathy
To design a Furniture system using Bamboo with post modern approach using bamboo poles and joineries that could be assembled by the user post an online purchase. Called Underconstruction, the system includes two different joints that can be used to build and configure tables, coat pegs and storage rails with bamboo poles. Exactly what they end up being used for is down to the needs and imagination of the customer, but almost anything is possible due to the system of a basic frame and accessories that can be added or removed as necessary.The collection has taken a different approach to furniture design; rather than provide a fixed solution to a given functional requirement, this is instead a toolkit that can be adapted to any eventuality. Key to this system are the removable accessories that have been made from a mix of materials – metal mesh, Bamboo weaves – so if your furniture needs an extra surface, it can be added. This project is also a manifestation of an experimentation with materials and how these can be distanced from their common assumptions and be placed in new contexts, where the goal was to combine bamboo and plastic within a functional structure by looking for the most suitable form and state of plastic in order to make it utile. The number of different components is kept to a minimum and the various pieces within the series are easy to assemble, requiring no specific tools. The design comprises of a series of lightweight pieces that aim to both change existing perceptions of bamboo(from a 'ecoresort'y, touristy, crafty product to a everyday product that fits into a contemporary lifestyle setting) and rekindle interest in the traditional material and its various possibilities by the design boasting exposed joinery and bold bursts of vibrant color. Adding weaved baskets and other details blend the concept of Furniture and ‘miscellaneous interior goods thereby including craftmanship, a major aspect related to the material which would bring in the ‘Bambooness’ into the product. The collection includes side table, console table and hang rack and majorly focuses on a minimalist, airy design.
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Experiencing Materials - Concrete
by Shreelekha Lakshmipathy
by Shreelekha Lakshmipathy
We like to define historic eras based on the materials that were prevalent at the time, as in ‘Stone Age’, ‘Bronze Age’, ‘Iron Age’ and so on, because they define our relationship with the physical world. This project, at the outset, states the importance of materials in our world and identifies the softer aspect of the materials - its Character, its Personality, its Association, its Story and continues to showcase the material and design innovations that drive us to the future. The project then moves into choosing a particular material - CONCRETE, the second most used material on the earth after water. The project identifies the image of the material and continues into exploring the possibilities of the material in the area of Product Design.
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Expression of forms
by Sridhar Geddala
by Sridhar Geddala
Every product has its own expression, which comes from the visual details the designer include in the product. Most of them are intentional and some are functional. Though expression is subjective, we can clearly classify products under different expressions. One of those classification is done by Prof. A G Rao(IDC, IIT Bombay). This project try to dissect these expressions using eye tracking as a tool. Though the project focussed on the primary analysis like fixation points and gaze time, a detailed analysis of the eyetracking data is give at the end for one expression(soft).
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Leather Craft - Santiniketan Leather Products
by Sridhar Geddala
by Sridhar Geddala
Leather or leather products are sophisticated, symbol of luxury and brings lots of character to the object. Shilpasadan a department under Visva Bharati which is pioneering institute in teaching crafts and design train students the necessary skills needed to make and create traditional leather products. The place is known for inception for many techniques in leather craft. Batik work, block embossing, tooling work, understanding leather are some of the learnings during the internship period. Apart from being a place where craft and craftsman are immensely respected the place teaches simple and humble lifestyle.
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Interactive Device For Schools Redesigning of Clicker System
by Sridhar Geddala
by Sridhar Geddala
Failing in exams, unable to understand the concepts taught in class and psychological or health related issues are some of the reasons that keeps some students from backward classes from education. This project focuses on designing a product that will assist students in their learning , such that the dropouts will be reduced. After visits to schools (like KV IIT Bombay , IIT campus school, Aarambh Organisation for kids) and discussions with teachers it was found "Lack of interaction” could be one of the major reason for not understanding or showing less interest in the class. K-YAN and STUDENTS RESPONSE SYSTEM or CLICKERS are two Interactive products available in the market (K- Yan allows teachers to interactively display information to a whole class and CLICKERS is an interactive technology that enables instructors to pose questions to students and immediately collect and view the responses of the entire class). After understanding both the systems, how they work and their advantages in classroom , Redesigning clickers for schools is taken forward . Some major problems with current clickers system is -expensive, complicated, whole system is fixed to one class and requires internet connection. The brief was to design a simple, economical and yet maintaining the core advantages of the system. Alternative technologies are considered where ever it is necessary so that whole system can be low cost, mass manufacturable and mobile . The final concept is a system with a led display board and a set of clickers. The display board is to show the timer and histogram of the results and clickers to communicate the answers.when the teacher writes the Question on the board and starts the timer, students respond with their clickers before the timer stops and the results are displayed on the LED screen subsequently. The whole system is proposed to cost much lesser than the existing solutions.
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Surgeon Friendly Biopsy Device And Tissue Collection Device For Cancer Diagnosis
by Sridhar Geddala
by Sridhar Geddala
Failing in exams, unable to understand the concepts taught in class and psychological or health related issues are some of the reasons that keeps some students from backward classes from education. This project focuses on designing a product that will assist students in their learning , such that the dropouts will be reduced. After visits to schools (like KV IIT Bombay , IIT campus school, Aarambh Organisation for kids) and discussions with teachers it was found "Lack of interaction” could be one of the major reason for not understanding or showing less interest in the class. K-YAN and STUDENTS RESPONSE SYSTEM or CLICKERS are two Interactive products available in the market (K- Yan allows teachers to interactively display information to a whole class and CLICKERS is an interactive technology that enables instructors to pose questions to students and immediately collect and view the responses of the entire class). After understanding both the systems, how they work and their advantages in classroom , Redesigning clickers for schools is taken forward . Some major problems with current clickers system is -expensive, complicated, whole system is fixed to one class and requires internet connection. The brief was to design a simple, economical and yet maintaining the core advantages of the system. Alternative technologies are considered where ever it is necessary so that whole system can be low cost, mass manufacturable and mobile . The final concept is a system with a led display board and a set of clickers. The display board is to show the timer and histogram of the results and clickers to communicate the answers.when the teacher writes the Question on the board and starts the timer, students respond with their clickers before the timer stops and the results are displayed on the LED screen subsequently. The whole system is proposed to cost much lesser than the existing solutions.
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Nature in Ceramics - Pottery exploration on wheel
by Vishal Bhushan Jha
by Vishal Bhushan Jha
Traditional wheel pottery is one of the oldest form of arts. It has so many possibilities that in the past 10000 years or so of history, infinite forms and experimentations have been done on it and even now new outcomes keep coming. There is immense possibility of creating something new every time with pottery. This project is my attempt to create interesting fluid forms in ceramics inspired from Nature. The main goal here is to create interesting contemporary forms while maintaining the formal sophistication of wheel pottery “Fursat”, A beautiful Urdu word which means disengagement is something missing in the industrial design scenario currently. We are very requirement oriented people worrying about th project goals and outcomes, always eager to tick the checklist, trying to finish the task. Though trying to maintain quality and perfection this over engagement and level achieving attitude often leads to designer’s soul getting lost in process. Fursat on the other hand is disengagement and more or less is prevalent in an artists work. An artist usually works more on intuitions and less on logic. The reason also might be that there is not much of questioning in an art work about why the artist did a particular thing and why not something else. Also there are several interpretations of some work. This project was an attempt towards an open ended exploration in pottery. There was no set objectives to reach which gave way to more of explorations for own satisfaction and less of doing something for finishing it.
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Summer Internship at Godrej interio
by Vishal Bhushan Jha
by Vishal Bhushan Jha
Tata Centre for technology and Design is an organization initiated by Tata trust to promote design for bottom of pyramid in Developing countries. The centre has chapters at MIT Boston and IIT bombay and the fellows and research scholars at each college work in various fields related to bottom of pyramid some of them being Housing, healthcare, Education, Power and Energy etc. The trip of Tata fellows to MIT was organized to facilitate mutual learning, wider exposure to international research methodologies and contact building. Tata fellows spent 1 week at MIT getting exposed to various projects done at MIT and India. Also I took this oppurtunity to visit all the famous buildings of boston and also Museum of fine arts boston which has Americas largest artwork collection. After MIT I extended my trip by further 4 days to explore architecture, art and design scene of New York. In New york I visited MOMA, American Museum of Modern Arts, American museum of natural History and street artist at Times square.
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Design of Furniture Systems for Affordable Housing-Fitting more in Volume
by Vishal Bhushan Jha
by Vishal Bhushan Jha
The title of this project is Furniture System Design for Affordable Volumetric Housing. There is a huge shortage of housing in urban areas, mainly because of a shortage of land and the very high prices of the land that exists. As a result, slums are springing up in cities to house the large number of immigrants who are flocking to those areas. To overcome the housing shortage and provide good living conditions in a lesser area, "Affordable Housing: Fitting More Into Volume" was a project carried out from July 2014–November 2014 by 3 IDC students: Manu Revi, Gautham Varma, and Anulal. The project dealt with the creation of spaces by utilising volume, going vertical, and giving exact headroom as required. Based on these studies, the minimum space required for a family of six was calculated, and different layouts were made for the same. Many places' building codes may prohibit a permanent mezzanine structure in a small house. Thus, if the furniture makes the mezzanine floor, it will not be considered an additional floor, thus qualifying for stricter bylaws. For the current project of Furniture System Design for Volumetric Housing, the basic concepts of spaces arranged in volumes, listing of heights, and accommodating six people are taken from a previous project. On the basis of the previous project and the current study of slums and sheet metal working, new layouts were made, keeping in mind flexibility in layout and optimal utilisation of spaces. The layouts created allowed various possibilities for arrangements with the same components. Then the furniture is detailed with three approaches: wall-fixed furniture, floor-standing furniture, and a central core supporting all furniture. Throughout the project, the most important factor that was kept in mind was whether it could be DIY, incremental, economical, and space-saving. At many places, the weight of components and materials was also considered as it was a DIY assembly and needed to be light to be easily handled.
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Arsenic Water Filter for Domestic Usage
by Vishal Bhushan Jha
by Vishal Bhushan Jha
Arsenic poisoning due to underground water is a big health concern in India, especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam and Manipur. These are the states with few of the lowest literacy rates, High population, considerably high water table and are economically backward. Also these are the states with irregular to no electricity in many villages and remote areas. The main objective of this this project is to develop an Arsenic water filter without using power supply is necessary. Also Arsenic contaminated water is not visually contaminated and most of the people don’t know about it hence awareness of arsenic poisoning among people is necessary. The main challenge in this project is to make a product which will filter water and will actually be used by the people of the region. Form factor, visual presentation, handling, Usage, Cleaning, Economics and Durability are main considering factors for design.
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Introduction to E V Future
by Kamlesh Sawant
by Kamlesh Sawant
E V Future was established in 2007, in the international township of Auroville, located in the South Eastern state of Tamil Nadu, India. Auroville is well known throughout India and the world for its extensive research in the fields of renewable energy and other green initiatives. E V Future’s primary focus is on designing electric eco-friendly 2-wheeler solutions primarily for the Indian market and its existing road conditions. E V Future is the brain child of two young and dynamic Aurovilians, Aurosukrit and Akash Heimlich, who over the years have been actively involved in innovation and research into alternative energy and transportation. Over the past 2 years, E V Future has developed a prototype electric two-wheeler which is unique to all other electric two-wheelers available in the Indian market – the Hum-V, a rugged multi-purpose utility "moped". Over 15 prototype versions of the Hum-V have been successfully tested over the past year within Auroville. Over this period, every vehicle delivered was modified and improved upon based on customer feedback.
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Gas cylinder transfer system for a gas cylinder delivery person
by Kamlesh Sawant
by Kamlesh Sawant
LPG gas cylinders have evolved as an important source of fuel for cooking needs in India. Apart from the projected increase in demand, LPG gas cylinders have always been in the news, sometimes for rises in cost or shortage or for illegal uses. But, all this time, nothing has been talked about the amazing system which works behind it, to keep the circulation going. This project investigates the working of the system to find out how the LPG cylinders weighing up to 40 kg are handled on a daily basis. The analysis of the study is synthesised to find out the areas where there is scope as well as a need for design intervention. Insights from the people involved in gas cylinder delivery and observations made while studying the system were helpful in formulating the design brief. The mock-up models were also used for validating and refining the concepts at every step. The proposed solution needs to be a feasible solution within the boundaries marked by the concerned authorities. Keeping this in mind, after concept evaluation, the final concept was further developed to meet the needs suggested by the earlier study.
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Amphibious vehicle
by Kamlesh Sawant
by Kamlesh Sawant
As the roads are getting flooded with automobiles, the supporting infrastructure is under constant pressure. Other modes of transportation, such as water and air, will soon gain importance for daily travel. With the ability to travel in more than one medium, an amphibious vehicle would be an ideal solution. An amphibious vehicle with land and water surface as modes of travel is considered within the scope of this project. The aim of this project is to design a motorised amphibious two-wheeler for youth. The evolution of technology and formal treatment were also noted while studying developments in amphibious vehicles over the years. Initial ideation was focused towards making a 2 wheeler afloat on water & results were grouped into categories. The group of inflatable pontoons was chosen on the basis of its feasibility. A configuration with pivoted flaps for housing inflatable pontoons on either side of a two-wheeler was chosen after evaluating other possible configurations. The dimensions of pontoons in inflated mode and in deflated storage mode were calculated before finalising the layout. The contemporary motorised two-wheeler was taken as reference for structural and ergonomic issues for deciding the layout. The targeted segment of user youth was expressed with lifestyle boards and mind maps. An expression of fearlessness was chosen for the formal treatment of the proposed vehicle, which was decoded by analysing visuals with that expression. Scaled mock-ups and sketches were used to get the concepts evaluated by potential users. Aside from youth, the proposed amphibious vehicle can also be used as a police patrol vehicle, a flood relief vehicle, and a personal mode of transportation in inland water bodies.
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Studying the bio mechanical characteristics in elderly
by Pragati Kapur
by Pragati Kapur
The purpose of this survey was to study the biomechanical characteristics of the elderly over 60 years of age. A sample of 27 elderly people, 11 males and 17 females, in the age range of 60 years to 88 years, from elderly homes in Delhi and Mumbai were tested using standardised instruments. Various biomechanical characteristics were studied and recorded. India is in a phase of demographic transition. As per the 1991 census, the population of the elderly in India was 57 million, as compared with 20 million in 1951. There has been a sharp increase in the number of elderly people between 1991 and 2001, and it has been projected that by the year 2050, the number of elderly people will rise to about 324 million. Over the past decades, India’s health programmes and policies have been focusing on issues like population stabilization, maternal and child health, and disease control. However, current statistics for the elderly in India give a prelude to a new set of medical, social, and economic problems that could arise if a timely initiative in this direction is not taken by the programme managers and policy makers. There is a need to highlight the medical and socio-economic problems that are being faced by the elderly people in India, and strategies for bringing about an improvement in their quality of life also need to be explored.
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Set of picture frames for Magppie Retail Limited
by Pragati Kapur
by Pragati Kapur
The purpose of this survey was to study the biomechanical characteristics of the elderly over 60 years of age. A sample of 27 elderly people, 11 males and 17 females, in the age range of 60 years to 88 years, from elderly homes in Delhi and Mumbai were tested using standardised instruments. Various biomechanical characteristics were studied and recorded. India is in a phase of demographic transition. As per the 1991 census, the number of elderly people in India was 57 million, as compared with 20 million in 1951. There has been a sharp increase in the number of elderly people between 1991 and 2001, and it has been projected that by the year 2050, the number of elderly people will rise to about 324 million. Over the past decades, India’s health programmes and policies have been focusing on issues like population stabilization, maternal and child health, and disease control. However, current statistics for the elderly in India give a prelude to a new set of medical, social, and economic problems that could arise if a timely initiative in this direction is not taken by the programme managers and policy makers. There is a need to highlight the medical and socio-economic problems that are being faced by the elderly people in India, and strategies for bringing about an improvement in their quality of life also need to be explored.
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Furniture for students in home environment
by Pragati Kapur
by Pragati Kapur
In the present day scenario, where homes are getting smaller and the needs of each member of the family are increasing, it is very important to look into the needs of all and, at the same time, make the place enjoyable. In each house, there are on average 2 children, and this gives an opportunity for the design of furniture for students. The project is an attempt to understand and correlate the three main aspects of the furniture system: product, user, and environment. This was achieved by case studies of homes; feedback through questionnaires; and dimensional specifications of different components. The concept is to integrate the informality and comfort of home with the exciting environment required by students for studying. The conceptualisation borrows clues from the study done and thereby formalises the product, taking into consideration all the aspects of the system. The aim is to create an organised work space to make studying at home a comfortable and enjoyable experience for the children.
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Walking aid for the elderly
by Pragati Kapur
by Pragati Kapur
The rapid increase in the elderly population in India and all over the world provides several opportunities to design for this segment of society. For the project, initiated by the Department of Science and Technology of India, I chose to work on mobility as the basic premise, as it is the second largest cause of disability in India. The project, titled "Mobility Aid for the Elderly", is aimed at better: -Functionality-Aesthetics The project necessitated an understanding of the various stages of walking with a cane, as well as insights for building design solutions. The project inspired me to look for shortcomings in the current walking aid designs and look for possible design solutions to the same to help the elderly walk better. The final product must be a full-scale working prototype of the walking aid that is applicable to Indian conditions.
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Bicycle scapes workshop
by Priyanka Marawar
by Priyanka Marawar
The bicycle-friendly area design workshop was conducted in the city of Auroville, Tamil Nadu for design, architecture students and young professionals. 16 students, 10 mentors, sponsors, and hundreds of Aurovillens came together to improve the bicycling experience in Auroville. The project of Auroville, located approximately 12 kilometres north of Puducherry in south India, was formally inaugurated on February 28th, 1968 with the aim of becoming a universal township dedicated to the realisation of the ideal of human unity. The founder of Auroville, a French lady born Mira Alfassa in Paris, who later became known as the Mother after being given charge of the Sri Aurobindo ashram in Pondicherry, followed its development until her demise in 1973. Since the time of its inception, Auroville has been an eco-city in the making. It offers good-willed people the opportunity to experiment and develop their expertise. The city is physically radial in nature. The matrimandir (meditation centre) is the centre of the city. The city’s geographical premise is 5 km in diameter. It is divided into four zones as follows: the cultural zone, the international zone, the industrial zone, and the residential zone. The first 2.5 km is the city area, while the next 2.5 kms is the green belt area. The current population of Auroville is around 2000 people, while the city is being built to eventually accommodate a population of 50,000 people.
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Sustainability awareness kit for children in an Indian urban environment
by Priyanka Marawar
by Priyanka Marawar
The choices one makes in life are most often based on experiences from one's past life. In the last couple of years, I have developed an interest in the worldwide spoken subject called "sustainability". This interest took me to Auroville, "a universal city in the making", which was one of the best experiences in the 23 years of my life. It was one of those experiences that one calls "life-changing." Totally inspired by this new way of life, I came back to my mundane urban life. Then I wondered what I could do to translate those ways of living into this urban scenario. This thought lingered on. The intention to find these ways that could make urban ways of living more sustainable and happier was reason enough for me to choose my Project 2 topic as "Healthy and Sustainable Ways of Living". It was much later, after I explored the meaning of health and sustainability, that I found potential for my design intervention by designing a tool to make sustainability a value system in children. This report shows that it is an enjoyable yet tough journey where my design capability finds a purpose.
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Lighting for variable moods in a restaurant
by Priyanka Marawar
by Priyanka Marawar
Lighting has always been my area of interest and something that always amazes me. I always wondered about its ability to touch one's senses to such an extent that it could alter one's frame of mind. This report is a glimpse into the journey that explores this ability of light. Hence the topic "lighting for variable moods in a restaurant." The project is primarily in 3 phases: Implementation: Understand, Explore and Experiment. The first phase entails understanding light and its components; the role of light in creating different moods by studying photographs, movies, and existing products; the role of light in creating different atmospheres in the theatre as a case study; the role of colour and coloured light; and the restaurant as a user scenario. Secondly, explore and experiment with various aspects of light to understand its relationship with materials, surfaces, and its potential to create moods. Playing with light in this phase also proved to be a constant creative stimulus. Thirdly , implement this understanding and experimentation to realise an actual product, which is a lighted modular wall which can transform to create different moods as per need. The second and third stages were cyclic processes until the desired effect was rendered. Various aspects of industrial design were also taken into account in this phase of actualization.
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Design means Business
by Roshan Lawrence Valder
by Roshan Lawrence Valder
There are many ways to sell a product. During project 2, the product was conceived purely with the user in mind and the current manufacturing possibilities ( see figure below) But to sell the product to a company, it must fit into the company’s portfolio. It may have to be part of the company’s range of products, be viable using the production methods of that company and fit into their philosophy of selling products. Another way of selling the product is to create a business model and start a business around it. This project focuses on the commercial viability of the product and on designing the product to fit a company’s product portfolio.
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Electric Motorcycle Styling
by Roshan Lawrence Valder
by Roshan Lawrence Valder
EVfutures is India's largest electric vehicle portal with extensive information about electric bikes, electric scooters, and electric cars. An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle with one or more electric motors for propulsion. An electric vehicle consists of batteries which are used as the source of energy. They could be lead-acid, lithium ion based batteries, The controller is a logic control to control the DC motor by user input, i.e., accelerator, and transfer the required energy from the battery to the motor and electric motor, a DC motor to propel the vehicle, attached at the wheel or through a drive train. The redesign of the HumVee retained most of the components of the current HumVee. The frame suited its purpose and so was retained The position of the footrests was found to be comfortable from testing and so retained Rear shocks were customizable but there was a need to cover the positioning slots Other components were easily available as bike parts and hence retained. The styling was restricted to mostly the frame and headlights.
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Transformable Furniture
by Roshan Lawrence Valder
by Roshan Lawrence Valder
With a growing population and the influx of people into the cities, urban India has had a constraint on living space. In a city like Mumbai, even entire families live in single-room apartments. So there is a lot of emphasis on space in such homes. All basic activities happen in the living room, which also doubles up as a dining area, TV viewing area, study room for kids and a bedroom. An ideal piece of furniture would be one that elegantly addresses all these activities. Transforming furniture is not a new concept. The standard sofa bed is an example of a piece of transforming furniture. Recently, however, different variants have been popularised with an emphasis on style. Sofas that transform into bunk beds or a bed that transforms into a cabinet are modern examples of transformable furniture. Throughout this report, the terms "transformer" and "transformable furniture" will be used interchangeably to mean the same thing.
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Transport Warmer for Infants
by Roshan Lawrence Valder
by Roshan Lawrence Valder
Neonatal care for preterm infants remains one of the most basic needs in India that is difficult to access. Special wards known as Neonatal intensive care units exist only in tertiary hospitals owing to the specialist equipment and staff required to run them. This project owes its beginnings to observing the general condition of neonatal care in the country. There were reports of babies being baked in incubators and equipment failing. Some news excerpts are given below. This was the trigger point in the whole investigation into looking at infant incubators. Over the course of the research, other issues rose apart from the glaring problems with incubators mentioned above. These were issues of crowding of the incubators with multiple infants, lack of space, issues of transport, sheer lack of incubators, and cost of equipment. Apart from the scarcity of equipment, there is a scarcity of staff and supporting structure. It was realised that neonatal care needed a system-level intervention and not just a product-level intervention. Though the issues were many and some out of the scope of a design project, the focus was given to the transport of the preterm infants. The safe and secure travel of these infants is as necessary as being in an incubator in a NICU.
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Jugaad - a Study in Indian Vernacular Design
by Sanjay Nair
by Sanjay Nair
There are situations when solving a problem may not be easy or possible by conventional means or in a formal way. It may be due to a lack of resources or due to a time constraint. At such times, overlooking the problem or waiting for the perfect solution to arrive may not be the answer. It has to be done by any means, calling for out-of-the-box thinking and going beyond the existing way of doing things. These kinds of situations happen more often in our country. The way we solve such problems is known as "Jugaad". Jugaad is essentially a colloquial word in Hindi, meaning an eclectic assembly that somehow works. What does Jugaad exactly mean? How are jugaad and design related? Is Jugaad an innovation? Is Jugaad a healthy culture? Can jugaad be classified into different types? Can there be guidelines for different types of Jugaad? The objective of my study was to find an answer to these questions.
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Summer Internship at Silpa- Sadan
by Sanjay Nair
by Sanjay Nair
Silpa Sadana (SS)is a crafts institute located 3 km away from Santiniketan in Sriniketan(SN). The object of Sriniketan is to bring back life in its completeness to the villages, making them self-reliant and self-respectful, acquainted with the cultural tradition of their own country, and competent to make efficient use of modern resources for the improvement of their physical, intellectual, and economic condition. Tagore, Rabindranath, 1928. Sriniketan today comprises the following departments within its broad ambit: Palli Siksha Bhavana (Agricultural Science Institute) Palli Sangathana Vibhaga (Rural Extension Centre) Department of Social Work Palli Charcha Kendra (i) Silpa Sadan. Silpa Sadana commenced work in 1922. It is aimed at revitalising decaying crafts as well as innovating craft-related activities to introduce them to local artisans. It has, broadly, a training aspect, a production arm (marketing) aspect, and a development aspect. In its training aspect, SS (Crafts Centre) offers a 3-year diploma course in nine different specialisations to about 80 regular students. Most of the products of the SS are sold at its Sales Emporium in SN and through counters put up at the Pous Mela, Magh Mela, and the Rathindra Shilpa Mela held once a year. Predictably, the SS has become the provider of bric-a-brac to Visva Bharti, in terms of its convocation scarves, uniforms, dress materials, parchments for certificates, files, bookbinding materials, and some furniture, as per the needs of the university. Apart from this, four traditional village weavers, enlisted from nearby villages, produce handloom fabrics on a piece-rated basis upon receiving raw materials from SS.
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Luggage Design for a Middle Class Family
by Sanjay Nair
by Sanjay Nair
Small families travelling longer distances by train generally use multiple luggage of a smaller size (less than 22"). This has advantages like ease of handling and separate space for each individual. Large-sized luggage (between 28" and 32") is mostly used for air travel due to restrictions on the total weight of individual luggage and the number of bags an individual can carry. Family trips generally tend to be of short duration (4–7 days) due to the fact that the packed items are not completely removed from the luggage during the trip. Luggage is accessed intermittently during this period whenever something needs to be taken out. Organizing and accessing items becomes difficult when many members of a family use common large luggage. Business travellers hopping from one place to the other face a similar situation. They literally have to "Live Out of the Box". Many innovations are taking place in luggage design with respect to the materials, colours, textures, and wheels. But even today, luggage continues to have one or two major compartments into which we pack our belongings. This project aims at designing luggage for a small family of 3–4 members travelling by air (for 4–7 days), which will allow individual members to organise and access their luggage contents easily during travel.
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Playing kit for Visually Impaired children
by Sanjay Nair
by Sanjay Nair
Try imagining the world by closing your eyes as if you have never seen it. One's perception of the world is drastically altered when one interprets it through the other senses. Vision is an integral part of our learning process and helps in perceiving the world around us. Children with an absence or lack of vision need motivation to explore the world around them. It becomes important for them to engage their other senses more effectively for learning. Many things that sighted children learn by playing or observing have to be taught to visually impaired children. My project involved understanding the world of visually impaired children by looking at existing systems that encouraged exploratory behaviour, researching early childhood education, and interacting with individuals linked to the blind community. The research led to prototypes aimed at engaging visually impaired children in play. The objective of the design is to create a play kit that gives them the opportunity to learn through play and exploration while building their various physical, cognitive, and social skills.
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Alternative Fuel Vehicles
by Suhrid Palsule
by Suhrid Palsule
The automobile: considered among the greatest influences of the 20th century, it has today reached iconic status and is now an irrefutable part of our lives. Over 600,000,000 passenger cars travel the streets and roads of the world today. There is no doubt that mankind has greatly benefited from the use of this technology, but that progress has come at a price. Vehicles have had a huge impact on us and our environment, and most of it is not good. Every school-age child today is familiar with terms like "air/noise pollution," "global warming," "ozone depletion," and so on. We now see vehicles as a prime issue to be dealt with as our lives get more dependent on them each day. This is an indicator of the magnitude and urgency of the problem at hand. Steps are being taken to slow down the negative impact caused by automobiles on the environment. This report documents the ‘clean car‘ race and its significance.
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Summer Training at Ranvik Exports Pvt. Ltd.
by Suhrid Kiran Palsule
by Suhrid Kiran Palsule
Ranvik Exports Pvt. Ltd. is located in an industrial area in Manesar, Haryana. The company has been involved in exporting leather products for the last 14 years. Recently, they have launched a retail brand under the name "threesixtydegrees. My interest in the company rose out of the desire to work in the so-called lifestyle sector, the commercial, more "liberated" side of product design. Ranvik and Three sixty-degree are involved in providing home and office solutions to clients in up-market Gurgaon. The company produces a wide variety of products. Almost all are clad in leather (cladding being the prime activity in the unit). They offer custom-made products to people. The chance to be able to interact with clients and get hands-on experience in the production process was a very good opportunity in the area of my choice.
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Redesign of School Amenities: Sanitation
by Suhrid Kiran Palsule
by Suhrid Kiran Palsule
Schools in India, especially the mid-segment ones, such as the Kendriya Vidyalayas, operate under tough conditions. Large numbers of students, limited resources, and tight budgets are a few of the issues that many schools have to deal with. Under such circumstances, where completion of the academic curriculum is, in itself, a challenging task, things like the provision of proper school amenities like furniture, lab equipment, sanitation and hygiene tend to get less priority. The project is an attempt to understand the importance of good sanitation in schools and aims at designing sanitaryware for the same.
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Gym Equipment for Home
by Suhrid Kiran Palsule
by Suhrid Kiran Palsule
The project deals with the design of fitness equipment. "Fitness" in itself is a very broad term, which brings to mind a plethora of images and thoughts. This project, however, deals with a certain kind of fitness equipment, widely known as "gym equipment’ (although its technical name would be "strength or resistance training equipment"), keeping in mind a specified objective and user profile, which shall be explained later on. This project was born out of the desire to provide people (namely young men and women) the necessary equipment that they would need to perform "strength training exercises" at home.
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Special Project on vehicle aerodynamics
by Vinish Janardhanan
by Vinish Janardhanan
Aerodynamics is a highly refined science that vies for position with other key vehicle design considerations such as styling and ergonomics. Its importance with respect to the operating efficiencies of a vehicle is undisputed, but manufacturers must steer a balanced path between the push and pull of the many other aspects of a car necessary to sell it to the consumer. A study of various aspects of aerodynamics was studied to see how vehicles have evolved over the years. From the designers' point of view, how the form of the vehicles can be maintained while keeping in mind the aerodynamics involved was looked upon. The word comes from two Greek words: aerios, concerning the air, and dynamics, which means force. Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is important in a number of applications other than aerospace engineering. It is a significant factor in any type of vehicle design, including automobiles. It is important in the pre[1]diction of forces and moments in sailing. It is used in the design of large components such as hard drive heads. Structural engineers also use aerodynamics, and particularly aeroelasticity, to calculate wind loads in the design of large buildings and bridges. Urban aerodynamics seeks to help town planners and designers improve comfort in outdoor spaces, create urban microclimates, and reduce the effects of urban pollution. The field of environmental aerodynamics studies the ways atmospheric circulation and flight mechanics affect ecosystems. The aerodynamics of internal passages is important in heating and ventilation, gas piping, and in automotive engines where de[1]tailed flow patterns strongly affect the performance of the engine.
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Designing furniture for school at Infiniti Modules Pvt. Ltd. Goa
by Vinish Janardhanan
by Vinish Janardhanan
The internship was an opportunity to put into practise all that was studied and to get first-hand experience of what actually happens in a company. The factors that influence designing a product in a real-world scenario The project involved firstly understanding the company departments, their contributions to the system, and how all of them work together. The project task was to develop a new set of school furniture—a table and chair. The furniture set was taken from the drawing board to production, finally bringing it into the market. The company offers contemporary, ergonomic, and high-quality furniture products in India for the office and school. Strategic alliances with world leaders offer a complete suite of products. The company uses the best raw materials and processes under stringent quality control standards to ensure superior products. Infiniti also supplies high volume OEM components like shutters, drawers, etc . Successful office and school projects have been executed across the country, and the company has substantial exports as well.
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Designing a letter sorting device for mirakle couriers
by Vinish Janardhanan
by Vinish Janardhanan
A courier is a person or company employed to deliver messages, packages, and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialisation and individualization of services, and committed delivery times, which are optional for most everyday mail services. A courier company’s main aim is to provide the highest level of customer service possible through a fast and efficient delivery system. There is an increasing need for accurate and fast sorting work to compete with other similar service providers. It all starts with the mailing system. No matter the size of the organization, a well-engineered system can increase productivity, maximise efficiency, and streamline the workflow. Large chunks of mail have to be delivered every day, from magazines, bills, personal mail, etc., of various sizes. By providing an organised method of handling the mail, it ensures fast and efficient work. Mirakle Couriers is a newly established courier company located in south Mumbai. They are unique in that they only hire deaf adults.Since they are deaf, the scenario of the working conditions changes. My goal in this project is to provide compact sorting furniture that is ideal for limited space and easy adaptability to ensure efficient mail processing.and customise it for the special needs of Mirakle Couriers.
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Redesigning of industrial vehicle electric forklift
by Vinish Janardhanan
by Vinish Janardhanan
A courier is a person or company employed to deliver messages, packages, and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialisation and individualization of services, and committed delivery times, which are optional for most everyday mail services. A courier company’s main aim is to provide the highest level of customer service possible through a fast and efficient delivery system. There is an increasing need for accurate and fast sorting work to compete with other similar service providers. It all starts with the mailing system. No matter the size of the organization, a well-engineered system can increase productivity, maximise efficiency, and streamline the workflow. Large chunks of mail have to be delivered every day, from magazines, bills, personal mail, etc., of various sizes. By providing an organised method of handling the mail, it ensures fast and efficient work. Mirakle Couriers is a newly established courier company located in south Mumbai. They are unique in that they only hire deaf adults.Since they are deaf, the scenario of the working conditions changes. My goal in this project is to provide compact sorting furniture that is ideal for limited space and easy adaptability to ensure efficient mail processing.and customise it for the special needs of Mirakle Couriers.
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Comparative Analysis between Design Education of Germany and India
by Anirban Maiti
by Anirban Maiti
This is a quantitative content analysis research-based project to look into the course curriculum of several famous design institutions from two countries: India, the fastest growing country, and Germany, the most developed country, and how they are very different in the principles and focus of the education system with respect to background history and the present political and socio-economic situation. After this, synergy between these countries will be discussed, and accordingly, the paper will conclude with relevant inferences from the experiment.
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Summer Internship at TEQZO
by Anirban Maiti
by Anirban Maiti
The design of a ceiling fan for AARNA within the given domain with minimal change in the process line to create a new aesthetic style to revive their position in the current competitive market.
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Smart Kitchen Appliance
by Anirban Maiti
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by Anirban Maiti
In the coming days, spaces will be very costly. For that reason, size(area) for homes will be lesser and lesser day by day. From this point of view, people will start reducing spaces in toilets, bathrooms, kitchens, balconies, and other secondary spaces after having the minimum primary spaces for bedrooms, living rooms, etc., and that is how Open Kitchen evolved.
And if we see any kitchen in a modern house, there will be lots of electronic gadgets for saving time, space, and further maintenance costs. But as the space in the kitchen area is reducing day by day, people will need some smart and multipurpose kitchen devices that will act more efficiently, save spaces, and keep the kitchen clean.
Drowsiness Prevention System
by Anirban Maiti
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by Anirban Maiti
Many drivers know this scary situation: on long highway drives, attention drops instantly. Due to many reasons, the driver gets tired and can't resist sleeping on the wheel. Those sleep-related fatigue issues can be monitored easily, and there is a huge opportunity to save thousands of lives from highway accidents, especially at night time.
In India, drowsiness is one of the major reasons behind accidents like drunk driving. So, it is an important field to work on and come up with non-intrusive solutions with less cognitive load.
Armature design for animatronics and stop motion animation
by Ankur Rawal
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by Ankur Rawal
Animatronics originates from the words anima and electronics. Anima means to animate, while electronics provides the control parameters for the movements. Animatronics refers to the use of robotic devices to emulate a human or an animal or bring lifelike characteristics to an otherwise inanimate object. A robot designed to be a convincing imitation of a human is more specifically labelled as an android. Modern animatronics have found widespread applications in movie special effects and theme parks and, since their inception, have been primarily used as a spectacle of amusement.
Animatronics is a multi-disciplinary field that integrates anatomy, robots, mechatronics, and puppetry, resulting in lifelike animation. Animatronic figures are often powered by pneumatics, hydraulics, and/or electrical means and can be implemented using both computer control and human control, including remote operation. Motion actuators are often used to mimic muscle movements and create realistic motions in limbs. Figures are covered with body shells and flexible skins made of hard and soft plastic materials and finished with details like colours, hair, feathers, and other components to make the figure more realistic.
Design of a Frugal Vein Detector for Kids
by Ankur Rawal
- Form fits the hand of children in the age group 2-10 years. - Comfortable for the doctor to hold. - Provides illumination on the back of the hand for effective venipuncture. - No parting lines come in contact with the patient’s skin, keeping it averse to catching germs.
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by Ankur Rawal
Intravenous injections have been used in the medical industry for various drug deliveries. Locations for conducting venipuncture are hospitals, pathology labs, dispensaries, etc. A key issue in this procedure lies in finding a suitable spot for injection. Many individuals face difficulties as their vein is not visible or close enough to the surface for a successful venipuncture. A vein detection device was made by Trivikram Annamalai, an IDC ex-student, in 2014. This project takes the technical learnings from the development of the vein detector and targets a specific user segment—kids—owing to their special requirements and constraints.
Kids, owing to their soft epidermal tissues and thin bones, allow for red light (in the near infrared region) to pass through their palms and make the venal structure visible on the back of the hand. This aspect, along with ethnographic observations from the hospital about the way paediatric patients are handled for a venipuncture, led to the development of a doctor- and patient-friendly form. The final design includes the following:
- Form fits the hand of children in the age group 2-10 years. - Comfortable for the doctor to hold. - Provides illumination on the back of the hand for effective venipuncture. - No parting lines come in contact with the patient’s skin, keeping it averse to catching germs.
Design Intervention in Ambadi Calyx Removal
by Ankur Rawal
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by Ankur Rawal
Ambadi, globally known as Roselle (scientific name: Hibiscus sabdarifa), is a nutritional herb with various health and economic benefits stemming from the processing of its various parts. Over the past few years, the importance of Indian rosehip has re-emerged as a nutritional and medicinal herb. Global demands have skyrocketed for its healthy Hibiscus tea. It is envisioned that Indian rosella reaches a higher economic potential to match that of Malaysia, China, and Africa. The current bottleneck lies in optimising the separation process so that more produce can be made from the 10-day annual cultivation season. Hence, this project aims at bringing in a design intervention for enhancing production while exploring MSME and SHG style set ups to enterprise the crop and bring benefit to the farmer and associated channels at large.
The plant’s morphology and vernacular nomenclature were first observed, along with gathering all available information about the dimensions of the varieties under cultivation. Through the RuTAG team and the project guide’s network in Vidharbha region, two enterprises were found: one was an institute for village initiatives, and the other was an entrepreneur who has India’s first FSSAI licence for Ambadi Tea. The two economic models were thoroughly studied for their approaches to labour, logistics, and quality. Desk research about Roselle’s development in Florida, Sudan, Kenya, and Malaysia was done, along with understanding the basics of food post-processing. Two commercial retailers from e-commerce websites were also contacted to seek bottlenecks for the industry in general.
The task at hand was to reduce the drudgery in the calyx removal process of Ambadi, and initial ideations, including sketches and mockups, were done much before the harvesting period so as to get primary feedback from stakeholders while doing an initial field visit. This helped us have very involved conversations with the enterprise heads, and the modifiable nature of the mockups helped us quickly iterate based on feedback.
Product Possibility of Form Generation Tools for Bamboo Craft
by Antik Mallick
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by Antik Mallick
This shape generation tool aims towards the modernization of bamboo, where bamboo strips are used as an industrial material. Bamboo strips have been a traditional material for weaving baskets and many more different kinds of lifestyle accessories. IDC Bambu Studio is also putting forth its efforts to develop many mass-manufacturing tools, product manuals, and workshops for working with bamboo strips and the system connected with it.
During the time duration of my project 2, we decided to make the shape generation tool specifically for jewellery application because of its need in the system.
These tools follow A.G. Rao sir’s philosophy of "Product Specific Tools for Bamboo Craft". They also provide opportunities for the further design and development of some tools, which could prove to be game changers in both craft and industrial product design.
Summer Intership at URAVU (NGO)
by Antik Mallick
by Antik Mallick
"Uravu is a non-government organisation (located in Trikkaipetta village in Wayanad district, Kerala state, south India) that works with people, governments, and businesses to implement programmes for sustainable employment and income generation in rural areas. Uravu is a nonprofit trust established in 1996 and registered under the Indian Trusts Act. Uravu promotes social enterprises based on the value addition of local natural resources, especially bamboo, the "green gold."
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Report on Interactive Packaging
by Arjun Prasanth
by Arjun Prasanth
The packaging of a product is what connects the consumer to the product. It is the outer shell, the apparel, of the product. Interactive packaging enhances the user experience of the product in accordance with the context of its usability aspect with the additional values of interaction elements for the user to make it more exciting and engaging. Extensive study has gone into this paper, which includes everything from a literature review to an analysis of different types of packaging to bring out a clear definition for interactive packaging. The similarities and differences among smart, intelligent, and interactive packaging have been analysed.
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Journey with bamboo
by Arjun Prasanth
by Arjun Prasanth
An extensive exploration of the wonder material ‘bamboo’ is done at Uravu, Wayanad, for a deep understanding of the possibilities that can be achieved through the manipulation of the material. Certain design solutions and suggestions for an existing resort were put forward as a development of the current scenario there. During the course of one month, staying at Wayanad with a bunch of bamboo enthusiasts around helped a lot in terms of design thinking and acquiring a deep understanding of the material, which in turn helped to make toys out of bamboo.
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Wearable for Jalaai( brick firing) workers for thermal protection
by Arjun Prasanth
by Arjun Prasanth
Brickmaking is labour-intensive, mostly unskilled work, and requires different levels of skill in different parts of brickmaking. Each worker has a specific function and has to be highly skilled and specialised in that work. Brick kilns in India are mostly manually operated. The process of jalaai involves baking green bricks and strengthening the bricks for a specified time. The workers who perform this task are known as Jalaai workers. Jalaai workers have to endure high heat stresses while working on the kiln top against the background of general environmental heat. This study was focused on the Jalaai workers and the challenges that they face while working, their occupational health hazards, and their possible solutions. This project, in particular, was aimed at reducing the radiant heat being experienced by the workers, with special reference to their face and neck region.
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Design of head gear and personal protective suit for wild honey bee harvesters
by Arjun Prasanth
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by Arjun Prasanth
The project addresses the issues faced by wild honey harvesters by having a comprehensive study of the entire wild honey harvesting process. The non-violent harvesting of rock bee honey and wax and their post-harvest storage are taken into consideration when developing a comprehensive design approach. The wild bee (Apis Dorsata) is considered the most defensive of all honey bee species, and their nests are mainly built in exposed areas far from the ground, like on tree limbs, under cliff overhangs, and sometimes on buildings.
A site visit to Wardha, Maharashtra, improved the knowledge of the wild honey harvesting process through the interaction of honey harvesters. The visit to the workshop where the protective suits are made helped in understanding the issues with the existing suit design and manufacturing process. The tools and methods used to make the suits are very frugal, and a similar approach was continued in the project in order to make it easy for manufacturing. After analysing the manufacturing process and the interactions with honey harvesters, the design direction for the project was formulated.
The design direction was to achieve an optimised solution for the manufacturing of the suit using locally available facilities. The protective suit was required to withstand bee stings and wear and tear from the bark of trees while climbing and crawling during the harvesting process to ensure safety and personal protection for honey harvesters. Hence, the fabric chosen should be durable enough, so canvas cloth is chosen as the material. An industrial hard hat had also been integrated to ensure the safety of the skull area. The need for cleaning the suit after every honey collection was taken into account in the design process. The design had evolved to ensure smooth working and the safety of the personnel, who climbed several beehives one after another without compromising on comfort.
Initial ideas with mockups were made, and further feedback from actual users was obtained. Prototype testing with the mock-ups helped refine the concept. Based on the feedback received from the harvesters, some ideas were taken forward to develop them as concepts with features like quick fixing of canvas with the helmet, lightweight and durability, ease of washing, and ease of manufacturing. Anthropometric measurements of three sizes (small, medium, and large) were adopted during fabrication. A full protective suit was made for demonstration, and constructive feedback was received. The project was useful in the field of wild honey harvesting to raise awareness of safety and self-protection while carrying out the harvesting process.
Paper Lamps; Metaphors of Light
by Arun Shah
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by Arun Shah
Lamps have a primary function. To provide light But why do we need the light, and how do we need the light? This is where design becomes an answer. Light, colour, shadow, pattern.. All these can be manipulated to bring in meanings and emotions.
Paper lamps are known as very common and very simple products. The catch here is the play of light and shadow. This is what makes the lamp so emotional. Where light and shadow create visual metaphors, they give another meaning to the product.
This project aims to explore the design of a tea candle paper lamp by developing the design and improving its usability and aesthetics.
Copper Bells of Kachchh
by Arun Shah
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by Arun Shah
Kachchh, commonly written as "Kutch," is the largest district in India and is located in Gujarat state. Kutch is an ethnic web of interwoven cultures, a land of vibrantly colourful art and craft heritage. This cultural mix plays host to a thriving exposition of textiles, ornaments, and living styles, eulogised within a contemporary framework. Kutch literally means something that intermittently becomes wet and dry; a large part of this district is known as the Rann of Kutch, which is a shallow wetland that submerges in water during the rainy season and becomes dry during other seasons.
The Rann is famous for its marshy salt flats, which become snow white after the shallow water dries up each season before the monsoon rains. The district is also famous for the ecologically important banni grasslands with their seasonal marshy wetlands, which form the outer belt of the Rann of Kutch. The district is surrounded by the Gulf of Kutch and the Arabian Sea in the south and west, while the northern and eastern parts are surrounded by the Great and Little Rann (seasonal wetlands) of Kutch. The languages spoken predominantly in the Kutch district are Kutchi and Gujarati. The script of the Kutchi language has become extinct. It is now mainly written in the Gujarati script.
Portable Patient Chair for Dental Camps
by Arun Shah
by Arun Shah
My research in dentistry had begun when I was doing a collaborative course with the BETiC lab at IIT Bombay. I was working with a group of students and was working on developing dental equipment for lighting in dental surgeries. We had done a background study on dentistry and the issues related to it. In focus, we also studied the dental chair. There were many issues that we were trying to address. The portability of the dental chair was one of the issues that came to my attention. From earlier conversations with dentists, I had gotten the idea of developing a portable dental chair. After the completion of the course with BETiC, this project was taken forward, and I did my research on this specific issue. The chair is not just a chair for the patients; it is also the work station for the dentists. This understanding of the usability of the chair is what triggered the design thinking for me. This project gave me a lot of experiences and a lot of insights in the field of Indian dentistry. In the following chapters, I will describe in detail the process of designing this product and the insights and scope of this project.
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Coir In Furniture
by Arun Shah
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by Arun Shah
The coconut tree is called "Kalpa vriksha". Which means that the tree makes every dream come true. That's pretty much the truth after all. The coconut tree is one of the most useful trees in the environment; from flower to root, every bit of it can be used for many applications. Coir is the natural fibre from coconuts. There are many products made out of coir.
The Coi Board of India is a government institution under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. They have been researching the development and improvement of this sector. There have been a lot of new turnovers in terms of processing and product development, and India is one country with a really large scale of coconut tree plantations. This amazing fibre contributes more than just a handful of products to different sectors in Kerala. It is also being exported to many countries because of its characteristics and durability.
Furniture design using coir is not an entirely new thing. There have been many innovations in design using coir as a raw material. The coir board itself promotes student projects in many areas to bring innovation to the sector.
In this project, I will be exploring the possibilities of coir as a material for furniture design. I will look into different manufacturing processes and see whether we can manipulate them to yield new forms, textures, etc.
Visual Ethnography of Sankheda Craftsmen
by Aswin Sasindran
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by Aswin Sasindran
This visual ethnographic study aims at capturing the pulse of the Suthar community in Sankheda, a village in Chhota Udaipur district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The study was an experiential bliss for the hearts of the craftsmen that embody the turned wood furniture craft. Me and my camera were met by heart-warming families that shared their life, its struggles, and their craft with open arms. The study involved interviews with various craftsmen, including a master craftsman, a methodical documentation of the manufacturing process, a qualitative analysis of their work environments, their involvement with the craft, and the conflict of interests faced by present-day generations.
Summer Intership at Sargaalaya, Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, Iringal
by Aswin Sasindran
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by Aswin Sasindran
The report is part of the summer internship project carried out as a part of the M-Des in Industrial Design programme at IDC, IIT Bombay. The project helps to understand the various parameters that essentially make a tourism project successful. It aims to visualise the key issues faced by the institute in disturbing these parameters, which might hinder the development of the place at a later stage. The report also suggests solutions that are capable of giving a facelift to the institute with tiny tweaks to relevant parameters.
Redesign of Commercial Vegetable Processor
by Aswin Sasindran
by Aswin Sasindran
Vegetable processing in commercial kitchens is carried out without the help of machines with a wide range of processing capabilities and functions, and they require extreme durability along with higher productivity and performance. Most of the existing products in the Indian market, manufactured industrially, are imitations of their international counterparts and exhibit various design flaws. As an industrial designer, the purpose of redesign is to introduce new and competing products to the current scenario by optimising the existing design. The final concept addresses usability, ergonomics, and productivity issues considering a set of functional and manufacturing constraints.
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Sankheda: Design Optimisation and Production
by Aswin Sasindran
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by Aswin Sasindran
Sankheda is a village in Gujarat located in Chhota Udaipur district renowned for its turned wood furniture crafts. The craftsmen of Sankheda follow the traditional working postures in most of their activities, adapting them to their indigenous machinery and processes of manufacturing. Task analysis and interviews with craftsmen reveal the need to design and optimise their workplace for better productivity and health benefits. This project aims at designing a workstation for the craftsmen, focusing on reducing drudgery in their work environment and optimising the production process. The final concept can be extended to allied work environments to impart similar benefits.
Subsistence Design
by Devanshi Saksena
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by Devanshi Saksena
The word "design" is generally associated only with intricate, exclusive, and expensive products. In the marketplace, the names of top designers are used to sell overpriced products in all fields, be it cars, aircraft, or even handbags.
However, design is not the exclusive preserve of overpaid designers sitting in air-conditioned studios. Often, common folk faced with recurrent problems come up with elegant and low-cost solutions involving the modification of existing products. Manufacturers of everyday items are often surprised to see the innovative and unintended uses of their products. Smartphones, WhatsApp, and the internet ensure that such design ideas are widely communicated and replicated. In view of the usefulness and popularity of these homegrown products, mainstream designers have been forced to acknowledge the existence of this genre of design, which is classified as "subsistence design", jugaad," and "frugal innovation."
The aim of the present project is to examine the design efforts of common people who are not design literate academically but who design products for the specific needs of their particular communities from the resources available to them, mostly on a shoestring budget.
Summer Intership at Godrej & Boyce Pvt. Ltd
by Devanshi Saksena
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by Devanshi Saksena
Food steamers have been used for centuries. The ancient Chinese used pottery steamers to cook food, which date back to 5000 BC. Earthen, bamboo, and stainless steel materials were mostly used for food steaming. In India, steamers are mostly used in the north-eastern and southern parts. Earlier, people used to steam rice, fish, momos, and vegetables. With the recent changes in lifestyle and health, more and more people from other parts of India are turning to electric food steamers. People are using different techniques, including steaming. Food steamers are so advanced that there have been hardly any changes in terms of form and function.
DIY Leather Kit
by Devanshi Saksena
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by Devanshi Saksena
Leather is a unique commodity that links the grass-roots level of villages with high societies and traditional practises with emerging technologies. For many developing countries, leather and leather manufacturers constitute an indispensable and dependable source for export trade and foreign exchange earnings. For India, leather is a high-priority industrial sector, and footwear exports are an extreme focus area. In just four decades since independence, India has made significant gains from the leather trade, progressing from the status of an exporter of 90% or more raw hides and skins to that of an exporter and predominantly leather product manufacturer.
Buoyed by good past performance and encouraged by the expanding world market for leather articles, India is on the move to increase its market share from the present level of around 3%. Earning foreign exchange aside, such trade expansion would mean the generation of substantial employment, skill building, and entrepreneurship development, as well as other widely spread socio-economic benefits.
Summer Internship at Imaginarium Pvt. Ltd
by Faizan Zahid
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by Faizan Zahid
A world in which manufacturing on-demand is a reality might not be that far away, as the price of 3D printers is dramatically falling. With costs for lower-end plastic-printing machines having plummeted in the last few years, the technology is now on the cusp of becoming mainstream. At this rate, any designer could have a tabletop 3D printer and use rapid prototyping without wasting time making handmade prototypes, time that can be spent more productively.
Product design, automobile design, or any design in general, along with the machine parts industry, healthcare, retail, and food are some of the examples and predictions of how 3D printing will intersect with modern manufacturing. This will be an influential technology in the coming years. While a number of industries will see positive change, few will undergo as many drastic shifts and evolutions as manufacturing.
We wanted to be a part of this revolution. We wanted to learn about the technology, processes, and future of product design. With that said, Imaginarium is India's largest rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing centre. There’s no better place to start this journey than Imaginarium. With Imaginarium at the doorsteps of our college, there was no second thought.
Design of Furniture for Govt. Primary Schools
by Faizan Zahid
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by Faizan Zahid
These were the questions that came to mind when I visited government schools, regardless of the place, city, or village in which they were situated. But, these were not the only questions that bothered my mind, and I’m sure that I’m also not the only one to have noticed this.
Being a part of a family where teaching is a major profession, I have had quite a bit of exposure to schools and educational facilities. Evidently, the quality of the furniture (if present) depends upon the kind of school it is and the kind of funds available for it. But it's not just about the funds available; it's also about the nature and design of the furniture, which is a major part of the problem and will be discussed later in the report. As a student of design, it was a natural instinct to look for a design intervention for this scenario. It might, however, be a system-level intervention, but one can look at it as an approach to a level where apparent flaws in design could be removed. Hence, I started looking for clues.
It was even more surprising to learn that there had been a fair amount of research done on this topic throughout the country to understand the issue behind the ill-designed furniture in schools, especially in rural and remote areas. After going through a few of these reports, the validity of the issue was more clear, and I took it as a challenge to turn this potential topic into a successful design intervention.
Design for Blind People Accessing Public Buses
by Faizan Zahid
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by Faizan Zahid
Public transportation is the basic amenity that any city is supposed to have for travelling within and outside the city. That being the case, this amenity must be available to the residents irrespective of their social status, gender, physical condition, etc. It is also a basic right for every citizen to be able to navigate comfortably to places of work and so forth in the city of their residence.
Buses and trains are used by a large number of people on a daily basis. "Bus and rail networks are the lifeblood of Indian society and prime movers of the local economies," says Jamie Osborne, a transit planner and accessibility specialist with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, after a trip through India (Osborne, 2007). A lot of work keeps happening in the domain of transportation to give this comfortable commute to the citizens of a country like India with such a large population. Year after year, more people move to cities for opportunities, and the cities have to battle with infrastructural maintenance nonetheless, but we still need to buckle up to make public transportation accessible.
India has the largest blind population in the world at nearly 20 million. Around 1.5% of the population is blind. But the impairment does not restrict them from studying, having ambitions, or raising a family. Sadly, many portions of the world have still not been completely made accessible. Their basic requirement is affected when the navigation is curbed. Many people prefer staying indoors than to get out there and battle everyday with transportation and infrastructure.
This entire project is an attempt to help the visually impaired access public transportation with less difficulty and navigate to places that meet their needs more efficiently. As part of this project, I spent the initial part of the project’s tenure in Darmstadt, Germany. This was an attempt to understand the cultural differences, the infrastructural advancements, the attempts to provide solutions, and the design of a guiding system that would act as an assistant to the person using it, whether they were visually impaired. For the project, the chosen mode of transportation is the public bus since, after looking at some other transportation means, it seems the bus system is pretty much the same in both Germany and India. Both countries have visions to make their countries barrier-free by 2020 (Johari, 2017). Though one is a developed country and one is developing pretty fast, the visually impaired citizens did have their concerns about not being able to travel like their counterparts.
How do people of different age group tackle staircase?
by Irshath Ahamed
by Irshath Ahamed
A comprehensive movement analysis of stair climbing can help in the research of several rehabilitation methods. This research study provides the investigations and observations of a human’s lower extremity during ascent and descent walking at different inclinations. In addition to this, the analysis of stair ascent and descent can be useful in the design of private and public environments where stairways are employed. Several normal subjects ascended and descended a flight of stairs at similar inclinations for the study. Observations such as the subject’s starting position and reaching position, handrail usage, ascending and descending speed, foot position, knee position, body position, vision, and stuttering were noted; their psychological feel on the staircase, handrail material, and their problems were also discussed during the interview.
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Summer Internship at Imaginarium Pvt. Ltd
by Irshath Ahamed
by Irshath Ahamed
"
Details >>A world in which manufacturing on-demand is a reality might not be that far away, as the price of 3D printers is dramatically falling. With costs for lower-end plastic-printing machines having plummeted in the last few years, the technology is now on the cusp of becoming mainstream. At this rate, any designer could have a tabletop 3D printer and use rapid prototyping without wasting time making handmade prototypes, time that can be spent more productively.
Product design, automobile design, or any design in general, along with the machine parts industry, healthcare, retail, and food are some of the examples and predictions of how 3D printing will intersect with modern manufacturing. This will be an influential technology in the coming years. While a number of industries will see positive change, few will undergo as many drastic shifts and evolutions as manufacturing.
We wanted to be a part of this revolution. We wanted to learn about the technology, processes, and future of product design. With that said, Imaginarium is India's largest rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing centre. There’s no better place to start this journey than Imaginarium. With Imaginarium at the doorsteps of our college, there was no second thought.
"
Redesign of a Paediatric Standing Frame
by Irshath Ahamed
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by Irshath Ahamed
It is to design a standing frame for children that is inexpensive, has all the basic features, and could be used by all the children aged 16 to 18 months with cerebral palsy.
My shortlisted topic by the faculties is to design and create a new standing frame for children with cerebral palsy. The product should be used indoors.
Although the work should take into consideration all areas of the design process, particular attention should be paid to the functionality, aesthetics, and production cost of the proposed design concept. The Pinal solution should have a retail value of Rs. 10,000 or less.
I had a time period of 4 months to complete and submit this design brief. The primary presentation should be digital and include freehand sketches and final, realistic renderings.
Personal Protective Equipment for Beekeepers
by Irshath Ahamed
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by Irshath Ahamed
Beekeeping is the maintenance of honey bee colonies, commonly in man-made hives, mainly for their honey. Among all the equipment that the beekeeper or apiarist uses, the most important one is the sting-proof suit (bee suit), as it prevents the beekeeper from getting stung. Unfortunately, little has changed in the design of the bee suit since the 1800s, especially in the Indian scenario.
In developed countries, beekeeper’s clothing and accessories are available in a variety of fabrics and garment styles to meet the diverse requirements and circumstances related to handling bees. In India, however, due to a lack of availability of protective clothing, beekeepers are suffering from the sting of bees physically as well as psychologically. A survey conducted by IIT Delhi shows that presently, beekeepers in India are using mainly their personal conventional clothes, like conventional pants and shirts, kurta pyjamas, simple shoes and socks, and a bee veil, in their profession. They have no or insufficient special clothing to fulfil their professional needs.
Defining Interactive Packaging
by Juwin Thomas
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by Juwin Thomas
Off late, it has been observed that we tend to issue fancy names and terminologies without much thought about the impact they would create. One such name (which is also the topic of this paper) is interactive packaging." In this paper, we look to identify and define the true meaning of interactive packaging. Extensive study has gone into this paper, which includes everything from a literature review to speaking to experts in packaging from India and abroad. In this paper, we attempt to bring out a clear definition of interactive packaging. We also want to shed light on other terms like intelligent or smart packaging and determine if and how they differ from interactive packaging.
Summer Internship at Sargaalaya, Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, Iringal
by Juwin Thomas
by Juwin Thomas
The report is part of the summer internship project carried out as a part of the M-Des in Industrial Design programme at IDC, IIT Bombay. The project helps to understand the various parameters that essentially make a tourism project successful. It aims to visualise the key issues faced by the institute in disturbing these parameters, which might hinder the development of the place at a later stage. The report also suggests solutions that are capable of giving a facelift to the institute with tiny tweaks to relevant parameters.
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Redesign of Insect Killer
by Juwin Thomas
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by Juwin Thomas
A pest is defined as a destructive insect or other animal that attacks crops, food, livestock, and humans. Insects like houseflies, mosquitoes, and moths are often attracted to food, human or animal presence, and light. These are the most commonly found pests in public areas, and if left unchecked, they rapidly spread diseases and cause considerable damage to the environment. It is thus necessary to implement pest control measures to ensure healthy living conditions.
Pest control equipment and insect traps are getting increasingly popular these days. They play a key role in trapping and killing insects in public and indoor spaces, which helps minimise pest populations in surrounding areas. In this project, I have looked into the possibilities of redesigning insect killers by adopting newer technologies that are safer and more effective with reduced health hazards.
Soil Moisture Sensor
by Juwin Thomas
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by Juwin Thomas
Agriculture is "the backbone of the Indian economy". In 2012–13, agriculture contributed to 13.9% of the total GDP and employed 47% of the total workforce population. Due to the increasing population, basic needs such as food and water are increasing day by day. Thus, it is substantial to save these resources and utilise them in an efficient manner. Since water is one of the most important elements in our daily lives, we must adapt to efficient ways of utilising it and saving it for future generations. One of these methods is efficient irrigation management practises for fields. Irrigation water management practises could greatly benefit from knowing the amount of moisture in the soil. By knowing the moisture value, we can estimate when and how much to water the fields so that there is no over-watering or wilting of crops. Water-holding capacity varies from soil to soil. Moreover, different varieties of crop require different amounts of water for optimum growth.
Rajul S. Patkar (2016) has developed low-cost piezoresistive cantilever platforms for agricultural applications as a part of her Ph.D. thesis at IIT Bombay under Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao and Prof. M.S. Bagini. Through this project, I aim to design a low-cost soil moisture sensor by utilising proposed sensor-based technology developed at the electrical department of IIT Bombay for small and medium-scale farmers that helps them provide optimum irrigation for crops and thereby increase productivity.
Defining Interactive Packaging
by Nishith Parikh
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by Nishith Parikh
Off late, it has been observed that we tend to issue fancy names and terminologies without much thought about the impact they would create. One such name (which is also the topic of this paper) is interactive packaging." In this paper, we look to identify and define the true meaning of interactive packaging. Extensive study has gone into this paper, which includes everything from a literature review to speaking to experts in packaging from India and abroad. In this paper, we attempt to bring out a clear definition of interactive packaging. We also want to shed light on other terms like intelligent or smart packaging and determine if and how they differ from interactive packaging.
Development of a smart cooking aid. Godrej and Boyce Mfg. Co.
by Nishith Parikh
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by Nishith Parikh
Cooking is the practise or skill of preparing food by combining, mixing, and heating ingredients. Anyone who has a fair amount of experience in cooking knows that it is certainly more than that. It is, in a way, science. It is how different ingredients react with each other over time and how the reactions can be altered with various factors such as time, type of heat source, and also the type of vessel used. It is a delicate balance of flavours and textures, and the experience of eating that perfect meal is unlike any other.
India, owing to its diversity, has a wide variety of cooking habits and cultures. Each region has over the years developed its own staple food based on the produce and environment. Food habits vary not only across large distances but also between two different places in the same state. As a result, no other country in the world offers such complexity and diversity in its cooking habits as India does.
Indian cooking is one of the most complex of all cuisines. Originally developed by our ancestors, it usually involves quite a few ingredients and multiple steps. Even something as common as a dal has around three to four cooking processes. These steps are essential to not only obtain the best flavour but also retain its nutritional properties. So, it is no secret that Indian cuisine is considered to be the most balanced and healthy of all. Recipes passed down from generations have ensured that rich and healthy food is still consumed by a considerable number of people. Even though newer cooking appliances like microwaves and induction cooktops have made their way onto the market, we have still found a way to cook our Indian dishes on them.
Redesign of the (Million SoUL) Solar Lamp
by Nishith Parikh
by Nishith Parikh
A staggering 40% of our country’s population still uses the kerosene lantern as their main source of lighting. In the age of efficient and affordable lighting solutions, it is the bitter truth that we as a nation must accept. Million SoUL is an IIT Bombay initiative where people work to localise solar energy through the local assembly, sale, and usage of 1 million Solar Urja Lamps (SoUL) in India. Te team is rigorously working to enable children in the rural parts of India to study without the dependence on primitive forms of lighting such as kerosene lamps. This project is an attempt to redesign the lamp made by Million SOUL so as to improve its usability, reduce its overall cost, and also bring a comprehensive change with respect to the current design.
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Product for catering service on semi luxury non suburban Indian Passenger Trains
by Nishith Parikh
by Nishith Parikh
The number of passengers travelling in non-suburban Indian trains has almost doubled in the past four years. Consequently, more trains have been added, and a lot of these include express trains that run over long distances. As a result, more people now have to be fed. The methods have, however, remained more or less the same for quite some time. Even in semi-luxury express trains like the Rajdhani, Shatabdi, etc., we can still see the primitive ways of serving food. This project attempts to solve the problems faced by the waiters on semi-luxury express non-suburban trains with regard to the distribution of food to the passengers.
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Ergo-design considerations on respiratory filter design for Brick Kiln workers
by Pooja Kulkarni
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by Pooja Kulkarni
Bricks are a very important raw material in the construction industry. Due to the rapid urbanisation, the requirement for bricks is high. India is the second-largest producer of bricks (after China), yet most of the tasks are still performed manually.
There is a huge discrepancy in the wages and the working hours for the brick kiln workers. Also, the working conditions are wretched. Low wages and hazardous working conditions lead to the deterioration of the health of the workers and lower productivity.
Usually, an entire family is involved in brick production, and they get Rs 400–500 for 1000 bricks. Although the industry provides employment to a large number of people, it violates their rights as the labourers are underpaid and exploited. "The labourers become bound after they take an advance. They are physically tortured by the contractor if they wish to leave their job. Even their payments are stopped, making it hard for an entire family to survive," Sudhir Kumar Katiyar, project coordinator of the Udaipur-based non-profit Prayas Centre for Labour Research and Action, said at the dialogue.
Summer Internship at 3F Design Company
by Pooja Kulkarni
by Pooja Kulkarni
The project was to design a desktop organiser series using organic forms and create an interesting range of products that will stand out on the office desk. Using unconventional forms, materials, and processes to design products that will be manufactured in small quantities. The minimalist cube made during the Advanced Forms course was the starting point for the project. Aluminium casting and resin casting were the two processes that were shortlisted. Another inspiration for the project was the product range developed by Mukul Goyal.
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Design of a Deployer Device for Endo Retractor
by Pooja Kulkarni
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by Pooja Kulkarni
During a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, traditionally, four incisions are made. One is for the laparoscope, two are the operating ports, and one is to hold the gallbladder to expose the Calot’s Triangle that needs to be cauterised to separate the gallbladder from the liver. Endoretractor was designed by Lata Chawla with BETiC and under the guidance of Dr. Rasik Shah to hold the gallbladder in place. This device eliminated one port and the need for human assistance during the surgery.
As the endorectal retractor in itself is an innovative design, no specific devices were used to deploy it. A crude set of devices and a lengthy procedure were used to test and validate the device. As the device is soon to be launched into the market, the need for a sophisticated deployer device arose.
Device for Cryoablation of Tumors in Soft Tissue
by Pooja Kulkarni
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by Pooja Kulkarni
In the past two decades, major developments have happened in finding alternate cure methods for cancer. Cryosurgery is one such promising technique that uses extremely low temperatures to kill cancer cells. As this procedure can be performed with minimal invasion, it has huge benefits over the traditionally performed surgeries. Research and development have been happening in developing devices for curing breast cancer using cryosurgery.
Abdul Mateen A. G. Shaikh, Prof. Atul Shrivastava, and Prof. Milind Atrey have designed a liquid nitrogen cryoprobe and tested it for ice formation. This device needs design intervention to make it usable. There is scope to innovate and come up with a product that can change the cancer research scenario worldwide.
The project aims to design an ergonomic probe for cryosurgery for breast cancer, which can later be scaled to incorporate other organs, and also propose a system for the same. The primary aim of the project is to design an ergonomic probe, keeping in mind the design constraints for a class II device and also for a cryogenic device. An operative process that requires less time compared to the current operative processes and is minimally invasive has also been proposed.
Craft Branding & Positioning
by Pritesh Chavan
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by Pritesh Chavan
India is the land of rich handicrafts and beautiful traditions, as well as marvellous and unique artistic work. From decades, Indian craft has offered a warm charm to our many day-to-day objects with its unique design and quality.
It’s interesting how there are a lot of portals today showcasing art forms and handicrafts from remote corners of India. This project is an effort to analyse and understand brands that promote craft products specifically made in India. The focus was to understand how some craft companies in India brand themselves and position their products for the contemporary urban consumer.
Furniture Design for Kids
by Pritesh Chavan
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by Pritesh Chavan
In PurpleStem, all the product designers are assigned to one particular category of furniture designs. Some designers were working on living room furniture, some on sofas, tables, etc. I was very fortunate to get to work on a new category that wasn’t explored yet in PurpleStem, and that was furniture for kids. This was not the only reason to get me excited, but also that the end products were going to get manufactured and sold on the new website. So it was a great responsibility to produce something concrete, something that will really work, something that will make the difference.
I was also lucky to get good guidance and support from the fellow designers and colleagues to help me enjoy my one-month tenure and the opportunity to work hard towards the finished products.
Walking Aid for Elderly
by Pritesh Chavan
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by Pritesh Chavan
In the medical field, suturing is the joining of tissues with a needle and "thread," so that the tissues bind together and heal. The "thread" is actually specialised suture material.
Dr Hemant Bhansali (laparoscopic surgeon from Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai) and Dr Rupesh Ghyar (chief scientist at BETiC, OrthoCAD Lab, IIT Bombay) have already developed and patented an auto-suturing device. During this project, problems related to functionality and usability were resolved.
A simpler suturing device was developed, which can be used by surgeons as well as paramedics with reduced cognitive load, resulting in ideal suturing.
The final output of the project is a full-scale model, and the working has been shown in the SolidWorks software with rendered animation.
Auto-Suturing Design
by Pritesh Chavan
Details >>
by Pritesh Chavan
In the medical field, suturing is the joining of tissues with a needle and "thread," so that the tissues bind together and heal. The "thread" is actually specialised suture material.
Dr Hemant Bhansali (laparoscopic surgeon from Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai) and Dr Rupesh Ghyar (chief scientist at BETiC, OrthoCAD Lab, IIT Bombay) have already developed and patented an auto-suturing device. During this project, problems related to functionality and usability were resolved.
A simpler suturing device was developed, which can be used by surgeons as well as paramedics with reduced cognitive load, resulting in ideal suturing.
The final output of the project is a full-scale model, and the working has been shown in the SolidWorks software with rendered animation.
Subsistence Design
by Quashif Qureshi
Details >>
by Quashif Qureshi
The word "design" is generally associated only with intricate, exclusive, and expensive products. In the marketplace, the names of top designers are used to sell overpriced products in all fields, be it cars, aircraft, or even handbags.
However, design is not the exclusive preserve of overpaid designers sitting in air-conditioned studios. Often, common folk faced with recurrent problems come up with elegant and low-cost solutions involving the modification of existing products. Manufacturers of everyday items are often surprised to see the innovative and unintended uses of their products. Smartphones, WhatsApp, and the internet ensure that such design ideas are widely communicated and replicated. In view of the usefulness and popularity of these homegrown products, mainstream designers have been forced to acknowledge the existence of this genre of design, which is classified as "subsistence design", jugaad," and "frugal innovation."
The aim of the present project is to examine the design efforts of common people who are not design literate academically but who design products for the specific needs of their particular communities from the resources available to them, mostly on a shoestring budget.
Summer Intership at SELCO Foundation, Bangalore
by Quashif Qureshi
Details >>
by Quashif Qureshi
India is a nation where the main occupation of the people in rural areas is agriculture and animal husbandry; in fact, India ranks first in milk production, accounting for 18.5 percent of the world's population. Even the urban areas are not left behind in fulfilling the local dairy needs of the people.
However, the availability of equipment to process the milk is very scarce and old-school, which has not changed for many years. People in villages still use muscular energy to make dairy products due to the unavailability of versatile equipment that can be used with their vessels. The frequent power cuts in these areas make it difficult to use modern electric devices for household use.
Manually Operated Brick Moulding Machine
by Quashif Qureshi
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by Quashif Qureshi
India is the second-largest brick producer (after China) in the brickmaking industry. Due to rapid urbanisation, demands for bricks are increasing from day to day.
The brick kiln industry is one of the major unorganised sectors in India, where most of the jobs are performed manually. While performing the job, the workers suffer biomechanically, physiologically, and psychophysically. The workers are also exposed to high concentrations of dust and temperatures. The sustained awkward squatting posture adopted by the workers for more than 6 to 8 hours imposes severe musculoskeletal stress and is thereby likely to cause permanent musculoskeletal injury to the workers. The human body is not suitable for this type of unnatural stress. As per our previous study, the average age of the brick kiln workers is 28 years. Due to tremendous work-related stresses, people beyond 40 years of age are seldom visible in this operation.
Previous studies in India showed that workers in brick-making industries suffer from assorted health problems due to awkward postures while making bricks and transferring heavy loads, heavy manual load handling, working under high environmental temperatures with high levels of dust, and facing extensive drudgery.
The purpose of the project is, therefore, to develop low-tech appropriate technology by introducing a versatile product that can help to reduce the drudgery in the most unplanned industry, which is the brick-making industry. It should create value for the human cost involved in such an intense process as brick moulding.
Design and fabrication of a Manually Operated Brick Moulding Machine
by Quashif Qureshi
Details >>
by Quashif Qureshi
After China, India is the second-largest brick producer in the brickmaking industry. Due to rapid urbanisation, demands for bricks are increasing from day to day.
The brick kiln industry is one of the major unorganised sectors in India, where most of the jobs are performed manually. While performing the job, the workers suffer biomechanically, physiologically, and psychophysically. The workers are also exposed to high concentrations of dust and high temperatures. The sustained awkward squatting posture adopted by the workers for more than 6 to 8 hours imposes severe musculoskeletal stress and is thereby likely to cause permanent musculoskeletal injury to the workers. The human body is not suitable for this type of unnatural stress. As per our previous study, the average age of the brick kiln workers is 28 years. Due to tremendous work-related stresses, people beyond 40 years of age are seldom visible in this operation.
Previous studies in India showed that workers in brick-making industries suffer from acute health problems due to awkward postures and repetitive manual load handling while making and transferring bricks, heavy manual load handling, working under high environmental temperatures with high levels of dust, and facing extensive drudgery.
The purpose of the project is, therefore, to develop low-tech appropriate technology by introducing a versatile product that can help to reduce the drudgery in the most unplanned industry, which is the brick-making industry. It should create value for the human cost involved in such an intense process as brick moulding.
Structures in Nature
by Shefali Ugavekar
by Shefali Ugavekar
Structures are an integral part of our world. Our nature is full of such inspiring structures. The man-made structures are often derived from or inspired by the natural structures. This research focuses on studying these natural structures present in nature, picking one of them, studying it thoroughly, and coming up with creative applications of that structure.
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Copper Bells of Kachchh
by Shefali Ugavekar
by Shefali Ugavekar
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Details >>Kachchh, commonly written as """"Kutch,"""" is the largest district in India and is located in Gujarat state. Kutch is an ethnic web of interwoven cultures, a land of vibrantly colourful art and craft heritage. This cultural mix plays host to a thriving exposition of textiles, ornaments, and living styles, eulogised within a contemporary framework. Kutch literally means something that intermittently becomes wet and dry; a large part of this district is known as the Rann of Kutch, which is a shallow wetland that submerges in water during the rainy season and becomes dry during other seasons.
The Rann is famous for its marshy salt flats, which become snow white after the shallow water dries up each season before the monsoon rains. The district is also famous for the ecologically important banni grasslands with their seasonal marshy wetlands, which form the outer belt of the Rann of Kutch. The district is surrounded by the Gulf of Kutch and the Arabian Sea in the south and west, while the northern and eastern parts are surrounded by the Great and Little Rann (seasonal wetlands) of Kutch. The languages spoken predominantly in the Kutch district are Kutchi and Gujarati. The script of the Kutchi language has become extinct. It is now mainly written in the Gujarati script.
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Medicine Organiser for Elderly
by Shefali Ugavekar
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by Shefali Ugavekar
Elderly consist of ages nearing on surpassing the average life span of human being. In India, it is 60 years. The boundary of old age cannot be defined exactly, as it does not have the same meaning in all societies. According to the WHO, the ageing process is a biological reality that has its own dynamics that are largely beyond human control. Age of 60-65 years i.e. retirement age is said to be starting of old age. 7.4% of the total population of India is said to be elderly, which is more than the male elderly population. Literacy rates are very low, around 20 for females and 50 for elderly males.
The need for a device or system arises due to the integration of various diseases in the elderly and the disability of the elderly to take care of themselves. Which results in dangerous ends. Diseases like dementia increase forgetfulness in older people, which results in accidents, skipping meals, skipping medicine, forgetting to go home, etc. Amongst these, forgetfulness in taking medicine is a bigger cause of many deaths. Forgetfulness sometimes also results in patients taking more dosages of medicines than recommended or even the wrong medicine. Reminding the patient of his medicines is the priority here. Due to old age's physical decline, the number of diseases increases. Resulting in increase in no.of pills i.e, 20-30 pills a day. It is difficult to manage those pills according to meal.
Solar Solution For Domestic Use In Rural Scenario
by Shefali Ugavekar
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by Shefali Ugavekar
Even after the electrification of 96% of villages in India, almost 30% of households still lack electrification, due to which villagers use kerosene as their main source of lighting. SoUL at IIT Bombay started an initiative to provide power in rural parts of India with solar energy to electrify regular households, helping rural people with day-to-day domestic activities and reducing their dependence on kerosene.
This project is an attempt to develop a solar solution to serve domestic needs in rural houses by providing them with a kit containing a set of lamps and add-ons like a fan, a mobile charger, and a radio, thereby improving their livelihood and enhancing usability. The kit is so designed that assembly, distribution, installation, and servicing will be done by the local villagers to create job opportunities.
Dabbawala: Service and Mobile Application Design
by Akshay N. Hargude
by Akshay N. Hargude
The dabbawalas (tiffin carriers) of Mumbai are a unique community of around five thousand people who efficiently serve up to 2 lac (0.2 million) customers every day. They have maintained their heritage working process since the inception of the service, and therefore any kind of technology has not been incorporated into their work. They are currently facing numerous business sustainability challenges, such as reaching out to new customers and maintaining their existing customer base. Bachelor employees working for MNCs rarely rely on home-cooked food and thus don’t employ their services. Through our research, we have understood that they might lose their current customer base soon as similar food delivery businesses with faster and better services are continuously emerging. To empower them, we introduce Dabbawala, a mobile application that enables partnerships between dabbawalas and food services around the city and directly connects them to their combined customer base. This application enables customers to order lunch from anywhere in the city. Customer registrations and any kind of money transaction are all handled through the application. The application is also used within the Dabbawala community to manage teams and responsibilities.
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Summer Internship at Tata Elxsi
by Akshay N. Hargude
by Akshay N. Hargude
The summer internship, as part of my academic requirement, was completed at Tata Elxsi, Pune, during the period from May 6 to June 6, 2014. Tata Elxsi is a design company that blends technology, creativity, and engineering. During the internship, I was involved in multiple projects ranging from packaging to product design. Due to the short nature of my internship, my involvement in the projects was more or less limited to the ideation phase only. In all the projects, I was part of a team, and credit for the works presented here also goes equally to the other team members.
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Redesign of Drumstick Plucker
by Akshay N. Hargude
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by Akshay N. Hargude
India is the largest producer of the Moringa tree's pod, referred to as drumsticks, in the world. Unfortunately, there are not any dedicated drumstick plucking tools available on the market. Farmers are using self-made tools made from locally available materials. These tools are not efficient enough to pluck only mature drumsticks out of a bunch. Sometimes, the entire branch of drumsticks gets damaged and breaks along with immature pods, causing loss.
Also, there are some other related problems, such as the collection of plucked pods, their market value, and the transportation and storage of pluckers, apart from issues like affordability, physical accessibility, etc. With this project, all these problems in the drumstick plucking activity are solved, and it is now a more efficient, quick, and easy task.
Vegetable vending machine
by Akshay N. Hargude
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by Akshay N. Hargude
India is the second-largest producer and consumer of vegetables in the world. With the increase in the IT sector in India and the tight schedule of offices, people are finding it difficult to go to the market and buy vegetables every day. Also, people are becoming more health-conscious in terms of the quality of vegetables they consume.
The farmers in India work hard, but still they don't get enough money in return because the vegetables they produce come to end customers through a long middleman chain. Because of this, farmers are not paid an adequate price compared to the price paid by the end customer for the same vegetable.
With this project, I have tried to solve the problems of both farmers and customers by reducing the middleman chain and by providing fresh and nutritious vegetables to customers at their doorstep.
Experiences from 4D living exhibition
by Anulal V. S.
Details >>
by Anulal V. S.
This report gives concise information regarding conducting, coordinating, and handling an exhibition. The information in this report is derived from the team's experience during the '4D-Living' exhibition, which was conducted from January 16th to 19th, 2015. This particular report can become a guideline for the coming batches in the institute to avoid common mistakes and conduct a successful exhibition.
The report briefly explains each stage involved in an exhibition, right from naming the exhibition to handling the crowd. Although the report could become a guideline, this may not be an exhaustive list of recommendations for conducting the exhibition.
Summer Internship At Uravu
by Anulal V. S.
by Anulal V. S.
Uravu', set in the heart of the woods on the Western Ghats in Kerala among the misty mountain range and lush green backdrop, is an organisation of international recognition acclaimed for promising a new path for many who missed out on their opportunities to live. A non-government organisation, currently focused on bamboo-centred products and services, believes in sustainability in every aspect it throws light on. Uravu implements integrated, end-to-end programmes in the bamboo sector, which include providing skill training in bamboo processing, establishing micro enterprises, marketing bamboo handicrafts, cultivation of bamboo and promotion of eco-tourism.
Details >>
Fitting more into volume- An affordable housing initiative
by Anulal V. S.
by Anulal V. S.
The title of the project is Affordable Housing for the Bottom of the Pyramid. The land cost in urban cities is shooting up day by day as the availability of living space is becoming scarce. This forces the immigrants, or the bottom of the pyramid people to force themselves into temporary living setups, which in turn increase the slums in the cities.The project is trying to provide a housing option for these people, who have very low incomes and are mostly migrants. Various Slums were studied for understanding the lifestyle of migrants belonging to various categories like hedonists, settlers, risers, etc. From different layouts, three layouts were selected as the final layouts of the house, and a working model of one of these layouts was made to get the feedback of the users. We followed the approach of experiential learning, and based on our own experience inside the house, we modified it to suit the needs of the actual user category. The main focus throughout the project was to efficiently use each and every cubic metre present inside the house. For this, various spaces that can be used for multiple purposes were identified and designed according to the incremental needs of the user. The outcome of this project is the prefabricated DIY units, which actually make the user the creator of his space. Provisions were also provided for the user to bring in his own furniture or equipment and place it effectively in the house in such a way that it does not eat up much space.
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Wearable health monitoring device
by Anulal V. S.
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by Anulal V. S.
This project aims at helping the mid-aged earning category in the metros by predicting the risk factors that occur due to their lifestyle. Being in a busy city, these people have a very busy lifestyle, which makes it difficult for them to take care of their health. By having this wearable device, the monitoring of vital parameters like heartbeat and Spo2 along with their physical activity level will happen involuntarily. This project targets only those people who are in touch with computers and wireless connectivity or have a basic idea about the technologies. The wearable device, along with the connected smart phone, helps the user always be in the vicinity of their close ones. The device functions as an involuntary bridge. between the user and their close ones, giving the user a feeling that he or she is not alone.
The project includes the selection of concepts based on user surveys and market studies. An in-depth study of the forms was done in all possible directions to come up with separate forms for male and female users. The project also includes the design of a mobile application to work with the device. Various visual elements were designed so that the user interaction would be simple and friendly.
50 years (1951-2000) of Mumbai Weather data
by Baisampayan Saha
by Baisampayan Saha
When a large data set is presented in front of us, it does not make any sense to us until and unless we start doing number crunching. If the data is represented in some form of chart or diagram, we can probably figure something out. Though the project “50 Years of Mumbai Weather“ is not about data visualization, it deals with the notion of data art. The weather data is taken up and woven into the fabric of a narration that, for each viewer, gives an understanding of its own. Each viewer could come to an altogether different conclusion about the diagrams shown in front of them, and their conclusions would be equally correct as the underlying principles of generating each diagram from the data set are kept exactly the same. An attempt is made to generate such diagrams from the weather data of Mumbai for each month of the year. When someone views all the diagrams together, a form of story emerges from the data embedded inside the diagrams.
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Design of vehicle instrument cluster for Indian and German audiences
by Baisampayan Saha
by Baisampayan Saha
Cultural differences play an important role in the design and development of new products. Many examples of product failures have proven that the culture of a country has a huge influence on the success of new products. Against the background of the growing importance of emerging markets, it is even more important to understand these cultural differences and take them into account during the product design and development process. Therefore, this Advanced Design Project has the goal to examine these cultural differences between India and Germany regarding the design of a dashboard of a B+-segment car (“Kleinwagen”, respectively) and create two instrument clusters, which are based on these results—one for the Indian market and one for the German market. To guarantee an efficient and structured approach, a user-centred design process considering project management methods is executed. On that account, a literature review regarding the user-centred design process and the general dashboard design is executed. Based on the insights of that literature review and its insights, a work breakdown structure is developed to structure the project into feasible work packages.
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Design of an Integrated Window System
by Baisampayan Saha
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by Baisampayan Saha
Windows are an integral part of every house. It comes in every possible shape and size. The material of construction also varies with the type of function it is supposed to provide. With the advancement of technology, windows are now becoming smart and can control the behaviour of their functions by using advanced technologies. On the other hand, we have windows, which are still based on traditional technologies and are used in homes and buildings for general purposes.
An attempt is made to understand the humble house window and come up with a new window that is equally functional as well as equally aesthetically beautiful when compared to some of the best traditional windows.
Design of an Ergonomic Laparoscopic Device
by Baisampayan Saha
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by Baisampayan Saha
In the world of medicine and surgery, laparoscopic surgery has been a gift to mankind. It has replaced open-body surgeries in many cases, where recuperation and healing take time. But as the condition of patients improved dramatically, by taking less time for the patients to recover from the surgeries and return to normal day-to-day activities, the condition of the doctors also changed. Due to a lack of properly designed tools for laparoscopic surgeries, the doctors are now facing stressful conditions while performing surgeries. Many doctors reported numbness in their thumbs and discomfort in their upper extremities after performing laparoscopic surgery.
An attempt is made to understand the difficulties faced by the surgeons while performing such surgeries and come up with the design of an ergonomic and comfortable instrument for laparoscopic surgery.
Design methodology for improvements to the tea-leaf plucking aid
by Gourab Saha
by Gourab Saha
At present, India is the second-largest producer of tea in the world and accounts for the employment of more than 2 million people. At the bottom of the tea industry pyramid are the tea plantation workers. who are prone to various occupational hazards, this project attempts to understand and address some of the core issues associated with handplucking tea leaves. The iterative industrial design process has been utilised in an effort to bring about a meaningful design intervention into the lives of tea-leaf pluckers.
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Sishu vihar outdoor Play Space: Design & Phase 1 imlpementation
by Gourab Saha
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by Gourab Saha
Young children bear many gifts that are pure and unadulterated. Between the ages of 4 and 10 years, before being pushed into class rooms and other sterile environments, they love the opportunity to run in open spaces and be a part of nature. It is at this age that they begin to exercise their imagination and bodies simultaneously; hence, the spaces and scenarios that they are in have to be easy to manipulate.
The Sishu Vihar building is a bungalow amongst a series of bungalows situated on the IIT Bombay, Powai campus. As a foundation, it is a crèche and a day care unit formed as a decision by the IIT Staff Club in 2001. Currently, there are close to 100 children and 20 caretakers, excluding three administrators, in an indoor space meant for a family of six.
Our concepts and ideas for the play space in Sishu Vihar, IIT Bombay, are keeping in mind the distinct ecosystem that is IIT Bombay and other constraints that have strengthened rather than limiting the outcome of the project.
Design of a Manual Tea-leaf plucking Aid
by Gourab Saha
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by Gourab Saha
At present, India is the second-largest producer of tea in the world and accounts for the employment of more than 2 million people. It occupies an important role in the Indian economy not only due to its capacity to earn foreign exchange but also because it impacts the livelihoods of scores of people employed directly and indirectly by the industry.
At the bottom of the tea industry pyramid are the tea plantation workers, who are prone to various occupational hazards such as musculo-skeletal disorders or the absorption of harmful alkaloids (sap-like chemicals) into their skin. This project attempts to understand and address some of the core issues associated with hand plucking tea leaves. The iterative industrial design process has been utilised in an effort to bring about a meaningful design intervention into the lives of tea leaf pluckers.
A product system to remedy the symptoms of depressive disorders in college students
by Gourab Saha
by Gourab Saha
A study conducted in 2009 by the Bangalore-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences placed the average age of the depressed Indian at 31 years. Mental illness in India is high in the age group 30–40, and minor depression, if not properly addressed, could easily deteriorate into major depression. This project aims to blend the design thinking process with insights from behavioural psychology to design a product system that remedies some of the core symptoms associated with mild depressive disorders in India’s university students (18–30 years age group).
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Experiences from 4D living exhibition
by Gautham Rajaraja Varma
by Gautham Rajaraja Varma
This report gives concise information regarding conducting, coordinating, and handling an exhibition. The information in this report is derived from the team's experience during the '4D-Living' exhibition, which was conducted from January 16th to 19th, 2015. This particular report can become a guideline for the coming batches in the institute to avoid common mistakes and conduct a successful exhibition. The report briefly explains each stage involved in an exhibition, right from naming the exhibition to handling the crowd. Although the report could become a guideline, this may not be an exhaustive list of recommendations for conducting the exhibition.
Details >>
Summer Internship at Uravu
by Gautham Rajaraja Varma
by Gautham Rajaraja Varma
Uravu', set in the heart of the woods on the Western Ghats in Kerala among the misty mountain range and lush green backdrop, is an organisation of international recognition acclaimed for promising a new path for many who missed out on their opportunities to live. A non-government organisation, currently focused on bamboo-centred products and services, believes in sustainability in every aspect it throws light on. Uravu implements integrated, end-to-end programmes in the bamboo sector, which include providing skill training in bamboo processing, establishing micro enterprises, marketing bamboo handicrafts, cultivation of bamboo and promotion of eco-tourism.
Details >>
Fitting more into volume- An affordable housing initiative
by Gautham Rajaraja Varma
by Gautham Rajaraja Varma
The title of the project is Affordable Housing for the Bottom of the Pyramid. The land cost in urban cities is shooting up day by day as the availability of living space is becoming scarce. This forces the immigrants, or the bottom of the pyramid people to force themselves into temporary living setups, which in turn increase the slums in the cities.The project is trying to provide a housing option for these people, who have very low incomes and are mostly migrants. Various Slums were studied for understanding the lifestyle of migrants belonging to various categories like hedonists, settlers, risers, etc. From different layouts, three layouts were selected as the final layouts of the house, and a working model of one of these layouts was made to get the feedback of the users. We followed the approach of experiential learning, and based on our own experience inside the house, we modified it to suit the needs of the actual user category. The main focus throughout the project was to efficiently use each and every cubic metre present inside the house. For this, various spaces that can be used for multiple purposes were identified and designed according to the incremental needs of the user. The outcome of this project is the prefabricated DIY units, which actually make the user the creator of his space. Provisions were also provided for the user to bring in his own furniture or equipment and place it effectively in the house in such a way that it does not eat up much space.
Details >>
In-Flight Catering Delight: Re-Imagining an Airline Service Trolley
by Gautham Rajaraja Varma
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by Gautham Rajaraja Varma
Flying nowadays has become more of a commodity than the 'experience' it used to be a few years ago. With the introduction of low-cost carriers, cutting costs on things that create an experience of flight has become an innovative management technique. The goal of achieving the lowest cost of flying left no room for the experience a passenger or even a crew member gets out of flying in the aircraft.
This project looks closely at one of the aircraft interior components, an airline service trolley, which has not seen a major development over the last 30 years. The aim of this project is to enhance the functionality and usability of the airline trolley by analysing the various issues that are present now and finding a design opportunity in each one of them. Together with this, enough consideration has been given for visual aesthetics as well as the experience a passenger or a crew member gets out of the product.
Design for Behaviour change- Motorcycle Helmet
by Isaac Junior
by Isaac Junior
The design research was carried out to better understand the issues associated with helmet usage among two-wheeler riders. Personal interviews were conducted to draw on user perspectives. Insights from the discussions were utilised to bring forth concepts or ideas that would bring about regular usage of helmets. Ideas generated during the course of design research are being streamlined and conceived as part of the final design project (P3) to obtain user feedback.
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Summer Internship at Uravu
by Isaac Junior
by Isaac Junior
Uravu', set in the heart of the woods on the Western Ghats in Kerala among the misty mountain range and lush green backdrop, is an organisation of international recognition acclaimed for promising a new path for many who missed out on their opportunities to live. A non-government organisation, currently focused on bamboo-centred products and services, believes in sustainability in every aspect it throws light on. Uravu implements integrated, end-to-end programmes in the bamboo sector, which include providing skill training in bamboo processing, establishing micro enterprises, marketing bamboo handicrafts, cultivation of bamboo and promotion of eco-tourism.
Details >>
Design of Agro-Aids for one Acre Farming
by Isaac Junior
by Isaac Junior
This project encompasses the design process we followed to introduce a product that can be used for the process of harvesting, threshing, and winnowing paddy in subsistence farming. The main objective is the integration of existing technologies, which helps us cater to a sector of the market that buys very low-cost products. Using the existing framework of a harvesting machine, we have tried to integrate the same product for the additional purposes of threshing and winnowing.
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Re-design of motorcycle helmet
by Isaac Junior
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by Isaac Junior
Riding has by far been the most relaxing and exhilarating experience I’ve ever had. The sense of freedom it bestows on the rider is beyond measure. Being exposed to the environment and living in the moment could not be a better way to exist, but it poses a sizable amount of risk for the rider and pillion, considering that it’s a mode of transport prominent for commutes. Even after being made mandatory, a large population of riders still refrains from wearing a helmet while on the road.
The project explored the user's perspectives and his deep-rooted conventions about the practice of wearing a helmet. The psychological and physical notions associated with it were studied. The structural composition of motorcycle helmets has remained constant since inception; hence, an attempt was made to bring in novelty in this aspect as well as methods to facilitate regular use by improving aspects of comfort and accessibility. Eventually, style matters for a product that the user considers an extension of his personality and cannot be disregarded. Hence, functional advancements were given life through prominent styling that imparted character to the helmet.
Experiences from 4D living exhibition
by Manu Revi Poovakkat
by Manu Revi Poovakkat
This report provides concise information regarding conducting, coordinating, and handling an exhibition. The The information in this report is derived from experience during the '4D-Living' exhibition, which was conducted from January 16th to January 19th, 2015. This particular report can become a guideline for the coming batches in the institute to avoid common mistakes and conduct a successful exhibition. The report briefly explains each stage involved in an exhibition, right from naming the exhibition to handling the crowd. Although the report could become a guideline, this may not be an exhaustive list of recommendations for conducting the exhibition.
Details >>
Summer Internship at Uravu
by Manu Revi Poovakkat
by Manu Revi Poovakkat
Uravu', set in the heart of the woods on the Western Ghats in Kerala among the misty mountain range and lush green backdrop, is an organisation of international recognition acclaimed for promising a new path for many who missed out on their opportunities to live. A non-government organisation, currently focused on bamboo-centred products and services, believes in sustainability in every aspect it throws light on. Uravu implements integrated, end-to-end programmes in the bamboo sector, which include providing skill training in bamboo processing, establishing micro enterprises, marketing bamboo handicrafts, cultivation of bamboo and promotion of eco-tourism.
Details >>
Fitting more into volume- An affordable housing initiative
by Manu Revi Poovakkat
by Manu Revi Poovakkat
The title of the project is Affordable Housing for the Bottom of the Pyramid. The land cost in urban cities is shooting up day by day as the availability of living space is becoming scarce. This forces the immigrants, or the bottom of the pyramid people to force themselves into temporary living setups, which in turn increase the slums in the cities.The project is trying to provide a housing option for these people, who have very low incomes and are mostly migrants. Various Slums were studied for understanding the lifestyle of migrants belonging to various categories like hedonists, settlers, risers, etc. From different layouts, three layouts were selected as the final layouts of the house, and a working model of one of these layouts was made to get the feedback of the users. We followed the approach of experiential learning, and based on our own experience inside the house, we modified it to suit the needs of the actual user category. The main focus throughout the project was to efficiently use each and every cubic metre present inside the house. For this, various spaces that can be used for multiple purposes were identified and designed according to the incremental needs of the user. The outcome of this project is the prefabricated DIY units, which actually make the user the creator of his space. Provisions were also provided for the user to bring in his own furniture or equipment and place it effectively in the house in such a way that it does not eat up much space.
Details >>
Bicycle design for a theme park
by Manu Revi Poovakkat
by Manu Revi Poovakkat
People tend to remember and cherish the memories of the moments they had fun. Some spaces cater to bringing such a kind of fun and joy to people's minds through their interaction with them. Theme parks are built to provide an environment where people can gather to experience the fun and thrill of various rides and games. Each element in a theme park is designed to communicate the same mood. Even the people are sometimes costumed to interact with the subjects as super heroes, cartoon characters, etc. to bring in the feeling of being in a fantasy world. The project aims to design a bicycle to impart the same emotion and mood that a theme park conveys. The fun elements are brought together through both visual and experiential lines. In parallel situations, this could also be replicated in situations like carnival fairs, picnic spots, etc.
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Visual ethnography: Street food vendor
by Midhun K. M.
by Midhun K. M.
Visual ethnography is an ethnographic method that uses visual mediums such as photography, video and sketching to understand the human culture. It is an open-ended process where a large amount of data is gathered and analysed to carry out the study. The process involves the researcher getting immersed in the field with the participants in their environment to observe and analyse the various activities and events that unfold during that time.This method is highly useful for designers to provide appropriate solutions to user needs since it allows understanding of the culture and context of the user or community, which is very crucial for any fruitful solution.
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Summer Internship at Craft Development Institute, Srinagar
by Midhun K. M.
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by Midhun K. M.
The Craft Development Institute is an autonomous institute under the Jammu and Kashmir government. The institute is located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The institute is committed to providing professional educational programmes in the area of entrepreneurship in the handicraft sector. CDI also conducts skill-based training and workshops to mentor a new generation of artisans. The activities at CDI are aligned such that the regional craftsmen are aided in understanding contemporary design and market trends and helping them out of other issues prevailing in the handicraft sector.
Without the dedication and skill of these artisans, no design will become a reality. A line of acknowledgement would not be sufficient to bring forward these wonderful people. Kashmiri handicrafts are unique in their richness and beauty. The craft of Kashmir is deeply rooted in its culture and traditions. The craftsmen are well renowned for their intricate workmanship. The handicraft reflects the richness of nature and the wide variety of flora and fauna found in the valley. The handicraft industry is an unorganised sector with low investment capital, and the craftsmen work with traditional tools and processes.
Design and development of agricultural equipment for marginal rice farmers
by Midhun K. M.
by Midhun K. M.
The present study is an attempt to understand the current scenario in marginal rice farming in the state of Kerala in India, which is deficient in the production of its staple grain, rice. The focus is on understanding the context and the requirements of the community for sustaining rice cultivation and their livelihoods. The research carried out showcases the various challenges faced by the farmers to sustain the cultivation due to the higher production cost and lack of solutions to cater to the needs arising from the shortage or unavailability of resources to carry out the operations in the field. The study is concluded by proposing the requirements of the farmers by analysing the data collected during primary and secondary research for designing a solution in the next phase of the work.
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Design of agricultural equipment for the marginal rice farmers: A solution for transplanting and harvesting of rice
by Midhun K. M.
by Midhun K. M.
The current project is a continuation of the work carried out to identify the problems associated with the marginal farming community in Kerala. In this part of the project, the focus is on providing solutions to the issues. The various design opportunities are studied based on the needs of the user group, and the need to sustain marginal rice farming communities by maximising profit is taken forward. The solution proposes a conceptual machine that is economically viable to operate in marginal-sized land holdings to carry out the transplanting and harvesting of rice, which are the most intensive activities in rice farming. The solution also focuses on various factors such as safety, comfort, and efficiency for improving the productivity of farm activities while addressing the need to sustain marginal rice farming. Along with the conceptual machine, the project concludes with a note on the system-level design based on the context of the user group for which the solution is designed.
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Life & Culture Of The Eunuchs in India
by Naman S. Varma
by Naman S. Varma
Oxford English defines the word eunuch as: a man who has been castrated, especially (in the past) one employed to guard the women’s living areas at an orient court. The process of castration is known as “Nirvana” in the eunuch community. They are very much like other people, but even now, they are not considered human beings because of their unclear biological sex and gender identity. They are commonly known as ‘hijras’ in Indian society. They are also known as kinnar, chhakka, khusra, kojja, alis, aravanis, napunsak, and jogappa (depending upon the region) in Hindi and transgender, transsexual, and eunuch in English. They are not accepted in our society; hence, they have their own customs and rituals. They dress as women, and most of them consider themselves women but are male in the eyes of the law, but for the common people, they are neither male nor female.
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Low-cost Sanitation Structure for Rural India
by Naman S. Varma
by Naman S. Varma
Most rural people in India, both men and women, defecate in the open; they are seen squatting by the side of the road. India’s high rate of open defecation takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of children each year. Children lose their lives to diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases. Children who defecate in the open have the tendency to catch diseases sooner than children who use latrines; these children are weak and are unable to grow to their full physical and cognitive potential. Although many people who defecate in the open think it is harmless, or maybe even good for them, they are wrong: the negative consequences of open defecation are a very big deal and can take their lives because of the diseases it causes. Also, women need privacy and extra hygiene to protect themselves from various infections. Therefore, it has become necessary to design and develop a low-cost, simple, and hygienic sanitation system. Educating people about the importance of good sanitation for their health and well-being is very important.
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Low Cost Washing Machine for the Low Income Groups
by Naman S. Varma
by Naman S. Varma
People all over not only desire but also need clean clothes. We can hope to reduce the time, effort, and resources needed to perform these tasks by understanding local customs, practices, and geography. We can hope to fill the void and modernise an age-old process for people who need it the most. “When companies design products and services for the poor, they often think about making them as low-cost as possible. But whether you’re tapping a market opportunity or addressing a social need, it’s important to realise that people living in poverty value quality design. Quality design doesn’t mean that goods and services need to cost more.” - IDEO.
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Observational Research of Bus Stops for Mumbai
by Omkar R. Jambovane
by Omkar R. Jambovane
Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra state. 2680 buses ferry 5 million passengers over 365 routes and have a work force strength of 38,000, which includes 22,000 bus drivers and conductors. The city is divided into 25 depots. There are 5200+ bus shelters in Mumbai. The study is intended to interpret the habits of people with respect to the usage of three bus shelters around them. Also to find the unmet needs of people with respect to bus shelters. The observational research is based on the photographs taken at various locations in Mumbai, which are then tagged based on the information they contain. The observations and insights from each photograph were then documented. An affinity analysis of these insights gave a finer breakdown of the issues that are unmet and unaddressed.
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Summer Internship at Wings 44
by Omkar R. Jambovane
by Omkar R. Jambovane
Wings 44 is an Industrial design firm that operates from Shiroli MIDC, outside Kolhapur city. It was founded by Amey R Ghatge, an IDC alumnus. Wings 44 specialises in Material handling and storage, Industrial furniture and automation. It strives to keep 'man' as the main element around which the design process revolves including machine, environment, manufacturability and economics.
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Innovative Application of Steel in Housing: Floor Slab
by Omkar R. Jambovane
by Omkar R. Jambovane
The human population has grown by leaps and bounds over the last century. Consequently, the demand for housing has also gone up. But in the name of development and land for housing, we as a species have violated our planet, depleted its resources, and disturbed its fragile ecological balance. It is obvious from the above facts that calcination arising due to cement manufacturing needs to be curbed, and we need to look at alternative techniques that have a lesser carbon footprint. The perspective shift can happen either by reducing cement concrete in housing wherever not required or by totally looking at material-based innovation in construction techniques. The project was conceived and executed keeping this “rapid construction of economical, eco-friendly, and structurally sound houses” in mind. Within the scope of the project, it has been tried to address all issues related to housing. While working on this project, we came up with one very innovative concept called Criss-Cross Corrugation. Here, this CCC concept is used for the flooring structure, which reduces almost 50% of the cost.
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Point-of-care medical diagnostic using smartphone.
by Omkar R. Jambovane
by Omkar R. Jambovane
Remote health monitoring and disease detection in rural India are hampered by a lack of accurate, convenient, and affordable diagnostic tests. As per my field study, I observed that many of the basic tests administered in well-equipped clinical laboratories are inappropriate for the setting encountered at the point of care, where poor or even low-income patients may be best served. To address this problem, I have designed a smart scope that is useful for conducting rapid basic tests at the point of care by a single patient or a person who can conduct these tests door-to-door and carry the sample to the clinics in rural India. This project is a design for the initial implementation of diagnostics with a smartphone application that supports health workers in rural India.
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Sishu vihar outdoor Play Space: Design & Phase 1 imlpementation
by Paulanthony George
by Paulanthony George
Young children bear many gifts that are pure and unadulterated. Between the ages of 4 and 10 years, before being pushed into class rooms and other sterile environments, they love the opportunity to run in open spaces and be a part of nature. It is at this age that they begin to exercise their imagination and bodies simultaneously; hence, the spaces and scenarios that they are in have to be easy to manipulate. The Sishu Vihar building is a bungalow amongst a series of bungalows situated on the IIT Bombay, Powai campus. Our concepts and ideas for the play space in Sishu Vihar, IIT Bombay, are keeping in mind the distinct ecosystem that is IIT Bombay and other constraints that have strengthened rather than limiting the outcome of the project.
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Design of Agro-Aids for one Acre Farming
by Paulanthony George
by Paulanthony George
This project encompasses the design process we followed to introduce a product that can be used for the process of harvesting, threshing, and winnowing paddy in subsistence farming. The main objective is the integration of existing technologies, which help us cater to a sector of the market that buys very low-cost products. Using the existing framework of a harvesting machine, we have tried to integrate the same product for the additional purposes of threshing and winnowing.
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Design for Behaviour Modification- For Routine Health Checkups
by Sohini Guin
by Sohini Guin
The project is based on Design for Behaviour Modification. The selected field is routine health checkups. Routine health checkups are meant to comprehensively perform various tests on a person periodically so as to prevent illness or take action whenever necessary before the illness gets aggravated and caught at a later stage. Health checkups are especially important for middle-aged people who tend to fall sick often. However, most people do not do this regularly for varying reasons. The aim of the project is to understand the mindset and behaviour of such people and intervene by providing nudges to benefit them so that they go for routine health checkups regularly. To do this, various cognitive biases in the human brain were studied. Several examples of nudges in healthcare and other fields were studied for a better understanding of various biases. In the end, some ideas have been described to try and make health checkups more routine in the lives of middle-aged people.
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Water Fetching Aid for Rural Women
by Sohini Guin
by Sohini Guin
Access to potable water in villages is still a problem in India. It has to be fetched over long distances. This task is usually done by the women in the family. They go to fetch water from the well or a pump in the area. This constitutes approximately 50 litres of water per day for a family of five members. The most common method of fetching water is by carrying matkas or handas on the head. This form of head load causes a lot of strain on the neck and is often the cause of injuries and muscular spasms. The following project aims at providing an aid to help with this load-carrying task. Various methods of load carrying have been studied; complete motion and task analysis have been done to come up with a solution that reduces effort and is physiologically safe. After coming up with various concepts and testing some of them, a product that distributes load around the trunk of the body has been decided as the final concept.
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Growth Monitoring Device for Children
by Sohini Guin
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by Sohini Guin
45% of global infant deaths are due to nutrition issues. Such problems can be monitored and diagnosed through the growth monitoring of children. Growth monitoring for children is a standard practice followed all over the world from birth until the age of 18. It allows the detection of growth problems, nutrition deficiencies, and endocrin diseases. Endocrine problems at a young age manifest into serious problems as an adult. These problems can be monitored and detected at a young age. Parents should be given information about nutrition or referred to doctors in case of a problem.
The various equipment available for growth monitoring is often not used by health workers who set up health camps in remote locations due to various usability issues. The current scenario, use of these devices, or lack thereof, has been studied. Concepts for easier use, accurate measurements, and data recording in growth monitoring systems were explored. The final concept was a portable product that is simple to use, has data recording capabilities, and is affordable for use in health camps and rural hospitals.
Comparative study of vein detection devices to develop a low cost device
by Trivikram Annamalai
by Trivikram Annamalai
Vein detection technology is a vital area of research that is concerned with viewing patients' veins accurately. It avoids multiple needle pricks and makes the venipuncture process less traumatising to the patient. The research deals with the study of existing vein detection technologies and the development of a prototype based on the insights obtained from the study. The prototype was evaluated by experts, paving the way for a product that is effective and affordable for Indian scenarios.
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Summer Internship at Mobility India, Bangalore
by Trivikram Annamalai
by Trivikram Annamalai
Mobility India is a registered society, established in 1994 in Bangalore, Karnataka, with a Regional Resource Centre in Kolkata, West Bengal. Mobility India is the first NGO school in India to receive accreditation from the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO). Mobility India’s objective is to provide support to ensure that people with disabilities have equal rights and a good quality of life, especially those living in rural areas and urban slums. In pursuit of this objective, MI set up its rehabilitation, research, and training centre in 2002. This is a disability-friendly building that houses MI’s activities and provides rehabilitation services and various training programmes in rehabilitation, prosthetics, and orthotics. MI has a policy of employing people with disabilities in order to give them equal opportunities; hence, most of the staff in Mobility India in all departments are people with major health issues (like cancer patients) or other disabilities.
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Jivan Jar: A water purifying jar for survival situations
by Trivikram Annamalai
by Trivikram Annamalai
The area of work dealt with in this project is providing drinking water for the survival of people during natural disasters and emergency situations. In this area, a product has been developed that would be a do-it-yourself, quickly deployable device that provides pure water to the needy. In India, quick relief during disasters and emergencies is often hindered due to a lack of quick deployable solutions, which gives rise to the need for design intervention that would help solve this problem. Rainwater harvesting was the initial focus in order to utilise the benefits of using rainwater, which was later modified into designing a device for handling water crises during emergencies or disaster situations. Hence, a device was designed that would quickly provide pure water using the flood waters or any other contaminated source of water.
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C-Vein: A low cost vein detector for Indian scenarios
by Trivikram Annamalai
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by Trivikram Annamalai
Vein detection is a vital area of research that is concerned with spotting the patient’s veins quickly and accurately, thereby avoiding multiple pricks. The project deals with making an effective, low-cost vein detection device based on a comprehensive study of parallel products available on the market and an analysis of functional rigs.
The project focuses on design intervention in areas of product usability, aesthetics, and manufacturability, apart from incorporating the technology into the product. Although products that help find veins do exist in the market, this project differentiates itself from other products by being affordable and better at usability aspects.
Major New Trends in Last 4 Years- An Investigation into Their Impact
by Tushar Wankar
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by Tushar Wankar
The project aims to understand the trend or pattern followed by people in India in the motorcycle category in the past 4 years. The new methodology of attribute-based analysis is explored here with the intention of finding the common attributes in the present motorcycles.
The study involves an understanding of the projects done at IDC and IIT Bombay on trend analysis, followed by a pilot study of “wrist watches” to get a clear idea of the method and end results. Then the actual research study starts with an understanding of the motorcycle market in India, thus finding the most-seen attributes, and then representation results through a pie chart to trace patterns. The end results were compared with the top ten motorcycles in India, and their results were analysed to find the difference.
Application of Steel in Housing Construction- Wall System
by Tushar Wankar
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by Tushar Wankar
India is one of the largest producers of steel in the world. Even though India has the potential, steel-intensive construction has been quite low, and concrete-based construction has been on top, mainly due to the lack of awareness of the advantages of steel-intensive construction and the social mindset about concrete construction.
The project aims at exploring the innovative application of steel and finding the scope of use of steel in the construction of housing. The challenge of developing design and technology that can be deployed easily by semiskilled or local labour with minimal tools and power is addressed here. So that it will result in a reduction in construction time, mass-produced components, and enhance people's sense of dignity, identity, and belonging. The target area focused within the house is internal walls, which aim to improve safety, quality of life, and comfort over the long term with sustainable and adaptable solutions to local norms without losing the visual appeal of a traditional brick wall.
Rescue Kit for Floods
by Tushar Wankar
by Tushar Wankar
Floods are annual natural calamities and the second-most fatal natural disaster in India after earthquakes. Each year, hundreds of people die because of floods. Most of the people were killed because they were not prepared for such a disaster and because help was not available on time. This project deals with the design of a lightweight, portable kit for an individual that floats on water and can be used for self-rescue from floods. This kit is primarily a personal flotation device that will keep people floating and alive until they get help. This kit will also provide possibilities of self-deployment, giving a signal to the rescuers, rain protection, anchoring possibilities, etc. Kits can be owned by the people or distributed by the government as a lifesaving aid. This project focused on strengthening rescue and relief operations in India by providing an opportunity for new product development, catering to human needs in vital conditions.
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Trophy Design for Kala Utsav
by Prof. Sugandh Malhotra
by Prof. Sugandh Malhotra
The Trophy Design for Kala Utsav was led by Prof. Sugandh Malhotra from IDC IIT Bombay. Kala Utsav is a national initiative under the Ministry of Education, aimed at promoting the arts in school education. The design of the trophy aimed to reflect the spirit of creativity, artistic excellence, and cultural diversity celebrated in the event. Prof. Sugandh Malhotra, known for his expertise in product design, was tasked with creating a trophy that not only represented these values but also had a strong aesthetic appeal. His design approach typically involves a deep understanding of form, functionality, and symbolism, ensuring that each element of the trophy resonates with the ethos of Kala Utsav.
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An inspirational approach to retain natural aesthetics in our lives
- Classification of Products based on Inspiration from Nature
by Abhishek Prasad
by Abhishek Prasad
Humans have always taken inspiration and learnt from nature. This project is the study of an inspirational approach to understanding nature in our daily lives. It talks about various perspectives of taking inspiration from nature in industrial design to retain natural aesthetics in products. Sometime biological methods become the solution to our daily life requirements, and sometime natural materials help us to maintain a sustainable environment. The best existing examples have been collected and studied to show some of the areas and ways in which we can achieve natural aesthetics in designing the products.
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Design of GUI and MMI for a Weapon Launch Platform
by Abhishek Prasad
by Abhishek Prasad
Aesthetics, Ergonomics and Usability study and recommendations of a weapon launch system. The project is complex in nature with a blend of technologies from the Electrical, Electronics, Computer and Mechanical Engineering disciplines. As this project is related to Defence System and the Defence Ministry of India, not all data could be published in the form of a report. The data published in this report is sole property of Larsen & Toubro Pvt. Ltd., Powai, Mumbai. L&T was founded in Bombay (Mumbai) in 1938 by two Danish engineers, Henning Holck-Larsen and Soren Kristian Toubro. Both of them were strongly committed to developing India's engineering capabilities to meet the demands of industry. Beginning with the import of machinery from Europe, L&T rapidly took on engineering and construction assignments of increasing sophistication. Today, the company sets global engineering benchmarks in terms of scale and complexity. Larsen & Toubro (L&T), headquartered in Mumbai (Maharashtra), is a technology-driven engineering and construction organisation and one of the largest companies in India’s private sector. It has further interests in manufacturing, services, and Information Technology. The evolution of L&T into the country's largest engineering and construction organisation is among the most remarkable success stories in Indian industry.
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Redesign Of Infantry Combat Vehicle
by Abhishek Prasad
by Abhishek Prasad
Industrial design has started to play a major role in the development of Defence Industries in the past few years. India has transformed from a developing country to a fast-emerging superpower. Science and technology have also developed at a fast pace. With the increase in potential, the need to safeguard the country has also increased. For the past few years, the tension in the Indian Subcontinent has increased. So, the defence is of utmost importance. The government has started many research and development programs to look into this field. With age-old Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs), our soldiers can’t have an upper edge over their enemy. For the past 30 years, BMP-2 has been serving the Indian Army. But with advancements in Science & Technology, the warfare scenario has changed drastically. The need to safe guard our soldiers’s lives and to keep their trust in the army is the main motto of this project. Having a good fighting instrument really plays a vital role in moral buildup. The project is intended to save soldiers lives, give them better fighting power, conduct agronomical analysis, redesign the present existing ICV in the Indian Army, and solve their backdrops.
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Power Assisted Bike for Youth
by Abhishek Prasad
by Abhishek Prasad
The study of the scenario of bicycles in IIT Bombay and problems associated with them. Exploring new forms to satisfy the emotional and physical needs of the young generation. There is a growing need to revamp the bicycle to meet contemporary demands. With the institute banning motorbikes and introducing efficient Tam-Tam bus services, traditional bicycles are becoming less attractive. However, the love for radical design among today's youth offers an opportunity to reimagine the bicycle in ways that reflect their aesthetic preferences and desire for individuality. Advances in technology and materials present the perfect chance to introduce sustainable, customisable bicycles that align with campus culture while reducing environmental impact. At the same time, irregular maintenance facilities and the decrease in social interaction, often caused by increased internet use, can be addressed by promoting bicycle sharing and repair hubs, fostering a sense of community and interaction among students. With time, thinking has evolved, and it's crucial that bicycles keep up with these cultural and technological shifts, providing a solution that resonates with both functionality and modern sensibilities.
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An Inspirational Approach To Retain Natural Aesthetics In Our Lives
by Abneet Chauhan
by Abneet Chauhan
Humans have always been taking inspiration and learning from nature. This project is a study about an inspirational approach to retaining natural aesthetics in our lives. It talks about various perspectives of taking inspiration from nature in industrial design to retain natural aesthetics in products. Sometime biological methods become the solution to our daily life requirements, and sometime natural materials help us to maintain a sustainable environment. The best existing examples have been collected and studied to show some of the areas and ways in which we can achieve natural aesthetics in designing the products. Study involves taking a natural entity and finding the ways in which elements can be extracted from it, which depends on the particular properties of the entity. Different properties of it create multiple view points to see its form in different ways.
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Home Automation Products
for TANLA Solutions Hyderabad
by Abneet Chauhan
by Abneet Chauhan
Tanla Solutions, a publicly listed company founded in 1999, operates a software development centre in Hyderabad, India. In addition to its development hub, the company has established a global marketing presence with an office located in the UK. As the company has a strong presence in the field of telecom infrastructure solutions and customised software development, the management decided to expand the product line by introducing home automation products for the domestic as well as the international market in different phases. They had already developed the required software and the internal hardware for the products. Our role was limited to the external styling of the products. As the production quantity was very small, foreign manufacturers (China and Taiwan) were considered for the same, and the products were designed accordingly. Photo-realistic renderings were the main tool for the presentations and internal approvals. Mock-up models were presented as the final outcome of the project.
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Design Of Travel Luggage For Working Women
by Abneet Chauhan
by Abneet Chauhan
The objective of this project is to learn a design process that involves systematic research, planning, and implementation towards reaching a level that brings an actual, feasible product. This product will solve not only the targeted user’s problems but his emotional needs also. Apart from redesigning and modifying existing luggage, there could be new innovation within the boundaries of semantics. Our country is in a transition phase of transforming itself from a traditional to modern global society. Gender equality, women's empowerment, etc. are driving this globalising world. Today’s market is almost equally contributed by both kinds of products, gender-based goods and non-gender-based goods. More number of products are coming with the tag “for men only, for women only.” The luggage has become more than what its conventional function is. For some, luggage is a representative of the owner's status and style. It is a part of trend and fashion, which changes with time. In current luggage patterns, experiments with colours and textures of materials are being done.
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Educational Toy Design with Robotic Elements
by Abneet Chauhan
by Abneet Chauhan
There is a saying, “Nobody can teach but can learn.” Designers also believe that learning is more important than teaching. Children should learn on their own rather than being taught, but not everything (in practical behavior). When a child grows, he starts learning from everything in his surroundings. In this way, something is taught and some he grasps from his own experiences. Both ways of learning have an equal and important role. Sometimes classroom learning is made more effective by using experiential learning. The target users in classroom teaching are introduced to abstract concepts of science, which results in difficulty. For better teaching of science, kids are given experiments and activities for better understanding of actual phenomena.. It also removes classroom boredom. But these experiments and activities have to be taught. This project is an attempt to introduce an active and attractive medium to make learning and teaching playful, playful, and interesting. These playful science activities can encourage kids to learn on their own, where cognitive learning, teaching of science, and play happen together on the same platform.
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Curriculum For Transportation Design
by Amey Dhuri
by Amey Dhuri
IDC teaches industrial design, where students take up projects focused on various areas like product design, game design, automotive design, furniture design, lifestyle accessories, etc. One of the areas where there are tremendous design possibilities is transportation design because of the ever-increasing demand for better transportation by humans. There is also a need for eco-friendly transportation solutions in all areas of transport, like personal, public, commercial transport, etc. So IDC has planned to start a Masters Program in Transportation Design. The task for this special project was to assist Prof. Munshi and Prof. Ramachandran in preparing the curriculum for transportation design. To start with, the project data collection was done, which contained information regarding various design colleges that were providing design courses in transportation and automobile design. This data was then analysed, and a report was prepared that contained information about various design colleges, their courses, subjects taught, etc. Understanding the course structure of other disciples, a draft course structure for transportation design was prepared according to the requirements of IDC.
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Hospital On Wheels
by Amey Dhuri
by Amey Dhuri
Dilip Chhabria Design was founded in the year 1993 with the sole aim of offering design and prototyping services to the Indian OEM industry as well as customised one-off solutions to individual buyers. 15 years down the line, the company has to its credit over 550 designs on the roads in these segments. In the process, the company has built a very strong brand, ‘DC Design’.
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Design of Bike for Youth
by Amey Dhuri
by Amey Dhuri
Two-wheelers are the most widely used means of transportation in India. But for many riders, they are a lot more than just a vehicle. It’s a product that they use to reflect their identity as a part of them. The bike is targeted towards Indian youth in the age group of 20–30. The project also deals with understanding this particular user group to know about their lifestyle, likes & dislikes. Initially, data was collected to understand the history of two-wheelers in India and current market status. Different segments and sub-segments were studied for their distinguishing character and design values. A vehicle base was formed. With user study and bench marking. Various aspects of styling, performance, and usability were compared. A design brief was developed after analysing the data. For concept generation, my user group was analysed and certain keywords and themes were listed. Creative modes of exploration, like metaphor-based styling, were done. Ideation was done to generate concepts; 2 concepts were generated initially, and based upon requirements and user feedback, one was chosen and was developed further.
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Eco-Friendly Mobility Solution For The Future
by Amey Dhuri
by Amey Dhuri
Mobility is the state of being in motion. Environmentally friendly, eco-friendly, or nature friendly are synonyms used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment. Today traffic rate is increasing, which has led to pollution, congested roads, and parking problems. The person's occupancy per car is also very low. My project aims at designing a mobility solution to carry a minimum of 2 adults. The targeted user group will be office-going people who will use this car within city limits. The vehicle will run on an eco-friendly platform and will be easy to park and occupy minimum space. This vehicle is for use in 10 years from now.
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Analyzing the history of specific product categories
by Ameya Surve
by Ameya Surve
A chronological categorisation holds good for the evolution of most products, but that is really not exactly how a product design evolves. Design evolves with influence from a number of elements. It is not always the external elements but also the elements contained in a few old designs of the same product. So eventually every new evolution of the product is not only influenced by the previous design but also by the design of other products during the same timeframe, as well as the previously designed products. A method of classification of such products is looked into in this project. Proposed initially by Lakoff, the radial structure has been applied to see how classification of various products can be done and what advantages it provides to product designers.
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Summer Internship at Design Directions, Pune
by Ameya Surve
by Ameya Surve
Design Directions, founded in 1988, is headed by Satish and Falguni Gokhale, both renowned graduates of the National Institute of Design (NID). With its base in Pune and a presence in Europe, the firm is widely regarded as one of the best in Indian design. Satish and Falguni Gokhale have built a strong reputation for their innovative and impactful design work, earning recognition across diverse sectors.
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Redesigning the Identity of the
Indian Military Jeep
by Ameya Surve
by Ameya Surve
Design Directions, founded in 1988, is headed by Satish and Falguni Gokhale, both renowned graduates of the National Institute of Design (NID). With its base in Pune and a presence in Europe, the firm is widely regarded as one of the best in Indian design. Satish and Falguni Gokhale have built a strong reputation for their innovative and impactful design work, earning recognition across diverse sectors.
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Game design for Kids in a Transit Environment
by Ameya Surve
by Ameya Surve
People travel for a variety of different reasons. These reasons vary from long outings spanning a few days to short visits, which might span a couple of hours. Sometimes the route being travelled upon is known to regular travellers, or sometimes the route is absolutely new and full of surprises. Mostly it is observed that adults as well as children sleep during a train journey. Sometimes journeys last for more than a few couple of hours, and only sleeping is not enough as an activity to indulge in. So travelling individuals entertain themselves with various other activities, like playing games, reading newspapers, or losing chatting. The idea was to develop a game (or more than one game), which would make travel much more fun and entertaining. The game(s) would be aimed at children, to be played with adults, and would necessarily improve child-parent interaction, which is generally missing in today’s fast-paced world. Games stimulate the mind and allow the players to participate to win. With repeat play, they can master the technique and thus make their playing experience better. Sometimes knowledge games also help in understanding the applications of some fundamental concepts, which don’t seem to be understood through the conventional learning processes followed in school.
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Bionics: Tendon Locking Mechanism
by Ameya Naik
by Ameya Naik
Nature has played an important role in the evolution of human beings. It has more or less been the crux of the inspiration for the various inventions of man since the very early ages. Biology has had to solve engineering and other common problems since the appearance of life on earth. Design and function in plants and animals have been optimised under evolutionary pressures over millions of years, a small step at a time. These long lead times do not fit easily with the more frenetic pace of the engineering world of today, but to dismiss on these grounds the solutions that nature has arrived at would be foolish and arrogant. Therefore, it is not surprising that mankind has always admired biological structures and often been inspired by them, for we can appreciate their aesthetic attributes as well as their engineering and design content. Some early examples of engineering structures that borrowed ideas from nature include the Eiffel Tower, Crystal Palace, and all manner of primitive and rather ineffectual flying machines.
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Design of MMI and GUI for a Weapon Launch Platform
by Ameya Naik
by Ameya Naik
L&T was founded in Bombay (Mumbai) in 1938 by two Danish engineers, Henning Holck Larsen and Soren Kristian Toubro. Both of them were strongly committed to developing India's engineering capabilities to meet the demands of industry. Beginning with the import of machinery from Europe, L&T rapidly took on engineering and construction assignments of increasing sophistication. Today, the company sets global engineering benchmarks in terms of scale and complexity. Larsen & Toubro (L&T), headquartered in Mumbai (Maharashtra), is a technology-driven engineering and construction organisation and one of the largest companies in India’s private sector. L&T has licenses for manufacture and supply of a wide range of defence products after the Government of India’s decision to open up defence production to the private sector. The licenses issued to L&T cover the design, development, and manufacture of warships, submarines, weapon platforms & launchers, field & air defence guns, anti-tank weapon systems, missiles, rockets, torpedoes, land / naval mines, including associated systems and subsystems, RADAR, SONAR, sensors, armoured and combat vehicles, airborne assemblies, systems and equipment for aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, etc.
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Redesign of User Interaction for Air Defense System
by Ameya Naik
by Ameya Naik
The role of industrial design in the development of defense systems has taken on tremendous importance in the past few years. India has grown from just another developing country to a fast-emerging superpower. With this growth, the need for better defense mechanisms has also grown. India is making efforts in developing indigenous defense programs. In 1983, the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was formed with the aim of achieving self-sufficiency in missile development and production, and today it comprises five core missile programs. Akash is one of them. With the development of more and more such systems, there has been a realisation of the need to address the issues related to the effectiveness and efficiency of these systems. The crux of these issues lies in the efficiency of the interaction of the system with its user. This magnified the need for better interactive systems at the disposal of the user to communicate with the defence systems. Also, these systems are highly potential targets for enemy attacks. This has given rise to the need for better and more effective protection systems. This project is about achieving better and more effective user interaction and protection for the system. It aims at developing a foolproof system that can serve the nation for years to come.
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Design of Dashboard Of Mid-Segment Car
For Indian Market
by Ameya Naik
by Ameya Naik
The automobile industry today is developing at a very fast and rapid rate. This has led to a wide choice for the user to select from. This dense competition has forced manufactures to develop and adopt new technologies from all walks of life. Automobiles today have ceased to exist just as a mode of conveyance and have become a matter of experience. Along with this development, the user’s role has landed in the centre for the technical development. It has become more important to design suitable and functional user interfaces, and usefulness has increased as the keyword. To increase usefulness, it must be, among other things, feasible for the user, in the simplest way, to determine how to act in a certain situation. A user interface is the part of a product or a system that communicates with the user. In other words, it is the part that gives the clues to how the product shall be used, for example, buttons or instructions on the screen. To construct functioning user interfaces, one has to know the user’s psychic requirements and also understand how the human thinks and creates meaning out of and conceives the world around them.
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Lifestyle Products...
by Darshan Nerkar
by Darshan Nerkar
Today, with the introduction of new media, we, the consumers, are exposed to different cultures, different economies, and different value systems. We are much more aware of the surroundings and phenomena happening around us than ever before. With the advance of the internet, the entire globe has become a small village where any information is just a click away. All this has resulted in expanded needs and demands and enhanced ways of living. As such, the word lifestyle and the different products associated with it are gaining more and more attention day by day. The term'style of life’ was coined by Australian psychologist Alfred Adler as one of several constructs describing the dynamics of the personality. According to him, it reflects the individual's unique, unconscious, and repetitive way of responding to the main tasks of living: friendship, love, and work. The style of life is reflected in the unity of an individual’s way of thinking, feeling, and acting.
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Home Automation Products for TANLA Solutions Ltd. Hyderabad
by Darshan Nerkar
by Darshan Nerkar
Tanla Solutions, a publicly listed company founded in 1999, operates a software development centre in Hyderabad, India. In addition to its development hub, the company has established a global marketing presence with an office located in the UK. As the company has a strong presence in the field of telecom infrastructure solutions and customised software development, the management decided to expand the product line by introducing home automation products for the domestic as well as the international market in different phases. As the company is having strong presence in the field of telecom infrastructure solutions and customized software development, the management decided to expand the product line by introducing home automation products for the domestic as well as the international market in different phases. They had already developed the required software and the internal hardware for the products.
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Designing Indian Sitting Style furniture For Contemporary Lifestyle
by Darshan Nerkar
by Darshan Nerkar
Indian sitting-style furniture is designed to accommodate traditional postures such as cross-legged sitting or sitting with stretched legs. Typically, it features a low-height platform, often accompanied by cylindrical cushions at the back for lumbar support, commonly referred to as a diwan. The seating surface is spacious enough to allow the legs to rest comfortably on the same platform or a designated part of it, blending comfort with the cultural practice of floor-level sitting. This style of furniture offers both functional support and aesthetic appeal in Indian homes.
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Lifestyle Products Form Exploration
by Darshan Nerkar
by Darshan Nerkar
Lifestyle products are designed to cater to individual preferences, reflecting personal choices rather than purely utilitarian needs. These products are created not only for function but also to bring pleasure and aesthetic enjoyment. In domestic contexts, lifestyle products often project the owner's attitude, personal values, and sometimes even social status. Functionality is balanced with emotional and symbolic appeal, where the object’s esteemed value is central. Lifestyle products are typically associated with niche marketing and design, targeting specific customer groups who seek items that resonate with their identity and lifestyle aspirations.
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Design and Technology:
A Curriculum for School Children
by Dipesh Parmar
by Dipesh Parmar
This project is envisaged with the intention of bringing in a new dimension of study for schoolchildren. ‘Design and Technology’ is one of the very important parts of a person’s knowledge. The students are encouraged to understand design and technology by means of interactive and interesting exercises. These exercises are to be included within the curriculum of the school academic portion. The exercises focus on the improvement in understanding of a topic by students, which may not really convey well within the existing curriculum and method of teaching. The exercises provide a firsthand exposure to various aspects of design and technology that may not be understood as well as they should within the existing system and curriculum.
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Reducing complications in existing CPU back wires
(Design a New Spike Guard with new Placing)
by Dipesh Parmar
by Dipesh Parmar
The aim of the project was to design a new spike guard for desktop and conference-purpose problems. In the current scenario, every spike guard and extension box has the same design. Nothing changes in these; many years to go, the design and shapes are the same. Need to give a new shape and a new dimension and also change the positioning.
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Vehicle for Elderly :
Interior Layout and Support System
by Dipesh Parmar
by Dipesh Parmar
In India, to provide better facilities for the elderly, there are separate colonies dedicated to them. Every elderly person would like to travel independently independently. Currently Currently, there are many problems in the existing local transport vehicles, such as seating, luggage handling, ingress and egress (entry and exist), and materials used, which makes it difficult for the elders to travel safely and comfortably. The main purpose of the project is to design a proper support system for the elderly while travelling. The project also aims to provide a better and safer mode of transportation for the elderly with special reference to their ergonomic needs, better support system, and comfort. Special attention is taken to provide and improve the overall look and feel of the layout of the vehicle.
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Redesigning shopping mall cart
by Dipesh Parmar
by Dipesh Parmar
Gradually, mall culture has evolved, and so have the super markets in India. In metros like Mumbai, utilising space is a major factor. Malls use the space for their maximum benefit, like displaying goods and storing more and more products. As a result, the gangways become narrow, making it difficult for people to move with their cart. The focus of the project is to solve the existing problem. Shopping cart is one of the important factors in this system that contributes to the problem. Therefore, the shopping cart is taken up for redesigning to solve the above problem.
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Documentation of Paan
by Divya Saxena
by Divya Saxena
The aim of this project was to document the process of making a paan (betel leaf). In the process of documentation, the role of a ‘Paanwala’ (the person who prepares Paan and owns a Paan shop) was also very important. The objective was to know more about Paan, which is an integral part of Indian culture, and the ‘Paanwala’, who is a very interesting character to study.
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Enhancing slum businesses by design intervention
by Divya Saxena
by Divya Saxena
The proliferation and widespread use of networks for social, professional, and business development have established social networking as an important business development strategy. This is an academic course that focuses on applying similar strategies to an economic development problem. Students conceive and prototype design solutions based on an understanding of existing social networks in small business communities in two neighbourhoods of Little Village in Chicago and Powai slums in Mumbai. Honeywell Technology Solutions (HTSL) is an integral research, development, and engineering arm providing value to Honeywell's businesses and customers through technology, products, and business solutions, meeting global standards of quality, innovation, and lifetime performance. It is a diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and speciality materials. Honeywell is a major American multinational conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations.
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Indian Toys for International Market
by Divya Saxena
by Divya Saxena
The project deals with developing a new concept of Indian toys.It aims at developing an identity and creating a niche in the international market so as to give an introduction to our rich cultural values through the element of fun. It focuses on learning and taking inputs from our culture, understanding the international market, its issues and requirements, studying the particular user group, and thus developing a product that can give an upliftment to the economy in the above sector and showcase our rich cultural values to the world.
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Accessory concepts for a science fiction movie
by Divya Saxena
by Divya Saxena
This project aimed at developing accessories for a science fiction movie while understanding the movie theme and communicating the same through the proposed designs. It involves understanding science fiction visual language and its environments. It concentrates on how the range of products can become a language for the theme and how the visual elements like the colour palette and the form express the variations in different sequences of environment. It also deals with how the users (viewers) relate to the visual language of presented products in a particular theme and understand how they find logics or links between the real and science fiction accessories. Secondary, the aim of the project lies in creating these concepts of ‘impossible reality of the present, which can give visions to future expeditions." It also incorporates visions for future possibilities of the environment and the future way of living. The design methods used for achieving the above aim involve the case study of various movie concepts and their accessory designs. It also involves the study of industrial designers and their role in the movie industry. Understanding the visual language in compassion to the theme and analysing the user’s reactions to the above range of products are the key steps in creating the base for the proposed accessories.
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Tamil Literature: An overview
by Karthik Narayan P
by Karthik Narayan P
Tamil, with a literary history of more than two thousand years, is the oldest living language in the world. Evidence of literature had been found from the 3rd century BC, though some historians claim that the language is well over three thousand years old. The fact that Tamil was deemed a ‘Classical Language’ by the government of India comes as no surprise, owing to the maturity of concepts even in the oldest of works found in the language. The history of Tamil literature was deeply influenced by the social and political situation in India through the ages. The invasions and the rule changes in Tamil Land had at least one positive outcome—exchange of ideas. Tamil people were exposed to Jain and Buddhist traditions from the time of the Kalabhras to the ideology of European rulers in the 19th century. This broadened the outlook of the scholars, thus broadening the range of Tamil literature. The political changes not just influenced the literature but brought in contributors for it as well. There have been sizeable contributions from Jain, Buddhist, and later Muslim and European authors to the growth of Tamil literature.
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Summer Internship in Studio Photography
by Karthik Narayan P
by Karthik Narayan P
The Summer Internship in Studio Photography by Karthik Narayan P, under the supervision of Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy, focused on exploring the creative and technical aspects of studio photography. The project aimed to develop a deep understanding of lighting techniques, composition, and visual storytelling in a controlled studio environment. During the internship, Karthik Narayan worked on various assignments involving product photography, portraiture, and still-life compositions, enhancing his skills in handling professional photography equipment and post-processing tools. The internship provided an opportunity to experiment with different lighting setups, backgrounds, and camera techniques while receiving valuable insights and feedback from Prof. Chakravarthy to improve overall visual communication.
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Design of Cutlery for Indian Cuisine
by Karthik Narayan P
by Karthik Narayan P
The project aims at designing cutlery for Indian food that would replace the spoon, fork, and knife. The western cutlery is not designed for Indian cuisine, and yet we manage to use it with many items of Indian food. Moreover, one would not want to get their hands dirty when in an upscale restaurant or an aircraft. Hence, the need for a completely new cutlery for Indian cuisine was identified. As it is going to be a completely new design, the project should pave the way for further research in this arena. This should, in the future, become a completely usable product that is present in every household and every restaurant.
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Exploring Futuristic Automotive Forms
by Karthik Narayan P
by Karthik Narayan P
Though transportation is the primary function of an automobile, when it finally comes down to making a choice, various factors influence our decision. It is never merely about the car’s performance or its economy; it is about feelings, about aesthetics, the emotions the automobile conveys. Even automobiles require social acceptance to be successful. Regardless of how expensive or cheap the vehicle is, it makes a statement about the owner. Most of the factors mentioned above pertain to styling and design; hence, designers have the responsibility to make the car a success. Automobiles have undergone massive translation in the last five decades. The factors that have influenced this translation range from varying technology to changes in perceptions of people; cultural influences; fashion, to mention a few. This project aims at developing a concept car for the future, bearing in mind, among other things, the role that technology is going to play in the future.
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AMC silution corporation.
Software Technology parks of India, Chikalthna, Aurangabad
by Nagsen P Nandurgekar
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by Nagsen P Nandurgekar
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Design of Stamp Cancelling Device for India Post
by Nagsen P Nandurgekar
by Nagsen P Nandurgekar
Since long ago, India Post used a hand stamp for cancellation, automatic machines are also available for cancellation. Only at the head post office, GPO’s machine cancellation is done. One of the reasons is the cost and necessity of electricity for using them. CPMG (Chief Post Master General) Mr. Rajan Malappuram insisted on having a new method or mechanism for stamp cancellation that should not be dependent on electricity and should improve the existing design. India Post is a 153-year-old organization. It is the largest postal network in the world, with 155,333 post offices. On average, a post office served an area of 21.13 sq km and a population of 6,623 people. It serves daily delivery of post at the doorstep of every customer anywhere in the country and collection of letters from letter boxes. India Post has 234,187 regular employees who worked up to the subpost office level. Mail was collected from 601,319 letter boxes in the country. This was processed by a network of 455 railway mail service offices and conveyed by road, rail, and airlines all over the country. Post had prioritised the processing of different categories of mail and parcels according to the times and technology sensitivity of the customer, for example, e-bill, speed post, express parcel service, etc.
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Innovative indoor lighting products
by Nagsen P Nandurgekar
by Nagsen P Nandurgekar
Light plays a very important role in our lives. When the sun rises, it gives light to the whole world, but as it sets, darkness begins. Humans discovered electricity to produce light. We are using light not only at night but also daytime. Designers differentiated light for various purposes and designed light accordingly. Thus, decorative lighting came into play. As use of electricity increased, we are having shortages of electricity. This project aims at designing an innovative decorative light system (track/rail lighting) with good ambience for a particular task that will have low power consumption. Various aspects such as light, colour, and emotions are studied and tried to incorporate in the final product. Also, a new concept of mood light lighting is incorporated into the final product. The final product, i.e., the track light for the living room, can be fixed on the track on a wall or ceiling; for flexible movement and proper positioning, suitable goose pipe is used. Use of RGB-controlled LED’s gives us the choice of selecting our colour tone, and thus a single light provides multiple colours. Led in acrylic gives good ambience, and we can also control the intensity of light.
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Earth and Fire
by Prajakta S Bamanikar
by Prajakta S Bamanikar
In ancient times, considerable note was made of understanding the elements of nature, namely, fire, water, wind, and earth. The philosophers show them as a reflection of the universe and that they play a great role in the cosmic plan. Every day we warm ourselves by fire, wash ourselves in water, feel the wind in our hair, and walk upon the earth. Yet many will be amused that these same elements can be interpreted in various ways in relation to our daily lives. These elements are not only felt around us but have certainly become a way to express themselves in many ways within our "nature," like air for thought, fire for desire, water for emotions, and earth for stability. Fire is enthusiastic, warming, and a spark of life. It is a desire. It is the most powerful of energy sources and represents the spirit. It is the flame that flickers and glows in the sun; it attracts the eye. Fire is red and signifies delight, a zest for living, and the light by which we see. It is dynamic, moving, vital, and brilliant. Earth is the foundation on which we build our lives. It is the core of our senses and the colour of Earth and Fire life. It is the root of all beings. Earth is reliable and has an understanding of life. It is rich and dark, strong and yet tender while nurturing the roots, giving substance to the happiness we need. Earth is about stability, recognition, natural laws, dignity, respect, strength, understanding, acceptance, and nourishment. It is the foundation on which we build our lives. So making earth my foundation I decided to create objects that emitted the zest of light.
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Pottery Summer training report
by Prajakta S Bamanikar
by Prajakta S Bamanikar
In ancient times, considerable note was made of understanding the elements of nature, namely, fire, water, wind, and earth. The philosophers show them as a reflection of the universe and that they play a great role in the cosmic plan. Every day we warm ourselves by fire, wash ourselves in water, feel the wind in our hair, and walk upon the earth. Yet many will be amused that these same elements can be interpreted in various ways in relation to our daily lives. These elements are not only felt around us but have certainly become a way to express themselves in many ways within our "nature," like air for thought, fire for desire, water for emotions, and earth for stability. Fire is enthusiastic, warming, and a spark of life. It is a desire. It is the most powerful of energy sources and represents the spirit. It is the flame that flickers and glows in the sun; it attracts the eye. Fire is red and signifies delight, a zest for living, and the light by which we see. It is dynamic, moving, vital, and brilliant. Earth is the foundation on which we build our lives. It is the core of our senses and the colour of Earth and Fire life. It is the root of all beings. Earth is reliable and has an understanding of life. It is rich and dark, strong and yet tender while nurturing the roots, giving substance to the happiness we need. Earth is about stability, recognition, natural laws, dignity, respect, strength, understanding, acceptance, and nourishment. It is the foundation on which we build our lives. So making earth my foundation I decided to create objects that emitted the zest of light.
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DINING CHAIR IN BAMBOO
for Goan restaurants
by Prajakta S Bamanikar
by Prajakta S Bamanikar
Today not only all restaurants but also urban homes and many rural houses are having dining sets in their houses. A dining chair is an everyday life product that we use most of the time in a day while having food. Most of the time, these dining chairs are made up of industrial materials like plastic or wood. As increased global warming is a result of cutting trees, we should find an alternative for wood. Bamboo is a naturally occurring composite material that grows abundantly in most tropical countries. Cellulose fibres are aligned along the length of the bamboo, providing maximum tensile flexural strength and rigidity in that direction. So by combining other complimentary materials and bamboo, we can conquer the environmental issues related to the extra demand for wood. Bamboo is a familiar plant from a place like Goa. So using this material for Goan restaurants will give an absolutely identifiable feeling to the environment.
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Exploration of luminaries' with led’s as light source
by Prajakta S Bamanikar
by Prajakta S Bamanikar
Light is an essential part of everyday life and the only medium that causes visual sensation. Initially, light has been extensively used for task-orientated works. Today, when every product around us is a commodity, can ‘light’ become an experience? Can we use light to create ambiance? Can it create different environments? In the present world, where light sources are becoming as small as LED’s, we have the opportunity of creating artificial ambience in living spaces. The project aims at exploring LED’s as a light source for creating ambience in living spaces with the help of different principles of managing light rays. These explorations have resulted in creating three different products for three different environments. The objective of the project is to explore innovative ideas and designs with LEDs as light sources and develop a new way to look at mood lighting for indoor usage.
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Nature and form
by Prajwal J Ullal
by Prajwal J Ullal
Today we live in a world where people work round the clock to earn a living and, in the mean time, have lost up all the time to enjoy their own lives. Busy with his/her schedule, may it be the long list of office work or any other regular chores of work or even the burden of quantity education for the students. In fact, this mechanised life has taken toll to such an extent that even the basic activities like enjoying or interacting with nature are difficult tasks. The project deals with getting out the experience from nature and coming up with a proposition to convert it into a form that regenerates the same moment of experience, thus providing a mode of rejuvenation or a moment to get away from the current mechanised scheduled life.
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Design for manufacturability in composites
by Prajwal J Ullal
by Prajwal J Ullal
Mahindra Composites, formerly Siro Plast Ltd., is a branch of the Mahindra Systech, which is a part of the various business sectors of Mahindra Group. Mahindra Systech consists of various manufacturing units such as MUSCO, Mahindra stampings, Mahindra castings, etc. Basically established by M&M in 1982 with SICOM, the commercial production of SMC/DMC compound and component started off in 1989, and the RTM and hand lay-up production started off in 1999. The main objective of the project is to re-design and modify the vehicle concept to align with the composite manufacturing process. This involves adapting the overall design to ensure compatibility with the unique requirements and constraints of composite materials. In addition, component-level detailing will be carried out, considering the specific properties of composite materials and the manufacturing techniques involved. The aim is to optimise the design for efficient production while maintaining structural integrity, durability, and performance, all tailored to the composite manufacturing process.
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Designing an Electric Rickshaw
by Prajwal J Ullal
by Prajwal J Ullal
The autorickshaw is one of the most commonly used modes of mass transportation. Due to its extensive usage, there are few issues or problems that are regularly faced by the passengers and drivers. The design approach adopted consisted of understanding the technologies and user requirements, identifying the specific problem areas, and then coming up with insights for solving the above problems. Ergonomic study for improved comfort level, study of alternative fuels and technologies, travel requirements, drivers, and passenger requirements were undertaken before developing the concepts. No. of concepts in the form of sketches and rough models were developed integrating the above-mentioned factors, and then the choice was made by comparing various features and giving an appropriate rating to each feature. The project work led to a product featuring increased leg room and head room due to the repositioning of various components and relayout of the luggage space from the back of the passenger seat to the front of it. This also led to increased space for ingress and egress. The rickshaw is powered by an electric motor and runs on batteries, leading to negligible pollution and also reduced running costs. The styling of the rickshaw is unique with the introduction of a new form. The interiors are improved with the inclusion of a dashboard and comfortable seating for both drivers and passengers, giving it a rich feel.
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Personal Mobility Solution for future
by Prajwal J Ullal
by Prajwal J Ullal
The project is based on providing an innovative mobility solution for the future. The project work deals with understanding and predicting the future scenario based on the current world trends and thus coming up with an innovative mobility solution suiting the future generation requirements. An innovative approach was followed to handle the project, which included understanding and analysing several science fiction books, movies, and also works by concept artists like Syd Mead, Scott Robertson, Simon Daniel, etc. The process also included ideating various possibilities of a compact vehicle in the form of sketches, and these were further refined by making 1:5 scaled mock-up models to get the proportions right and also for better understanding of surfaces. The final concept is an innovative form of a compact bike named ‘Synxos’ (Sync-cross), which is capable of transforming itself based on the requirements.
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Testing of ‘Play And Learn Kit’ (Strategy Based Educational Game On Volume)
by Sarang Nagesh Kusale
by Sarang Nagesh Kusale
This special project is research-based feedback carried out to understand and analyse the various factors of the ‘play and learn kit’. This kit is designed for secondary school children from standards VIIth and VIIIth such that while playing with this kit the children will develop their spatial thinking and learn the concept of volume. For the purpose of testing the game, the target users are chosen from different backgrounds, which created a spectrum of responses to this play and learn kit, which is in the form of a strategic educational game, AkaarNitee. To understand the methodology of testing a kit, a pilot test is carried out with the help of a kit developed by AG Bamboo Style Studio. Then the testing prototype is made and tested with the users. Videography is used to record the activities. This is an effective tool to map and analyse the various factors and also helps in consideration of time. The users and parents are interviewed to understand their background and environment of the playing and learning.
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Designing the Industrial Safety Helmet
by Sarang Nagesh Kusale
by Sarang Nagesh Kusale
The industrial safety helmet is primarily intended to protect the head against injury from falling objects. The effects of head injury can be classified generally into three categories: physical effects, cognitive changes, and behavioural effects. The physical effects of head injuries include such symptoms as seizures, loss of motor speed or coordination, and the presence of an abnormal movement such as tremors and spasticity. Cognitive changes involve disorders of attention, concentration, and memory; problems with understanding or producing speech; difficulties with initiating and planning daily activities; as well as poor reasoning and judgment. Behavioural effects include agitation and irritatability, verbal and physical aggressiveness, impulsivity, depression, and suicidal thoughts, as well as an egocentric or self-centred orientation in interpersonal relationships. Safety helmets are designed to protect the head of a weaver against falling objects by resisting the penetration and reducing the shock absorption by the head and body even under the extreme local climatic conditions. According to Conformit Europeenne standards, EN397, it has to withstand in the following circumstances: being used in temperatures as low as -30 oC and as high as +150 oC, electrical resistance up to 440 volts, resistance against molten metal as MM, resistance against side squeeze, marked LD, and lateral deformation.
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Play and Learn Kit for School Going Children
by Sarang Nagesh Kusale
by Sarang Nagesh Kusale
The relationship between play and learning has weakened, as playing is often limited to sports and indoor games, while students are increasingly forced to focus solely on studying. As a result, play has become a secondary activity, overshadowed by academic pressures. However, there is a design opportunity to re-establish and strengthen the connection between play and learning. By introducing playful media, children can be encouraged to learn in an engaging and interactive manner, making the process of education more enjoyable and effective through the integration of play.
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Wearable Product for Professionals
by Sarang Nagesh Kusale
by Sarang Nagesh Kusale
The project focuses on designing a wearable product for communication and entertainment, aimed at young professionals up to 30 years old who work in corporate environments. As wearable products are becoming a significant future trend, this design will prioritise user delight through aesthetic exploration and cutting-edge technology. The goal is to create a product that not only integrates seamlessly into the professional's lifestyle but also enhances their communication and entertainment experiences. The design will be forward-thinking, utilising innovative technology expected to be available in the next four years, ensuring both functionality and visual appeal.
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Design and Technology: A curriculum for School Children
by Yohan S Engineer
by Yohan S Engineer
The "Design and Technology" curriculum for schoolchildren is aimed at understanding and improving the syllabus to better convey key concepts to students. This helps in identifying weak areas where Design and Technology topics are not effectively communicated, as well as detecting potential areas that can enhance students' understanding for future learning. It also reveals students' comprehension patterns and potential at that age. The objective is to identify target areas and outline learning goals for students accordingly. Through brainstorming, various exercises will be listed that fulfil each objective, with opportunities to combine and enrich these ideas to create a more effective learning experience.
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Design of A Portable Stool
For Train Travelers at The Railway Station
by Yohan S Engineer
by Yohan S Engineer
The design of a portable stool for train travellers at railway stations in India addresses the challenges posed by the country's high and growing population. This growth brings complex issues such as space constraints, inadequate infrastructure, and overcrowded public spaces. Daily commuters often endure uncomfortable and exhausting travel conditions, creating a need for physical rest. A compact, lightweight, and portable seating device would offer travellers the convenience of having a seat whenever and wherever they choose, providing relief and enhancing their overall travel experience amidst these challenges.
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Design of an Induction Cooking Set
by Yohan S Engineer
by Yohan S Engineer
The design of an induction cooking set caters to the preference for home-cooked food, particularly for bachelors and hostellers who often lack pre-installed cooking infrastructure. This demographic requires a cooking solution that is easy to use, non-messy, and occupies minimal space. Additionally, an integrated basic storage system would enhance convenience. In this context, an induction cooker proves to be the most suitable option, offering a compact and efficient cooking solution that allows users to prepare meals at their own convenience while meeting the need for simplicity and space optimisation.
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Cooking starter kit design for new cooks
by Anushree Banerjee
by Anushree Banerjee
Learning to cook is one of the most basic needs of every adult. For new cooks starting out, life after college cooking is an important step to become more independent and ensure they eat healthy. Cookware is an important investment for them. Creating a range of utensils for this new generation of cooks is a challenge due to multiple reasons. Making a modular set of utensils which allows for healthy cooking allows a versatile range of cooking with limited utensils. Designing value for money and a contemporary-looking starter kit for fast-paced yet passionate , tech-savvy youth setting up their kitchen.
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Reimagining Saraswati Veena In Modern Context
by Anushree Banerjee
by Anushree Banerjee
The present-day Saraswati Veena, attributed to Raghunath Nayak (circa 17th century ) of Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu, is one of the most important Indian classical instruments. It is seen adorned by Saraswati – the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. Known for its deep, mellow tone and ocean of shrutis (microtones). But in spite of the glorious history, it has not been able to capture the attention of the music-loving youth of our nation. From Veena adorning the 60s and 70s household to the present-day scenario where the youth seemed to have gravitated towards a Fender or Stratocaster. The reason for it might be the popularity of Western music in pop culture due to high availability and easily accessible lessons and tutorials, etc. There are only a handful of Veena makers left, with the next generation preferring some other profession. Addressing issues like portability, fragility and sustainability while capturing the same sound. Reimagining the instrument in a new form which can represent the youth yet does not take away the essence of the timelessness of the instrument is the need of the hour. So, developing a design which is easy to manufacture is also important to rekindle the interest of young musicians towards this wonderful musical instrument.
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Consideration of social behaviour of women workers while designing a dust protection face mask, to be used in a highly dusty environment
by Apurba Mondal
by Apurba Mondal
India is the world’s second-largest producer of bricks, with over 200 million bricks manufactured a year in the 100,000 units across the country, where 65 per percent of it gets manufactured in the Indo-Gangetic plains. The workers in the unorganised brick-making sector are most vulnerable to physical, economic and mental exploitation with no systematic record of them. Fixed chimney bull trenches and the clamp are the two types of kilns which are used in India which have higher black carbon and dust emissions compared to the Hoffman kilns being used in China. The paper focuses on the workplace-related hazards faced by the workers, which results in respiratory disorders, and to create design interventions in the clothing of the female workers with and without the usage of standard filter fabrics which would be socially accepted by the workers.
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Luxury Alcohol Bottle Design
by Apurba Mondal
by Apurba Mondal
Fermented beverages existed in early Egyptian civilisation, and there is evidence of an early alcoholic drink (rice wine) made out of the fermentation of rice, honey and fruits in China around 7000 B.C. and are known to have independently mastered the process of distillation. In India, an alcoholic beverage called sura, distilled from rice, was in use between 3000 and 2000 B.C. Much before the birth of Christ, consumption as well as celebration of the beverages was a part of many ancient civilisations, such as the Babylonians, who worshipped a wine goddess as early as 2700 B.C. In Greece, one of the first alcoholic beverages to gain popularity was mead, a fermented drink made from honey and water. Evidence of alcoholic beverages has been found in ancient Egypt as well, dating back to 3150 BC. Beer, which is an alcoholic beverage of low alcohol volume, was an everyday drink for people of all classes in Europe during the Middle Ages.The most common usage of alcohol (spirits) was for medicinal purposes, and they were being mass-manufactured only after the 17th century and gained momentum only after the British Parliament passed a law encouraging the usage of grains for distilling spirits. But after rising incidents of citizens breaking the law under the influence, the American as well as British governments imposed a ban on the manufacturing, sale, import, and export of intoxicating liquors.
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Design of Lamps with Warli Art
by Apurba Mondal
by Apurba Mondal
Lighting is an essential part of everyday households, and when put into scenarios depending upon the activity that needs to be performed, there are different types of the same. Lamps as a product have a lot of potential to bring out motifs and art artforms. They can range from minimal and modern/contemporary to traditional and abstract. Traditional or tribal Indian art forms, especially Warli, are facing a huge problem in sustaining in the modern society. Even though they are heavily used in products such as bags and clothing, they are, however, taken from an uncredited source. In this project, lamps as a product incorporating Warli art are explored to push the art further into urban households. A system-level involvement of the artists living in their villages in the manufacturing of lamps would bring a viable source of income and hence keep the art alive. For this project, a hybrid of modern and traditional types of lamps has been taken, keeping in mind the style of art, and various lighting experiences have been explored.
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Low Cost Portable Digital Microscope for children
by Apurba Mondal
by Apurba Mondal
The aim of the project is to design and test a portable and affordable digital microscope for school students which connects to screen-based devices. It is focused on being an easy-to-operate device and is economical to be a personal device for learning. It would provide an opportunity for students to look at what the naked eye can not see and hone their curiosity. As a mandatory device provided by the institute for academics, it would aid them and also could be gifted to those who don’t have a microscope in their curriculum yet. Various concepts of operation, slide (onion peel cell) and non-slide (e.g., butterfly) sample insertion, navigation, zoom and focus controls were compared. Playfulness of the device is a key focus, and an important feature which has been introduced is invertibility. This has benefits when a live sample needs to be viewed in a petri dish. The camera lens, instead of being above the sample, is below it, and the tissues, cells, etc., deposit at the bottom and are clearer to view. The device can be simply inverted and kept to be used like this. This has major applications in higher studies in biological sciences. User feedback based on the prototypes aided in improving the design further. A minimal instruction sheet on how to operate, understand scale marking of samples viewed and preparation of slides is designed to create an easier experience.
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Future Of Sports Helmets
by Archana Sonavane
by Archana Sonavane
The report studies sports helmets and presents a synthesis of research-based information and opinions. A review of the literature shows that helmets play an important role in head injury prevention and control. Helmets have been shown to be very efficacious and effective in a range of sports and in preventing specific head injury risks, especially moderate to severe head injury. The report emphasises the importance of helmet standards and the need for further development. There are calls for helmets that address the needs of competitive (elite) athletes separate from helmets for recreational athletes. Deficiencies in the evidence base for head injury risks and helmet efficacy and effectiveness were identified in some sports. A need to evaluate helmet performance in oblique impacts and incorporate this into standards is also a part of this report. There are emerging opportunities within helmet technology to improve impact performance or to measure impact exposure. Helmet technology, as it matures, may provide critical information on the severity of the impact, the location of the injured athlete, for example, motorcyclists, and assist in the retrieval and immediate, as well as the long-term medical management of the athlete. It was identified that athletes, families and sports organisations can benefit from access to information on helmet performance. The importance of selecting the appropriately sized helmet and ensuring that the helmet and visor were adjusted and restrained optimally was emphasised. The translation pathway from the science to new and better helmets is the development of appropriate helmet standards and the requirement for only helmets to be used that are certified to those standards.
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Training Equipment For Endurance Running
by Archana Sonavane
by Archana Sonavane
Endurance running is a form of continuous running over distances of at least eight kilometres (5 miles).
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Exploring Spaces In Children’s Furniture
by Archana Sonavane
by Archana Sonavane
The aim of this project is to design furniture for children between the age group of 6 to 10 years that also challenges the conventional kids’ furniture available in the market today. The design process involves the translation of “playfulness” as an experience rather than just a formal expression. It also takes into account the need for a design solution that is space-saving and grows with the child while giving them a sense of independence and belonging. As a part of the process, studies were conducted directly with the children in their homes. This helped in providing clarity on their requirements and also established spatial context. A major challenge was in tackling aspects of packaging, transportation and assembly. The exploration takes all of this into consideration and provides the user with a simple, playful and practical solution that effectively caters to a child’s growing needs.
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Device To Aid Early Detection Of Breast Cancer
by Archana Sonavane
by Archana Sonavane
The primary aim of this project is to design a portable self-scanning device to check for breast abnormalities in women in the age group of 20 years and above to aid early detection of breast cancer. Breast cancer used to be a disease associated with women in the age group of 50 years and above. However, in the last decade there has been a considerable rise in the number of breast cancer cases in younger age groups (30-40 years). Also, most cancers tend to show no symptoms until a very advanced stage, after which the patient cannot be saved, and therefore early detection is the key to survival. Hence, there is a need for awareness regarding regular monitoring of breast tissue to identify abnormalities. As a part of the process, studies were conducted on the existing technologies used for initial scanning of breasts for cancer detection. Mammography is currently the gold standard for detection of cancer lesions in the breast tissue, after which the patient is sent for further confirmation tests. However, mammography is well suited for women in age groups of 50 years and above, as the breast tissue is not as dense as in the younger age groups, and the incidence of breast cancer is on the rise in the younger age group (30-40 years). Also, it tends to expose a healthy individual to the harmful X-rays. This project aimed at designing a device using a harmless technology that is equally effective in all age groups and can be used by women in the comfort of their homes as a part of the process of self-examination. This device would not only help women scan for abnormalities but also help them become aware of their bodies to identify these abnormalities.
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Gameplay and Examples
by Maddu Shravan Murali
by Maddu Shravan Murali
The thesis Games without Frontiers by Mr. Aki Jarvinen was given to me by Prof. Uday Athavankar. In this report I have tried to analyse traditional Indian games by applying the analysis template proposed by Mr. Aki Jarvinen. This report is in 2 parts. In the first part I tried to elaborate, to the best of my understanding, the definitions of each component of the analysis template. In the 2nd part I tried to analyse games which were a result of numerous interviews conducted by me in different regions like West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Jammu. The objective of this report is to find if the Library of Mechanics proposed by Mr. Aki Jarvinen is sufficient for Indian Games.
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PG AGRI Farm equipment solutions
by Maddu Shravan Murali
by Maddu Shravan Murali
PG AGRI Farm basically provides agricultural equipment to the local farmers at a subsidised rate as prescribed by the Indian government. They have an overall of 7 centres in places like Shimoga, Dharwad and Uttar (North) Karnataka districts. Anujay Rao is the Co-Founder and Head of Project/Design of the company.
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Redesign of the ALIMCO Hand
by Maddu Shravan Murali
by Maddu Shravan Murali
Limb loss is a burden for the patient and for their carers. It also imposes a financial and psychological burden upon the amputee. Amputation of a limb is a stressful event for an individual. It is a surgical option in circumstances where salvaging a limb is improbable, and the remaining part of the limb tissue needs excision. It is an irreversible surgical option which results in bodily disfigurement. The patient is affected emotionally, and this results in poor quality of life. The amputee may develop depressive disorder due to feelings of loss, self-stigma, and difficulty in coping with the impairment. The healthcare service in India differs considerably from elsewhere. Mental health care access is very difficult and fragmentary.
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Compact Braille Input Device for the Visually Challenged
by Maddu Shravan Murali
by Maddu Shravan Murali
A sighted person mostly relies on the visual sense to perceive the surroundings. A visually impaired person has to rely on tactile and audio feedback only to make any sense of his/her environment. The script used by the visually impaired to read and write is called Braille. A sentence in Braille consists of Braille cells which are small enough to fit under a finger tip. It is made up of six embossed dots (in varying combinations) arranged in two columns and three rows. Braille can be read by sweeping the tip of the index finger over the embossed sentence. Braille script to a visually challenged person is equivalent to printed script to a sighted person. Braille is not a language but a representation of a language in texture format. Refreshable Braille display devices and applications like ‘voice over’ for smartphones and computers are a few examples of new assistive technologies used by visually challenged people which provide tactile and audio feedback, respectively, to perceive information which is in digital formats. A comparative study of the products used by the visually challenged to practise Braille shows that they either fall short on the portability factor or need a tabletop-like horizontal surface to keep the device on top of to operate. Such conditions leave the user looking for a table.
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Study of consumer perception towards Open face helmet designs in India
by Minal Agarwal
by Minal Agarwal
Helmets are an essential safety precaution while riding a two-wheeler. The appearance and aesthetics of helmets play an important role to attract buyers, i.e., make them choose a certain helmet, and also act as a way to communicate the language of a brand. The study focuses on how the elements of design in terms of appearance and aesthetics (form, material, finish, graphics and colours) affect the buyer’s perception (attention and purchase). The type of helmets considered for this study were open-face helmets from different brands in the Indian market.
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Design of Teaware for Carafewerk
by Minal Agarwal
by Minal Agarwal
In India, chai is more than just a cup of tea to start the day – this drink is an essential part of the rhythm of life. Tea is the most common drink in India. India consumes 837,000 tonnes of tea every year. The ritual of chai crosses all boundaries. Carafewerk, through their tea machine, have tried to bring the essence of Chai into their product. The machine brews tea in the traditional methods and can prepare customised tea according to the user’s preference. Carafewerk is trying to launch itself as an exclusive tea brand. This project aimed at designing a line of teaware for the brand for an office environment. The various components of the tea set were decided, and a more minimal and contemporary approach was followed while designing the teaware.
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Next Generation Washers
by Minal Agarwal
by Minal Agarwal
Today, a washing machine is one of the most important appliances in a household. It gives us the complete comfort of washing clothes. It has helped us make more time for ourselves and our close ones. The process of washing, which used to be an elaborate process, has been reduced to just a few presses of buttons. The project is an elaborate take on the design of washers which will fit into the lifestyle of a family, 5 years down the line. The process included a detailed understanding of the scenarios of the future and understanding the user needs and requirements. The design process not only covers the function and usability but also a detailed understanding of form and how the form will fit into the interiors of an urban house.
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Geometry Kit for Visually Impaired Kids
by Minal Agarwal
by Minal Agarwal
The number of blind people in India is 12 million, out of which 26% are children. These children will be making major contributions to the society in coming years. Due to slow cognitive development and the inability to see, visually impaired kids face a lot of difficulty in education and learning. There are requirements for special methods and tools to make them understand various educational concepts. It was observed that due to the lack of certain resources, visually impaired kids are deprived of learning more visually inclined (diagram or picture) topics. Geometry is taught in upper primary schools to sighted students; however, due to the complexity and unavailability of proper instruments, it is not taught in the majority of blind schools in India. This design project dedicates itself to helping the visually impaired children to learn basic geometry and be able to construct simple geometric diagrams.
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Games and Senior Citizens
by Minu
by Minu
Older adults need to keep exercising to stay active and healthy. Games are proven to be an important and fun way to stay healthy. They not only help us to upgrade cognitive or physical functions but also help us to stay socially active. Irrespective of what age group one belongs to, games tend to lure everyone. India being home to numerous games. With the advancement of newer technologies and more options to play games, a lot of these games are on the verge of getting forgotten.
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Designing An Auditorium Chair
by Minu
by Minu
Nilkamal Limited is a plastic products manufacturer based in Mumbai, India. It is the world's largest manufacturer of moulded furniture and Asia's largest processor of plastic moulded products. Their product range consists mainly of custom plastic mouldings, plastic furniture, crates and containers. • In 2011, the company also began production of mattresses. • The company has 8 large manufacturing plants in India: • North – Samba (Jammu & Kashmir) and Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) • East – Barjora (West Bengal) • West – Sinnar, Nashik (Maharashtra) and Silvassa (Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli) (2 plants) • South Pondicherry (Union Territory) and Hosur (Tamil Nadu) The company has advanced machinery in injection moulding, rotational moulding, vacuum forming, polyurethane injection (of insulation) and capabilities for blow moulding.
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Post Industrial Design Application of Bamboo: Design and Construction of Drones Using Bamboo Weaving Technique
by Minu
by Minu
Bamboo can be used in numerous forms (as hollow or solid sticks, strips of varied width and thickness, with weaving and without weaving) to make the structure and to serve various other purposes as required; being highly resistant to climatic conditions, more resistant to stain and scratch, and more durable and long-lasting material, it can be used further to explore the utility in this field. As the use of natural materials is an important trend right now and people are becoming more ecologically conscious, the products that are more ecologically friendly are increasing the green purchase behaviour. With these rises, bamboo drones can play a vital role in bringing technology and bamboo together. The idea of making a bamboo drone/quadcopter is to explore bamboo in the field of the drone industry. Bamboo, being a strong fibrous material, is light in weight, an easily available renewable resource, inexpensive and commonly used as craft material. The aim of the designed structure is to keep the weight as light as possible and include craft techniques and aesthetics. The bamboo cover will allow the user to reuse the electronic parts and make their own drone shell; maintaining, disposing of, repairing and replacing parts will be easier. The objective of this project is to explore bamboo as an alternative resource for constructing the structure of a drone, in this case a quadcopter.
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Air Transportation System- Modular Aerial Vehicle
by Minu
by Minu
In the early 20th century personal cars were gradually becoming a popular form of transport. In 1903 the Wright Brothers achieved the first powered flight. Within a decade, dreams of building a flying car began to crystallise for those in the auto industry. Large cities with traffic congestion problems are stepping forward to offer their cooperation to drone aviation innovators. A lot of manufacturers seek to put autonomous drones into the air. These drones will just happen to have a, presumably, untrained passenger. Passenger drones, by contrast, would operate autonomously and leave the “roadable” part behind in favour of larger versions of aircraft that already exist. Modularity in vehicle design has started to gain popularity due to a large number of benefits, including the possibility to use different types of bodies. The purpose of this project is to develop a modular aerial platform which is easy to manufacture, easy to operate, light in weight and battery driven. The key idea is to have a common chassis which could be used by companies to transform the body of the aircraft as per specific need.
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Life on a Footpath
by Nikita Fatarpekar
by Nikita Fatarpekar
The study of life on the footpath has been studied to be sensitive to the functions and activities carried out on the footpath. To understand how space, time, social culture and thoughts affect the view of a footpath. It has been observed that various places have different ways of using a footpath based on the user. To some it’s a home, while others are not affected by its absence. In different contexts, the same footpath can be differently pursued. In some cases it may be a multipurpose way, while in others it just exists. The form of footpaths in various places has been observed and studied in pure form, trying to understand its function and uses as well as non-uses.
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Lok Biradari Prakalp
by Nikita Fatarpekar
by Nikita Fatarpekar
This report consists of the works done during the P1 internship for the academic work of part for the provisionally degree of Master in Design in Industrial Design. The report contains the processes , analysis and study of the topic of interest of the various projects. This work has been carried out in the months of May and June 2018 at Lok Biradari Prakalp, Hemalkasa, in the field of health-related products. A detailed work process of the following projects : delivery bed, mobile ambulance, tuberculosis packaging, ANC/PNC medicine packaging, rabies cold box, insulin cold box, menstrual charts and book graphics of pregnancy phases. The process of design solutions for different projects has been according to its necessity in the area of study, and the various projects might not follow an order of procedure.
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Design of a portable spray bidet
by Nikita Fatarpekar
by Nikita Fatarpekar
As we are all aware of personal hygiene and its importance for healthy and quality living. As excretion is one of the parts of a living. There is a whole range of sanitary wares involved and developed for a better living. This project focuses on the need for a portable sanitation product for the urban population involved in travelling. The project was to design a portable bidet for travellers for easy cleaning and maintaining a hygienic living.
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Design of a Medicine Cold Storage for Electricity Intangible areas
by Nikita Fatarpekar
by Nikita Fatarpekar
As we are all aware of the medication and its importance for healthy and quality living. Medication by injecting medicines that are effective in the cold state is an aspect of medication. There is a whole set of refrigerated medicines developed for the betterment of human life. This project focuses on the need for a portable cold storage product for the rural population involved in treatment and medication. The project was to design a medicine cold storage in electricity intangible areas for health workers for treatment and medication in a rural area.
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Proof of Concept and Testing of Treadle-Powered Fin Propulsion Boat
by Nirmal P J
by Nirmal P J
In this research paper we talk about the design and fabrication of a boat propulsion inspired by the biomechanics of a caudal fin of a fish. Various mechanisms and forms of generation have been explored to finally create a 1:1 scale proof of concept to test the functioning of the design. Experiments have been conducted to check the performance of the aquatic propulsion system and how it can be further improved. The aim was to develop a simple and efficient system inspired by a biological system which has an edge over the conventional screw propulsion.
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Summer Internship Report- Uravu Indigenous Science and Technology Study Center, Thrikkaipetta
by Nirmal P J
by Nirmal P J
The motive of the project was to study the existing chair design and document the process involved in it. Studying the chair involved analysing and finding the existing flaws in the design and producing a new chair by rectifying all the faults. The documentation process included documenting all the processes involved in the making of the chair by creating a detailed report on the time, labour and machinery involved in the making, which will help Uravu in the mass production of the chair as an industrial product. As they are building a platform to start a bamboo furniture wing in Uravu.
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Design Development and Production of Cooking Accessories
by Nirmal P J
by Nirmal P J
Coconut shell has been used as a material to make various cooking accessories for many years. Coconut shell is a hard, durable and, more importantly, a natural material. There are other materials which are also associated with the use of coconut shell, like bamboo and various types of wood. People have been using various products made of coconut shell, bamboo and wood in their kitchen for many years. All those products are mainly referred to as craft products because they are handcrafted by the craftsmen. But today the demand for these products has gone down because of various reasons. The focus area of this project is to look at how we can develop new designs and reposition the craft products to a higher market segment and how this can lead to the betterment of the coconut shell and bamboo craft community and the livelihood of the craftsmen. There are two major aspects to it. The primary aspect is developing new designs and repositioning these to a higher market segment. In order to do that, we have to look at various aspects like the materials and techniques, aesthetics, usability, and manufacturing of these products. All these aspects are very important and need to be scrutinised from two perspectives: one as a craftsman and the other as a user. As craftsmen, it is important that the design is doable and easy for them to manufacture. And as a user, it is important that the product is usable and aesthetically appealing to them. The second aspect is the manufacturing. To be able to manufacture it by the craftsmen, they must undergo training. This will enable them to learn new design ideas and techniques, which will help them in the long run.
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Blending Craft and Technology for Smart Lighting Applications
by Nirmal P J
by Nirmal P J
The focus area of this project is to look at how we can develop new designs and reposition the craft products to a higher market segment by combining the craft with technology and how this can lead to the betterment of the craft community of India and the livelihood conditions of the craftsperson. There are two primary aspects to this project: craft and technology. They are the two different ends of the spectrum. Craft products are generally very low-tech, and all the high-tech products have zero connection to the craft. Combining craft and technology will work for each other’s advantage. This will place craft products onto a new market segment and attract a broader range of user groups.
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Exploration of new age materials used in the manufacturing of bullet proof vests
by P Sri Hari
by P Sri Hari
The bulletproof vest, also called a ballistic vest or bullet-resistant vest, is a personal armour that helps to stop penetration of firearm-fired projectiles into the body and absorb the impact. It is worn on the torso. Soft vests are made of many layers of woven or laminated fibres and can protect the wearer from shotgun projectiles, small-calibre handguns and small fragments from explosives like hand grenades. These vests often have a ballistic plate made of metal or ceramic inserted into the vest, providing additional protection against rifle rounds, and metallic components or tightly woven fibre layers can give soft armour resistance to stab and slash attacks from knives and similar close-quarter weapons.
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Design of hand operated control knobs based on various kinds of hand grips
by P Sri Hari
by P Sri Hari
Human beings have demonstrated amazing ingenuity in designing machines for accomplishing things with less wear and tear upon themselves. Since most machines require human control, they must include control devices through which people make their presence known to machines. These controls must be designed to be suitable for desired control actions in terms of sensory, psychomotor and anthropometric characteristics of the intended user. The design of these controls involves many product components, such as shape, size, force required to operate, resistance and grip. The choice of grips is dictated less by size and shape but by the task that is to be accomplished. Hand adopts different grips to adjust changing force or torque conditions. A single control knob design doesn’t serve all the purposes, and the design must evolve based on the application. This project aims at designing hand-operated control knobs based on different kinds of hand grips to enable the user to sustain productive work in a safe manner.
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Immersive pod for enhancing Virtual Reality experience
by P Sri Hari
by P Sri Hari
Virtual reality is a computer-generated, feel-real environment. The sole purpose of virtual reality is to enable the user to manipulate and experience the digital or simulated environments as if they were the real world. The best virtual reality aims to achieve complete immersion. Immersive Virtual Reality pod is a platform that uses the latest immersive technologies to blur the line between the simulated world and physical world by providing complete immersion through stimulating various senses. The virtual reality experience is enhanced by a motion platform, immersive projection and Ambisonics to create perceptually real sensations. Whether you want a complete seclusion after a busy day to relax, want to watch a movie, or want to experience lifelike racing but without the crashes and accidents, the Virtual Reality pod makes it possible. The motion platform enhances the feeling that you’re experiencing real-life-like forces; users enjoy the complete 3D effects of sound using Ambisonics technology, and the immersive projection displays the virtual reality content spanning the entire visual field. All these technologies work synchronously to give you even greater immersion into the virtual world. Virtual reality seems to be identical to 3-D imagery, where you manipulate and experience the environment, rather than completely becoming part of the virtual world.
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Reinterpreting poles as digital assets to enhance Value of road infrastructure
by P Sri Hari
by P Sri Hari
Urban areas are expected to contribute 75% of India's GDP AND house 40% of India's population by 2030. Smart cities development is a step in that direction. A smart city employs Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to perceive data and use the collected data to manage assets and resources efficiently. Poles are vital infrastructure and span across most parts of the cities but serve limited applications like lighting or signage. Poles of the future serve as ambidextrous city nodes capable of real-time monitoring of the entire city. These poles accommodate equipment for real-time data gathering on roads to make infrastructure more responsive according to the specific needs and achieve sustainability goals by deploying equipment that can naturally replenish the energy to meet the demand for equipment operation. Thus the value addition by redesigning the existing pole infrastructure helps to realise the vision for future smart cities. The humble street pole of the past may soon become the most valuable asset in the city's infrastructure.
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Nature inspired Food dispersal packaging For flood calamity
by Rajat
by Rajat
The food dispersal in flooded lands and conditions is by dropping one or more big & bulky packages of food. This causes damage to food items due to impact with the ground, which can also result in food contamination by exposure to the environment around it. This kind of delivery results in chaos within people, improper food distribution & waste of food due to damage caused by people handling it. The food items are damaged, especially when a variety of items are mixed together and dropped in a single attempt.
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Next Generation Device for Bathing Experience
by Rajat
by Rajat
We all are aware of the significance of bathing and taking quick refreshing showers to drain out daily fatigue as a part of our personal hygiene. But it is equally important that the value for money paid for any product related to showering or bathing is equally justified with the experience achieved with it. Presently, there is a wide range of products available in the market that can bring in some valued experience but involves a lot of overall cost. On the other hand, there are products that serve the purpose but don't lead to any remarkable experience with the product utilisation. To enrich one's bathing experience, there are various technologies involved and developed these days that are available as a system for inside bathroom installations. This project focuses on targeting a niche for an appropriate bathing facility & bringing together the function, experience and value for money paid by the user to enrich the overall scenario with the presence of the desired product.
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Design Intervention for Clubfoot Abduction Orthosis
by Rajat
by Rajat
Clubfoot is a birth deformity in which an infant's foot is curved towards the body internally, often so severely that the bottom of the foot faces sideways or even upward. The clubfoot can affect one foot or both feet. Clubfoot in both feet is called bilateral clubfoot, and in one foot, it is called unilateral clubfoot. Quick identification and immediate treatment help correct it. The leg affected with clubfoot may be smaller than the normal foot. Normally, half of the affected children have bilateral clubfoot. Some cases can also be associated with other problems too. This condition can be diagnosed at birth or before birth with ultrasound during 18 to 21 weeks of pregnancy. Normally, the males are identified with this condition about twice as frequently as females.
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Proof of Concept and Testing of Treadle-Powered Fin Propulsion Boat
by Saijith M S
by Saijith M S
In this research paper we talk about the design and fabrication of a boat propulsion inspired by the biomechanics of a caudal fin of a fish. Various mechanisms and forms of generation have been explored to finally create a 1:1 scale proof of concept to test the functioning of the design. Experiments have been conducted to check the performance of the aquatic propulsion system and how it can be further improved. The aim was to develop a simple and efficient system inspired by a biological system which has an edge over the conventional screw propulsion.
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Summer Internship Report- Uravu Indigenous Science and Technology Study Center, Thrikkaipetta
by Saijith M S
by Saijith M S
The motive of the project was to study the existing chair design and document the process involved in it. Studying the chair involved analysing and finding the existing flaws in the design and producing a new chair by rectifying all the faults. The documentation process included documenting all the processes involved in the making of the chair by creating a detailed report on the time, labour and machinery involved in the making, which will help Uravu in the mass production of the chair as an industrial product. As they are building a platform to start a bamboo furniture wing in Uravu.
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Reimagining The Bedroom Space
by Saijith M S
by Saijith M S
In today’s ever-changing world, material and people move places, cities and countries. As we migrate from city to city in search of better education, jobs or lifestyle, how well are these able to absorb the unprecedented population influx? As spaces become smaller, it is imperative for us designers to appropriate the same into compact liveable spaces. While the world is tending towards smart technology, isn’t it time to celebrate smart living – for a minimal, compact yet efficient living for the future? This project is a venture to reformulate the current perception of the existing household furniture system. A good night’s sleep is vital to our physical health and emotional well-being in this busy urban lifestyle. Here is an attempt to redesign the existing bedroom furniture into a single module which is compact, minimal and smart.
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Cooking Application Using Steam From Solar Steam Generator
by Saijith M S
by Saijith M S
Solar energy is considered to be the most renewable, clean and abundant source of energy. The application of solar energy has been implemented in various fields, cooking being one of them. The heat pump lab at IIT Bombay has developed a solar steam generator that is simple and affordable. Existing studies in the field show that using steam for cooking can save up to 40%-60% of fuel as compared to traditional cooking. Presently there are many manufacturers who produce cooking vessels in the market that use steam as a source for cooking food, which has its own pros and cons. These kinds of vessels are most effectively used in the area of community cooking (hospitals, hostels, temples, etc.). This project is an attempt to make the whole cooking activity much easier for the user, i.e., making it a user-centric design. Finding the flaws in the existing cooking vessels and delivering a new product that gives a new cooking experience for the user are the further objectives. The project has gradually attained its shape after studying a broad spectrum of steam-generated cooking to understand the possibility and scope of this project and finally narrowing it down to a steam-based rice cooker. This report outlines the detailed design process followed during the project.
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Recreating marchers of salt satyagraha by imbibing inspiration from Dhokracraft
by Sukanta Maharana
by Sukanta Maharana
The Dandi march lasted for 24 days, from 12 March 1930 to 6 April 1930, a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against British salt monopoly. It gave impetus to the Indian independence movement and started a nationwide civil disobedience movement. Gandhi, along with 80 trusted volunteers, covered 240 miles in 24 days. Started from Sabarmati Ashram, 240 miles away from Dandi, and broke the salt law on 6 April 1930 at 6:30 am. It sparked large-scale acts of civil disobedience against British Raj salt laws by millions of Indians. The salt satyagraha continued for a year, ending with Gandhi's release from jail and negotiation with the viceroy. Over 60,000 Indians were jailed as a result of satyagraha. Gandhi used civil disobedience as a technique for fighting social and political justice. Dhokra art is one of the earliest known methods of non-ferrous metal casting known to human civilisation. The name Dhokra was initially used to indicate a group of nomadic craftsmen. Later it applied to beautifully decorated brassware products created by the lost wax process. In India, these craftsmen are clustered in the states of Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal. Dhokra art is practised by different communities like the Thataries, Ghasis, Situlias, Ghantaras, Bathudis and other Dhokra workers.
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Designing fire safe for corporate and commercial sector
by Sukanta Maharana
by Sukanta Maharana
Safe is a rugged box made of unbreakable material where one can store documents and valuables. A fire safe additionally has the ability to save the documents and valuables from fire. Ever since man started colonising and socialising, they started storing things which are valuable to them. They made sure that their valuables are secure from every possible threat, like climate, fire, theft, etc. Initially, people used to hide valuables under some objects or up in the trees. Later they made wooden chests that became an essential part of their culture. Metal braces are used on the wooden chest for additional strength. After fulfilment of their functional requirements, they started anaesthetising the wooden chest with other decorative materials. By the time people had advanced in metallurgy and used metal boxes for more safety. These boxes did evolve through many socioeconomic activities. Many categories and subcategories came into the safe manufacturing based on its use, volume, placement and its functions. That can be broadly divided into burglary safes and fire safes based on their function. The fire safes protect the valuables from fire. As the modern lifestyle requires many legal documents, certificates, jewellery and some liquid cash, every household requires a fireproof safe. All the offices, both government and private, require a fireproof safe.
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Electric mobility vehicle for adventure ride
by Sukanta Maharana
by Sukanta Maharana
Leisure travel has been, to a large extent, overshadowed by the style of travelling that involves adventure and offbeat experiences. Adventure sports are recreational activities perceived as involving a high degree of risk. These activities often involve risk, speed, power, and uncertainty. Regardless of their innate challenges, monobikes continue to capture the interest of adventurers. The difficulty of stabilising, starting, stopping, turning, and controlling monocycles at low speeds makes them challenging to operate. It has advantages like zero turning radius, minimum footprint, easy parking and freedom of ground clearance. The use of higher clearance and higher traction enables access on trails and forest roads that have rough and low-traction surfaces. The nonavailability of monowheel adventure rides creates an opportunity to design a special vehicle class that doesn’t exist in the current vehicular market.
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Proof of Concept and Testing of Treadle-Powered Fin Propulsion Boat
by Vinod Louis Joseph Swamy
by Vinod Louis Joseph Swamy
In this research paper we talk about the design and fabrication of a boat propulsion inspired by the biomechanics of a caudal fin of a fish. Various mechanisms and forms of generation have been explored to finally create a 1:1 scale proof of concept to test the functioning of the design. Experiments have been conducted to check the performance of the aquatic propulsion system and how it can be further improved. The aim was to develop a simple and efficient system inspired by a biological system which has an edge over the conventional screw propulsion.
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New- Age Gold Jewellery
by Vinod Louis Joseph Swamy
by Vinod Louis Joseph Swamy
The project explores the design of a 3-piece collection of new-age gold jewellery for urban women in India. The visual language of the range was defined by studying and forecasting the upcoming trends in the jewellery industry. The manufacturing processes and techniques used in the making of gold jewellery were looked into in order to exploit the usage of gold based on its properties as a material. With this in mind, formal exploration was done with novelty being the prime focus, yet with the semantic associations one has with jewellery. The collection has different types of wearables – a neckpiece, a collar clip and a brooch – each paired up with a different style of attire. To make jewellery functional and to appeal to the young tech-savvy user group, a Bluetooth headset was integrated with each of the wearables.
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Automated Surgical Headlight
by Vinod Louis Joseph Swamy
by Vinod Louis Joseph Swamy
The project explores the incorporation of automation in the redesign of a surgical headlight used in open surgeries in order to address the unmet clinical need of the surgeon. To provide uniform and shadow-free illumination, the lighthead automatically maintains a constant spot size over a varying working distance. Documenting the surgery for educational purposes called for an integrated camera to wirelessly live-stream the surgery. The configuration of the various components in the lighthead was defined by compactness and easy cleanability. Explorations were done for designing the head mount so as to provide adjustability, grip and occipital support for user comfort when worn over long periods of time, along with rechargeable battery packs for uninterrupted usage.
Details >>1999-2008
(188 items)
Whistles in Terracotta
by Anand P Rajhans
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by Anand P Rajhans
Whistle-making in terracotta is a dying art. Only a few potters from Patan are making these whistles for sale. To make a whistle in terracotta is a difficult thing, from the potter's point of view. Potters do not have a particular method for making them. Many people do it through experience and skill. Recently, there was an article published in a Russian book ("Russian Folk Style Figuring" by Genndi Blinov). That article shed light on the present situation of potters in Russia. It Says-Will Folk Craft Survive?
"This is a question that arises quite often. Comparing the old Filimonovo, Kargopol, or Dymkovo toys with their modern counterparts that one can buy in craft stores, one cannot help but notice that the new toys are usually at quite a disadvantage. Not so long ago, craftsmen managed to create a brilliant effect using just two or three colours. The simple designs on Vyatka toys, derived from the clothing of the period or ancient pagan symbols, were eminently suitable for clay. They were executed with light mastery and always bore the individual mark of their creator. Recently made folk toys are often painted garishly in colours that fail to combine harmoniously. This does not mean, of course, that the young artists have produced nothing valuable, but as a rule, modern ware from Vyatka, Kargopol, or Filimonovo is inferior to its predecessors. One is compelled to conclude that the craft is declining. Art critic Vladimir Stasov expressed similar fears nearly a century ago. He wrote sadly that folk craftsmen's objects for everyday use were rapidly disappearing to make way for new ones, which, while more serviceable and convenient, lacked the originality and loneliness of their older counterparts. Stasov pointed out that it was time to start collecting, describing, and reproducing those objects, for in his opinion it was a matter of decades or even years before they would disappear without a trace. The time for folk craftsmen is indeed passing. Young people do not show much interest in crafts. They prefer to become drivers, doctors, airline hostesses, psychologists, or actors. But even if a young person takes up a craft and proves talented, he or she is still our contemporary, with a modern mentality and perception of the world. He or she may master specific techniques and, at best, grasp the mood of the old craftsman embodied in his work. But that is all. Under modern conditions, the imagery typical of folklore, that kernel of genuine folk art is bound to be lost. The Soviet state does a great deal to preserve folk crafts and give new impetus to the development of old art centres. Nearly 200 crafts have already been revived, such as toy making in Kargopol, Dymkovo, Filimonovo, Bogorod Skoye, Semyonov, and Abashevo. In the villages of Polkhovsky Maidan and Krutets, toy making began to develop very recently, a fact that obliges one to be cautious when making prognostications concerning the destiny of folk art. The old crafts may also assume new significance if they manage to transcend the production of souvenirs. Art critics note that even now, objects made by folk artists, like pottery, baskets, and lace, can find a use in everyday life. Folk art as a reflection of a certain perception of the world may be coming to an end, but some of its branches continue to exist and will most likely exist as long as poetic perception itself, which draws on the lifestyle in the countryside, agricultural labour, old traditions, and proximity to nature, all of which are still a part of rural life. There is no reason to suppose that this will suddenly cease to be reflected in objects d'art. A heartening sign is a revival of interest in folk crafts not only in towns but among country people, who until recently tended to attach importance to urban culture only, treating the work of their fellow villagers with ironic neglect. This welcome change has been brought about by the higher cultural level of the rural population, the efforts to popularise folk art by arranging exhibitions on all levels, and the encouragement of folk artists, many of whom have even been awarded state prizes. The revival of interest in traditional folk art, especially in the place of its origin, and appreciation of its value are certain to bear fruit. One should like to believe that the folk crafts will not confine themselves to the production of souvenirs and that they will promote understanding among nations. The language of art needs no interpreter. For a student of the history of a nation, nothing can be as revealing as folk art. And better knowledge of each other is something that we all need in an epoch that has made it imperative that relations between the peoples of the earth be based on mutual trust and respect".
The situation of folk craft in India is similar. The new generation of potters is not interested in playing with clay as their means of livelihood. It is a tentative attempt in the direction of reviving the dying art of whistle making.
How Architects Think
by Anshuman Singh
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by Anshuman Singh
The purpose of the experiment was to study the role and potential of mental imagery in the architectural design process. To study the use of only mental imagery as a feedback while designing in the absence of other media, viz., sketching. This experiment is a continuation of previous research on industrial designers. The experiment was made to study architects to ascertain the role of mental imagery, which is different in scale and complexity than industrial design.
This was achieved by using an experienced architect and blindfolding him during the act of design. The results achieved clearly indicate that he was able to use mental imagery to assist him in the design
Documentation & Analysis of Indigenous and traditional products in day to day life
by Avinash Bhalerao
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by Avinash Bhalerao
Logical and practical thinking always leads to better solutions to the problem. We always try to be self-sufficient and find our own way forward. We think about something, dream about it, and then make it a reality. We built our environment around us with the resources available. We try to make the best use of limited resources to get maximum output and comfort. For day-to-day use, we redesign the environment through intelligent improvisation, adoption of processes, substitution of materials, and use of natural materials. Without taking help from highly developed technology, science, etc.
Because of the demands of daily life, the utility of the product for that time, event, or occasion takes precedence over its comfort and aesthetics. where the function or usability is more important than the visual aspects.
Again scarcity of materials, resources, and money leads to very immediate and simple solutions to the problems.
Study of Musical Instruments: Flute
by C. Himasunder Rao
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by C. Himasunder Rao
We almost always hear a variety of sounds. The pleasant sounds are called "musical." A composition of pleasant sounds makes music. Music has a tremendous influence on people’s lives. There is music for nearly every occasion and event. Today, music and musical instruments have become so sophisticated and specialised that we rarely ponder the roots of their existence. However, if we searched, we would discover the significance of the relationship between music and people's cultural lifestyles.
Music is surely more evident with instruments. Right from Phantom’s "tom-tom" drums to the mumbling of the bumblebees, we find the roots of music. Bird whistles and insect drones demonstrate the concept of musical effects and the origins of their creation. Though very versatile, the simplest of all instruments is the flute. It is the wind instrument closest to the human voice. It is an indoor as well as an outdoor instrument. It is very portable and reasonably priced. The punch of the flute is its ability to produce sound. In most wind instruments, air is made to vibrate and is the cause of tones. The flute belongs to the family of woodwind instruments. The flute is one of the world’s oldest musical instruments, and it is also one of the simplest. It is essentially a hollow chamber equipped with a blowhole for introducing acoustic energy. The flute is the only musical instrument that is purely acoustical, requiring no vibrating membranes, strings, reeds, or surfaces for the production of sound, and it has been developed to include a variety of wind instruments. Wind instruments, by their very nature, do not need recurring expenditures to maintain them. It is the most commonly encountered musical instrument. It is considered the common instrument of humanity. This instrument occurs internationally and is not limited by geographical barriers.
This report concentrates essentially on the Indian aeroplanes; its growth, and its social influence. In the history of world music, the Indian flute may be said to be one of the first instruments on which classical music was played. Among concert instruments, the flute enjoys the same dignity and status as the veena. Folk music has a definite character and style of playing the flute. The flute enhances the charm of music and the theme of the occasion. The distinct music that evolved in the region over time has helped to establish the style culturally. For example, the music of the hills is distinctive from the kirtans of the south.
Design Policy in Indian Industry
by Hari Tulasi
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by Hari Tulasi
Traditionally, the manufacturing industry has been concerned with product design. The manufacturing industry may be at the centre of this process, but the design of its products is influenced by many other considerations and activities. What all these influences have in common is the extent to which they add value to the product and thus contribute to its gross margin performance. In fact, product design might be described as "designing for gross margin by extractive manufacturing, distribution, and retailing."
Products are added to the product portfolios of firms in a variety of ways. Many types of strategies—innovative and imitative, offensive and defensive, entrepreneurial and bureaucratic—internal development and external acquisition—are used to add new products and adjust existing ones. These strategic decisions have to be made in a turbulent and risky environment. Offsetting the uncertainty and risks are the rewards of good strategy: products, market dominance, customer loyalty, and invulnerability to outside forces. This in turn increases revenue and returns; it preempts sources of risk such as competitive actions and regulatory constraints.
Icons and its Variability in Graphical User Interface
by Imtiyaz Khatib
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by Imtiyaz Khatib
The visualisation of system status and ongoing processes has enhanced user understanding. A user's interaction with a CAD application lies in how the system is easily perceived via its graphical user interface. An attempt is made to gain firsthand information about the variability and usability of icons, contextual to their application. The study's goal was to look into the factors that influence user perception of icons and their relational aspects.
The methodology adopted was based on comprehending the underlying concepts of GUI in CAD software by analysing and evaluating icons that were selected from various contexts, viz., visualisation, drafting, analysis, and modeling. The icons were tested for critical evaluation amongst designers, graphic visualizers, users of the same software, architects, engineers, etc. to understand their perception of variability.
Design Perception in Industry
by Jayraj Patil
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by Jayraj Patil
Today, when the process of liberalisation is under way, many changes are taking place in Indian industry. Company identities are metamorphosing, brands are revamping & business perception of design is shifting from the domain of the effete to a valid concern for even the most hardheaded managers.
Product design is the final destination of industrial design and engineering design. The former is concerned with aspects of the product that relate to the customer or user, especially appearance and styling; the latter concentrates on the structure or function of the product and its economic manicure. However, the skills required in the practise of industrial design frequently overlap those of engineering design and, sometimes, of other related disciplines such as ergonomics.
Designing may be viewed as being concerned with the preparation of appropriate solutions to marketing problems. These problems may be explicit or implicit; in either case, a key activity in designing is to review the associated symptoms or circumstances and accurately define or redefine the problem. Then analysis, iteration, and simulation are used to drive a feasible solution.
As part of such a process of design, many activities may be involved, including generating novel concepts, reviewing and modifying existing concepts, carrying out experiments, building samples, and seeking the constructive advice and judgement of others. Consequently, those engaged in this work must possess skills of creativity, analysis, synthesis, and communication, as well as knowledge of technical data, existing solutions, and current and future trends in design.
Ethnicity and Modernisation: Gorai Village
by Kulkarni Anand A
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by Kulkarni Anand A
Mumbai is a recent development. The history of Mumbai can be traced up to 400 years. Gorai's residents are Katch migrants who arrived around 500 years ago. They came here and settled here. They have a strong Katchean cultural foundation because they migrated from Katch. The culture is related to their profession, fishing. Since their background is Hindu, we can see some traces of Hindu culture and traditions in the lives of these people.
Wearable Intelligent Devices- An Investigation
by Munindra Nath Chakravarty
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by Munindra Nath Chakravarty
Though we surround ourselves with external support systems indoors and out, we all venture out of our habitats and operate as nomads, independent of these systems, for some portion of each day. Our clothing is a portable environment that can regulate body temperature, afford security and privacy, and express individual identity. Our possessions inform, sustain, and entertain us, as well as provide symbolic or physical access to valued resources.
The prospect for portable and wearable devices that extend the human mobile nature lies in the ambiguous zone between clothing and the things people carry.
Exploring Button Forms in Bamboo and Other Natural Materials
by Neeti Gupta
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by Neeti Gupta
"Button Forms" as a special project defines the creative way of looking at buttons. Buttons have always been a part of our lives since childhood. They are seen in various shapes, forms, colours, textures, materials, and sizes. They form a vital part of our dresses, both as fashion accessories and in apparel design.
Buttons made of bamboo and other natural materials have taken a back seat in the market after the flood of plastic buttons, which are available in a variety of designs. However, designer clothes have opened a market for buttons in ceramics, wood, bamboo, and other natural materials. In this project, one also looks at the various potential markets for marketing these button forms.
Exploring Intertextuality
by Sachin Behere
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by Sachin Behere
Intertextualilty is a theme of the 9th OSAKA international design competition for design. This project works upon the theme and contains two parts. The first is the study of situations that have demonstrated intertextuality. The second part is a design approach that exemplifies the theme.
The Theme: Design is always studied in terms of its roots, context, and perceptional value. The design activity generates itself out of a certain background, and the background creates the form-giving forces. When we consider what makes a design, we can find a wonderful range of experiences and expertise that satisfy sensory and material needs. It is interesting to know what makes a design retain its context while still leaving the viewer freedom of choice. There could be one, three, or numerous items. The idea here is to study the combination of roots in design. The purpose of this study is to find out all sorts of related/unrelated things that get associated with the design activity. The focus will be on understanding how two things come together to form a base for design. Intertextuality is the ability to connect disparate things and blend them into a design situation or potential.
The scope of work: intermixing can be attained on all levels. cultures, generations, sensibilities, and ways of thinking. The union can occur between media, materials, disciplines, thought processes, or viewpoints. This project focuses on two or more disciplines and therefore attitudes that come together and create an event, which is an interesting design situation.
Product For Event
by Sameer Chavan
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by Sameer Chavan
The idea for such a topic is inspired by the recent trends in celebrating events. Now what are such events?
Events are like ceremonies, occasions, functions, and festivals. They all have their own significance. They are celebrated with some rituals, and in celebrating them, there are some products that are specific to the event. What exactly are products?
Products are those items, that are important at such events. They are given on these occasions. They could be active for the duration of the event or for the rest of time. They have a special position in the event.
Product Forms in Bamboo Lamination
by Shilpa Tikale
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by Shilpa Tikale
Bamboo is a cultural feature of Southeast Asia. No country in the region is without an indigenous bamboo flora. Its plethora of essential uses has led to the use of terms such as "bamboo culture," "green gold," "poor man’s timber," and "bamboo-friend of people".
Bamboo is the most versatile forest product, and its potential can be harnessed in the service of mankind. It is one of the most important renewable natural resources of humble grass, which has the capability to reduce maximum biomass per unit area and time as compared with other forest plants.
Ethnicity & Modernisation- Hillside Village Opposite IIT Market Gate
by Sudhir K Bania
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by Sudhir K Bania
Following its consolidation as one large island of greater Bombay from a group of seven small islands, the city went on to become the country's financial capital. Due to the fast pace of modern life and the growth possibilities available in the city, immigrants from all parts of the country started encroaching on the city. Thus, suburbs began to form. Every group of immigrants had to settle outside the city limits due to a lack of space. Soon, these areas developed to a certain level of urbanisation and became part of the city. Thus, the city expanded. Hence, given a settlement in the suburbs of the city, one can roughly judge when people might have started settling in that area.
As modernization accelerates, immigrants who have settled in the city find themselves having to compromise on their ethnic values over modern values for the sake of sustenance and survival. This implies that earlier immigrants were able to establish more ethnic values in the city than the current immigrants.
Folk Musical Instruments of India
by Sushilkumar Wankhedkar
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by Sushilkumar Wankhedkar
"What is a musical instrument?" While one attempts to give an answer, however vague, to the question, the query implies others: "What is music?" and "What is the origin of music?" At first glance, the latter appears to be easier to answer.
The probings are important, because the concepts of musicology and organology are, in their present state, highly sophisticated. For, at the earliest stages of man, music, noise, speech, and dance are all an undivided condition of motor impulse. Is, for instance, a screech accompanying primitive or tribal "dance" music? Yet it has a "rhythmic" and "melodic" quality, or is more strictly an affective spell, different from speech. It therefore seems to me logical to take an undifferenciated sound material and use it in one of the communicative processes—both in humans and nonhumans—which later, in men, get bifurcated into speech and music, the former as a tool of conscious alphabets such as "notes," "chords," "ragas," and so on.
Starting at the other end of the spectrum, as it were, Hindu philosophy expresses the entirety of acoustic material, as well as non-acoustic material, in terms of the One Sound—the Premordial Vibration known and variously known as ivada Brahms, Omkara, and so on; thus, the metaphysical associations of the flute (with Krishna), veena (with Saraswathi), and damaru (with Siva).
The primaeval nebulous state of music is reflected in the early instruments, which do not produce any definite musical sounds of this type, such as scrapers, rasps, and seed rattles. The sound emitted by serapers is undeniably "noisy," and the instrument itself is found mostly with primitive tribes, such as the American Indian's antelope horn scraper and Mexico's Omichicahuaztli; in our own country, we have doddurajan of the Savaras and Kokkara of the Kanikars.The earliest instruments, again, are both musical and non musical in function. Musically, the association is inseparable from dance and hence also rhythm. Dried fruit rattles the Kaniyari dander of Oraons, or, more primitively, fruit shells tied to the waist, are such musical accompaniments of the early stages.Later on, we have fi sticks, slit drums, plates, bars, drums, veeras, and flutes. The functions of instruments were also a feature of early society. The coiicli was not only an announcer of battle but also a container of sacred water for ablution. The Nagcira and the Dliumia were also battle drums Membranophonics have been used as tools for signaling; the most famous ones are the Bengue. Riittray, for instance, has shown that "the difference in pitch between two skin drums used for transmitting news corresponds to the high and low pitches of ordinary speech." The Savaras of Orissa have a legend wherein one Kittung "invents" a drum and a brass gong to announce a funeral or a wedding.
What, then, is a musical instrument? Most broadly put, it is any material used for producing sound in music, but we have already noted its hazy origins. In this sense, the oldest instrument is the human body itself, particularly the voice. Indeed, it has been referred to as Gatra Veena, the body Veena, in our ancient musical texts. Clapping of hands, beating on things and buttocks, stamping on the ground—all such auditory bodily actions are the first instruments. It is interesting to note that the hand used as a counting adjunet to Vedic chanting—no sound is produced at all in this process—is called hasta.
Exploring 3D Letter Forms Using Rapid Prototyping
by Tushar Dani
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by Tushar Dani
Every day, nature is evolving and creating various kinds of complex forms with elegance and beauty. Some examples of complex forms include the process by which sea creatures build shells and mushrooms.
The sea mollusk generates the shell to have protection while living. The shell also gets developed in a particular manner, i.e., layer by layer, generating a spiral form with a variety of textures and patterns on it.
It was this idea that was then further developed for doing this project. No other man-made manufacturing process can make such complex 3D forms like nature can. The new RP process develops a prototype in the same manner as that of nature, i.e., by depositing the molten material layer by layer. So the approach of making explorations in 3D letterforms was suggested in order to get some similarity between the natural process and the new technology.
Another attempt was made to produce the prototype with thin walled structures or shell structures so as to know the capability of the RP machine in terms of optimum material utilization.
Teaching Technology Through Design
by Aurobinda Narayan Pradhan
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by Aurobinda Narayan Pradhan
With the increasing impact of technology on society, we are almost submerged in a technological environment. However, technology, in various forms, has become so much a part of us that, we hardly consider the living environment to be technical, but that doesn’t change the facts. To make the most out of a "technological environment," we must use technology more intelligently. And to do so, we must be technically literate. So, here's why technology should be learned, and more importantly, "why technology should be taught."
Documentation for Kumbharwada
by Ghodke Rajesh Prakash
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by Ghodke Rajesh Prakash
Kumbharwada documentation- This subject gave me an opportunity to explore my favourite medium, photography, and more than that, to learn about the largest slum in Asia, Dharavi, the Kumbharwada. Kumbharwada is known as Mumbai's "most creative neighborhood." To begin with, the project was to gather the most basic information, like, "Where is this place?" and "How do I get there? Who should I meet there? and many other questions. I had an unusual experience upon arriving in Kumbharwada for the first time, but the work there provided me with much-needed motivation, new hope, and a broad perspective to look at through the eyepiece of my camera.
As somebody has written, "Pottery is a measure of a country's civilization." It is one of the oldest methods through which man has tried to express himself, his thoughts, his surroundings, his culture, his institutions, and his soul. Pottery is all about tradition. Some designs date back thousands of years and have been passed down from generation to generation. These crafts have evolved over time and are now one of the most prominent and promising business opportunities. There are approximately 800 houses in "Dharavi," or Kumbharwada. Each house has its own potter and its own designs. What I observed was that some work with the same older methods and techniques of pottery, while some of them have blended their work and approach with the modern world and its technology. They are developing their work to cope with the needs of modernization, but some of them don’t bother about all these factors; they just carry on their working methods of pottery and earn money. There are as many attitudes as there are different designs. If pottery is a work done with the soul and gives each individual its own touch, then let it be a mass produced item or an art piece for a special occasion. The work reflects the image of the potter.
Even though they now have electrically charged wheels with variable speeds, the technique of throwing clay on the wheel will never die. Their hands simply create the forms, unending creations, and limitless designs that give us enormous options for selecting the kind of work with which we decorate our living rooms, gardens, and surroundings. All this and many more things with different experiences can be discussed, as I had a wonderful opportunity to prepare and peep through the window of potters' creations.
Imagery as a Private Experience and Architectural Teamwork
by Hrishikesh Deshmukh
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by Hrishikesh Deshmukh
Mental imagery is a very important part of the design, and each of us experiences it. But surprisingly, the literature on design research does not offer insights on the creative use of imagery in design. An important question is: how does mental imagery affect teamwork if the partners working as a team are placed geographically apart? Does mental imagery in such a case improve the problem-solving process when the two partners exchange their image experiences? Or does it pose itself as a hindrance as the partners are unable to communicate their mental imagery to each other, blocking the process of problem solving.
This experiment was part of a series of collaborative experiments with visual designers and architects to investigate the role of mental imagery in teamwork. A pilot experiment was conducted to better understand the project and its purpose. This was very important to know how the teamwork progresses, how the mental imagery helps or hinders the teamwork, how comfortable the team members were with sharing their images and understanding each other, etc. For the experiment, two architects were invited, and an architecture problem was given to them. And there were pauses in the experiment where each participant was questioned about his or her partner's mental imagery.
Psychological perception of product form: elements-Automobiles
by Kiran R. Dhotare
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by Kiran R. Dhotare
Globalization and liberalisation began in India in the early 1990s, with the automotive industry leading the way among many other industries. Until then, there were only a few players in the automotive industry who provided very few options for the Indian customer. But with the globalisation process, major automotive players from all over the world, like Honda and Suzuki, to name a few, were already setting up their roots in India. Owing to the success of this initial liberalisation policy, many other automotive giants around the world started looking towards India to exploit the potential market. Companies like Hyundai, Ford, and Volvo set up their manufacturing facilities in India. Looking at the potential market in India, they contemplated going a step further and setting up R&D facilities in India, which would help them study the needs of the Indian market and accordingly develop products, right from the concept stage to the manufacturing stage. Owing to this potential, a large scope is envisaged for the styling and design industry in India.
Considering this potential and the competition faced due to foreign manufacturers, the automotive styling industry in the country started gearing up, and a few vehicles in the country rolled out with improved styling. But despite all the sincere efforts, the industry has failed to attract, or rather, distract, the Indian consumer from opting for a foreign vehicle. The major factor behind this phenomenon seems to be the design itself. Typically, the designer creates his designs with some preconceived notions that almost always fail when the customer purchases the car. This happens due to improper or misjudged communication between the designer and his immediate audience.
Mental Imagery as a Private to Public Experience: Conceiving of Moving Images as a Team
by Mandar Bhedasgaonkar
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by Mandar Bhedasgaonkar
In the piolt experiment, a team of two visual communication designers was asked to design a video film. Findings show that private imagery experiences remain only partially accessible to the team members, and these inadequacies have serious implications for the synergy of the teamwork. Access to each other's descriptions and sketches was insufficient for understanding the details and richness of their personal imagery experiences. The vital details, such as understanding of the size, scale, proportion, and 3-D movement of the objects, background music, and lighting conditions, were seldom communicated, making way for ambiguity and assumptions. Both designers had to share the effort to discuss and sketch while continuing their mental involvement in creative efforts. Besides the personalization of the language-imagery relationship, the vagueness of the sketches made access to other people’s imagery more difficult.
Inner Experience of Spaces During Interior Design Projects
by Muktha S. Hiremath
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by Muktha S. Hiremath
This experiment was a study of the mental imagery and the experience of spaces during the process of interior design. The experiment was not only used to study the potential of mental imagery in interior design in the absence of other media, i.e., sketching, but it also made a comparative analysis of the imagery during architectural design. The experiment is a continuum of the experiments conducted on designers. This experiment was carried out to study interior designers or architects when designing interiors to ascertain the role of mental imagery, which is different in approach and detailing as compared to the architectural design process. This was achieved by using an experienced architect and blindfolding him during the act of design. The conclusions reached indicate that the designer was able to use imagery very effectively during the act of design.
Ceramics for Pets
by Naga
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by Naga
Working with clay is a hedonistic pleasure that comes with the responsibility of commanding erratic movements and wet nose rubs. The special project at IDC is an introduction to the specialty of touching clay in order to look into the lives of wild existences. The demand for a range of products for pets as a sign of domestication, be it a bowl, an anthill, a kennel, an aquarium, ornaments, etc., to be produced industrially, needs a study of accustoming pets to home life and domesticity. The possibilities are endless, from the utilitarian bowl to the "one of a kind" folly ceramics.
References of Objects and Attitudes to objects in Folk Songs of the Past
by Prabhakar M. Waghmare
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by Prabhakar M. Waghmare
The project is a reference list of objects and attitudes toward objects in folk songs of the past. Folk song is a glorious part of Indian culture. India is rich in its diversity. This topic concentrates on Maharashtrian folk songs. The regional language is Marathi.
In Maharashtra, many different types of folk songs exist. One of them is called "ovi." This poem is divided into four verses of four lines each. Each line contains no more than 4-5 words. It shows the lifestyle of a Maharashtrian farmer. These songs (Ovi) are full of morals, good thoughts, and messages that boost the hardworking farmer’s life. Generally, this art is performed in villages by women. This art is still alive and well in a few villages in west Maharashtra, where it is practised by elderly people. People used to sing these songs while working. It was an integral part of the Marathi farmer’s life, which teaches them how to live in society "with my mouth, not by words.
Documentation of State of Typography in Marathi
by Pradnyaa More
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by Pradnyaa More
Marathi, the local language of Maharashtra It is widely used and found everywhere, but most people still work with English typography. Very few people are actually looking at Marathi to make the type, the script, the design, or the typography better. Though there are experiments happening in Marathi typefaces, very few people are actually working in typography and graphic design. Marathi is still a neglected language to work on with typography. Even I worked with English typography for the elective in the third semester, when there was a choice. Reasons..unknown.
When Prof. Kriti Trivedi gave this project as a topic, I was desperate to know the work done in Marathi. My mother's tongue: as the project was started, it was seen that not many changes occurred in Marathi typography as compared to the Western work. Whatever changes happened, they were because of the change in printing methods, and sometimes they were the influence of some good designers, like Sri. Dinanath Dalal, Subhash Awchat, and Prof. R. K. Joshi. From the early period, some people and groups, such as Javji Dadaji, Ranuji Aru, Nirnaysagar Press, and various type foundries after that, publications like Keshaw Bhikaji Dhawle, Mauj and Popular, and ITR, have tried to improve the state and have worked extensively in the field. But those are very few in number. Many people are becoming distracted as new media and trends emerge.
In spite of development and good work in the field, it hasn’t reached the level of wide acceptance due to less propagation, sometimes even because of keeping secrecy about the work in fear of getting copied, and mostly due to poor documentation.
Design of Alternative Widgets
by Sameer Bhagwat
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by Sameer Bhagwat
In the given environment of the Windows platform or any such platform, newer versions will always keep getting added; new features will get added, and new widgets will get added. This project seeks to comprehend how the user interacts with the interface and to develop some guidelines for micro-level interface design.
Many widgets exist in different forms and functions. A survey and a brain-storming session to understand some existing problems in the widgets or otherwise to develop a new widget for an application opened a gamut of exploration. The whole direction of the experiment is to come up with a gadget and do a user analysis of the gadget. Issues like navigation, wizards, branch history, and range specifiers were discussed, after which we got down to the range specifier option.
A study on Wearable Computing for Children
by Sreejith Unikrishnan
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by Sreejith Unikrishnan
Wearable computing facilitates a new form of human–computer interaction involving a small body-worn computer (e.g., a user-programmable device) that is always on, always ready, and always accessible. In this regard, the new computational framework differs from that of hand-held devices, laptop computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The "always ready" capability leads to a new form of synergy between humans and computers, characterised by long-term adaptation through the constancy of the user-interface.
A wearable computer is a computer that is subsumed into the personal space of the user, controlled by the user, and has both operational and interactional constancy, i.e., is always on and always accessible. Most notably, it is a device that is always with the user and that the user can use while walking around or doing other activities.
Repositioning of Bamboo Crafts in Chandrapur District
by Ajay Tiple
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by Ajay Tiple
Chandrapur has many craft traditions in its interior villages. Bamboo crafts are prominent among them. Chandrapur has a plethora of bamboo crafts activities, the majority of which take place in the interior, such as in villages. The products that are made are craft items in addition to a few utility items. Despite their original skills, the native craftsmen receive poor economic returns.
The project basically deals with all these issues by assessing the current situation in terms of the products, markets, production, marketing, etc. and looking at the possibilities of repositioning the craft, which can fetch better economic returns to the crafters. A basic model is proposed and compared with other such cases in Kerala, Thailand. Finally, an attempt is made to propose a model that will work in such a situation.
‘Poet & HCL’ Psychology of Everyday things & Human Computer Interface
by Ashish A Tiwari
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by Ashish A Tiwari
Everyday things, being inanimate objects, are not expected to have psychology, a term normally associated with animate or living things. But Donald Norman’s book "The Design of Everyday Things" is based on this very idea of everyday things having a psychology; this idea came from the fact that people have definite notions about how things work and how they go wrong. Donald Norman describes the influencing factors in the usability of everyday things as the psychology arising out of the interaction involved in working on everyday things.
This interaction can be said to happen in an "interface layer" between the user and the thing. And it is at this interface layer that the attributes and dimensions influencing usability come into play. Similar can be said about the computers, as the interface in the form of the monitor is the major tool for interaction and getting the work done. The computer interface is not a static interface, as any other everyday thing or device may have. The computer interface is a dynamic one due to the range of tasks involved. So in order to understand the influencing factors in interface design, a clear understanding of the influencing factors in everyday things will help.
Smart Products: A Documentation
by Ashutosh Kumar
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by Ashutosh Kumar
Why don't people talk in cyber cafes, as opposed to other places where the young and restless congregate, such as rock concerts and cricket match grounds? A person absorbed in a cell phone conversation's changing expression is a symbol of emotional connection. The digital connection not only brings us much closer, but it has also started playing a role in connecting humans to objects. Web-enabled and self talking appliances are going to become a vital part of our day-to-day lives. As digital media devices gradually become even more enmeshed in our lives, it is a really challenging and growing field that needs the serious attention of designers to be an active participant in a novel interaction between humans and objects. The project is aimed at a serious investigation into the above-mentioned environment and retrospecting the attributes of such products, so-called "smart products.
Smart products are smart because they are capable of "thinking"—of learning to anticipate and meet the needs of the user. The "brain" that does this thinking is a microprocessor, or a chip, the basic unit of all computers. Smart products are "mechatronic" systems, or innovations that integrate mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems in order to make a product behave intelligently. With microchips increasingly finding their way into even the most mundane of objects, such as watches, it admits that it will be difficult for them to become as synonymous in consumers' minds with "smart" appliances as Intel is with PCs. Previously, products were either made simple so that anyone could use them, or too complex with multiple uses, like a computer or VCR. The complicated products require a learning process, which inhibits many people and satisfies only those who are willing to invest the time and energy to learn how to use them.
The intelligent appliance adapts to the user's characteristics, becoming very simple and relatively error-free for the casual user while providing more features and capabilities for those who require or wish to use them. Adaptation includes functional changes as use progresses from basic functions to the need for more advanced features later on. The appliance recognises which buttons are being pushed as well as the user's habit patterns and adapts accordingly. A significant and useful intelligence characteristic is diagnostics—not only after failure but also predictive and advisory. It’s not sufficient to know that a product has failed; if the failure occurs at an inconvenient time, that may result in great trouble. Indeed, some time this "pre-signal" allows the user to arrange alternatives; for example, if a button appears to be sticky, the appliance can perhaps continue to operate with some precautions. This is analogous to detecting rattling in an automobile engine and correcting the problem before it becomes catastrophic.
Study of Fractals in 3D
by Nikhil Jadhav
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by Nikhil Jadhav
In 1623, Galileo proposed that mathematics is the language that we should use to understand the universe. In his time, this meant using traditional Euclidean geometry to describe the seemingly complex natural shapes around us. However, this type of geometry proves to be an inadequate way to understand natural structures. After all, mountains are not cones, rivers are not straight lines, and clouds are not spheres.
Fractals were discovered at the turn of the last century. They were viewed as curious images of intrigue but of limited use until Mandlebrot pioneered the field of fractal geometry in the early 1900s. They can model and describe certain seemingly complex forms and phenomena that occur in the world. Myriads of natural fractals exist: galaxies, landscapes, and clouds. On a smaller scale, consider proteins and polymers; fractals can even be found within our bodies—our lungs and blood vessels.
Use of GESTALT LAWS in HCL
by Nirav Shah
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by Nirav Shah
Computers experts are already talking about technology that conforms to humans rather than humans adapting to technology, where human perception plays an important role in defining the needs and constraints of the user. Researchers are now studying the "human" factor in human-computer interaction and formulating principles under which a system must adapt to the user and guidelines that would help the designer achieve these goals.
Human perception plays an important role in producing visual forms. But still under question are issues like visual design, which is rated very low in matrices compared to functional issues. The project was initiated with an inquiry into a few issues that are still not fully understood by interface designers.
‘Mobiles’- An Exploration
by Parul Prahhan
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by Parul Prahhan
The project is a part of ongoing experimentation by Prof. Vanmala Jain. It is an attempt to fill up the gap in the field of mobiles, where mobiles made of all other materials have already come a long way, but those made of ceramics are still emerging.
The project was carried on simultaneously in two separate channels: product and material, as in mobiles and ceramics. The former dealt with the study of the concept of mobiles in a western as well as an Indian context, the existing stage of the field chosen, various types of mobiles, etc. to understand the structure of mobiles as a product. The latter dealt with material comprehension through experimentation and exploration. This was done to know the boundary of the project so that the scope of the project could then be defined.
The field being too vast to be covered in the available time, it was decided to limit the material, process, and basic form so that this could be explored in detail. Since this was the first experience with the material, the exploration gave a chance to learn the process from the basic level to the details and complexities of model making, mould making, casting, cutting, finishing, biscuiting, glazing, and firing. Various concepts were developed and tried at different levels; some of them were developed further as the material's experience increased, depending on the complexities of the process and the limitations of the material. The pieces made were then tried out to make mobiles as per the concepts developed and installed in the place of their emergence.
The project at each step was full of surprises and lots of information, which helped keep the interest alive from the beginning to the end. This being an exploration project, it is supposed to be left open-ended so that it could be carried on further in the future by others.
Inventive Interventions in Mental Imagery- Design process in a different perspective
by Sulekha Kuthiala
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by Sulekha Kuthiala
This paper is part of a series of papers that explore the way designers use mental imagery to solve design problems. Given the task of designing a snack bar for a fashion institute located in an urban area, this paper will attempt to identify and compare the unique strategies that the architects developed to argue and take visuo-spatial decisions when blindfolded and prevented from using their usual thinking tool like sketching. New findings in the current experiments reveal the "goal setting" process that Suwa et al established for sketching. Therefore, the "S" invention of design issues and requirements talked about in this paper has its relevance to mental imagery as well, and we hope to show that our data disputes this emphasis that Suwa et al place on sketching.
Bionics: From Bud to Flower
by Vinayak Raje
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by Vinayak Raje
The term "bionics" refers to the science of constructing artificial systems that have some of the characteristics of living systems. Bionics is not a specialised science but an interscience discipline; it may be compared with cybernetics (the science of communication and control in animals and machines). Bionics and cybernetics have been called two sides of the same coin. Both use models of living systems: bionics to find new ideas for useful artificial machines and systems, and cybernetics to seek the explanation of living beings' behaviour.
The project Bionics: From Bud to Flower is an attempt to relate the beautiful natural phenomenon of flower blossoming with some applications in design. The process of bionic science has been understood through case studies. The process of flower blossoming has been analysed in design terms, and then an algebraic system has been developed with possible combinations.
Design of a human powered bionic boat
by Abhijeet Kumar
by Abhijeet Kumar
The project aimed at utilising the propelling and manoeuvring qualities of fish to conceptualise a human-powered boat. Similar projects have been studied deeply under the discipline of bionics; however, what was needed was the conceptualization of the principle into a feasible product, which was ultimately the aim of the project. The initial task was to come to terms with the existing studies in this area and outline guidelines that had to be followed. As I understood from the data on scale models, I have been solely devoted to perfecting the motion of fish. Little effort has been made to put the principle into product form. In our effort to conceptualise a product, a scale model of the mechanism was made and experimented upon. Useful observations were taken from our experiments with the model; however, given the constraint of time in this project; the data generated is mostly qualitative. Although this project was with me for only a few months, it was undertaken under Prof. V.P. Bapat, IDC, who is an authority in the field of bionics. Given his special interest in this area, the project is under development under his guidance.
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Styling of Small Sports Utility Vehicle
by Abhijeet Kumar
by Abhijeet Kumar
The project idea emerged out of a need for such relevant vehicles in India. Our road infrastructure is so designed that one does not have to go on any off-roading adventures. It is not a surprise why sports utility vehicles are not so popular in India, despite all their suitable features meant for our kind of roads, because imported SUVs are simply not affordable and not many choices are left in indigenous SUVs. Apart from this, SUVs are massive in nature, which makes it difficult to drive on city roads, so a smaller version of a regular-size SUV will be good enough to serve the users’ needs. The sales figure of the Mahindra Scorpio gave us a ray of hope to proceed with this project, which could be the choice of any Indian SUV buyer. This project is an attempt to design a vehicle that will be a perfect cross between a sport utility and an urban activity vehicle within a price range of 6-7 lakh rupees.
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Design of a Three Passenger Auto Rickshaw (the Interiors)
by Abhijeet Kumar
by Abhijeet Kumar
The project was approached by a company with a vision to launch a three-passenger autorickshaw, which would enter the market with an impact on competing against the country’s best-selling vehicle in that segment, ‘the Bajaj RE’. The vehicle should have its own identity, be better engineered, and be designed to suit all climatic conditions. Currently, the company doesn’t have any products in this range. Their other products have good demand in the northern part of India but were never accepted in the southern, western, and eastern parts of India. The decision to produce a three-passenger autorickshaw was a bold move by the company because a failure might sweep them away from the business. Currently, the company is not doing very well, but a success would give them a boost to flourish further and would cause worry for the competitors. The nature of the project demanded some radical changes in the vehicle so as to be different and better than the competitors’ product, but at the same time, it should not deviate too much from today’s autorickshaw.
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Trends and Visual perception in Car Styling
by Ajay desai
by Ajay desai
Designers need to keep reinventing their products to keep up with the customer‘s expectations, which depend on prevailing styles and trends and their impact on the user's visual perception. Users get visually trained with the existing products (particular style and trend) on the market and also get tired of so-called old products because of the continuous change in trends. Both training and tiredness are factors that influence users perceptions or expectations of a product. Thus, style, trends, and the user's perception ultimately affect the life of the product. That's why these terms are vital for the company's profit figures, but they are not easy to predict. This project is an effort at systematic understanding and aims to establish a link between the related key issues. And also to find out the possible way so that designers can sense this tiredness among consumers sooner and can act accordingly.
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Summer Training at Pinnacle Industries ltd. and Bajaj Tempo ltd.
by Ajay desai
by Ajay desai
Bajaj Tempo Ltd. is a 45-year-old company with an annual turnover of 850 crore. They have two plants, one in Akurdi, Pune, and the other in Pithampur, Indore. They have an in-house R&D centre with 400 engineers and two industrial designers. Pinnacle Industries Ltd. was formed in June 1996 with an annual turnover of around 35 crores.
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Work station for the medical diagnostic laboratory
by Ajay desai
by Ajay desai
The Indian diagnostic market has undergone some major changes in the last four or five years with the advent of large pathology laboratories. Large-path labs have been showing impressive growth rates of 50% over the past year, while overall market growth was estimated at 25%, according to metropolis studies claims published in Lab Watch on June 16–30, 2003.
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Design of wall clocks using coil technique in Bamboo with the focus of Design transfer
by Ajay desai
by Ajay desai
The world has discovered bamboo as an eco-friendly, fashionable material and as an alternative to wood and leather. In Western countries, bamboo-made products are highly appreciated and can fetch a much higher price. With the richest bamboo genetic resources next to China and rich handicraft traditions, India too is aiming to become a global player. The government and private players in India started pumping money into the bamboo sector. The bamboo sector needs an integrated and multifaceted approach, going beyond the setting up of enterprises, and a concomitant focus on resource development, markets, technology transfer, community development, awareness building, product development, and diversification. The use of indigenous and new industrial tools is of great value to the craftsman who works day-in and day-out in bamboo but still resorts to old and sometimes inadequate methods for production and produces the least profitable products. Product design initiatives are needed in order to meet consumer expectations of the high potential market. The objective of the project is to design high-value wall clocks from existing craft setups in rural areas based on the human resources of bamboo crafts and train them with tools, technologies, methods, and techniques through organising training and production workshops.
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Product Skin
by Anand Asinkar
by Anand Asinkar
Product Skin can also be said to be the aesthetic wrapping (or style) in which the product appears to us. The elements of design, such as shape, colour, texture, material, and ornament, when put together, convey the messages that make one product different from another. The skin is also a trigger for what makes one product different from another. The skin is also a trigger for what makes the object desirable beyond its function. The product can be made into two parts. The actual engineering that makes it work, the appearance that makes it work, and the appearance, or the cover, under which the product functions. In some cases, the product and the skin form a combined function as a whole. The function of the product itself gives it a form.
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V.I.P. LUGGAGE, nasik
by Anand Asinkar
by Anand Asinkar
The establishment of VIP, Asia's number-one luggage manufacturer, in 1971 heralded the birth of modern luggage in India. VIP launched India's first hard suitcase the same year. Since then, the company has grown, not just in size nor in the wide range of product offerings for every travel need, but also in the geographical breadth of our operations. Today, VIP Luggage enjoys an overwhelming 97% brand awareness among India's 950 million people. Over the years, the name VIP has become a trusted mark among travellers, safeguarding their belongings wherever their journey may take them. Its popularity is apparent from the fact that 10,000 direct dealers and several thousand more indirect dealers stock VIP luggage in India alone. Overseas, sophisticated retailers such as London's Selfridges and the House of Fraser stock VIP luggage. The company’s reach extends across the globe, to the United States, Germany, Spain, Italy, and other countries. Four factories produce nearly five million pieces a year, making VIP the second-largest producer of luggage in the world. The state-of-the-art VIP Design Lab at Nasik is constantly working towards product improvement. VIP's innovations have earned them numerous international patents and design registrations. VIP is committed to giving their customers products that have passed the most stringent tests of quality control. The efforts have earned each of their factories ISO certification. The plants are fitted with advanced pollution control equipment, reflecting our concern for the environment and our position as a respected member of the local community.
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Transportable Catering Equipment
by Anand Asinkar
by Anand Asinkar
Food service is an essential part of our tradition. Occasions are event-specific. Serving hot and fresh food is considered respectable. Not only marriages but also other aspects of our lives, like social gatherings, have become a part of our lives. Caterers play an important role as organizers of this need. It has been observed that the equipment proves inadequate in satisfying the task. The activities needed to be performed are cooking, serving, and transportation. The idea is to understand the problems in performing the activities and provide solutions for them, keeping in mind the Indian context.
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Design of Transportable Catering Equipment
by Anand Asinkar
by Anand Asinkar
The project is aimed at developing a design for the food industry, essentially the catering industry. It is an attempt to identify a potential niche in a small catering service where investing in equipment is the most important thing. It is also an attempt to develop and identify an area where design has been overlooked. The study that leads to a single solution might not be the best solution, but keeping in mind the users and factors.
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Design of an Air Cooler
by Anand Asinkar
by Anand Asinkar
The project is aimed at developing a design for the food industry, essentially the catering industry. It is an attempt to identify a potential niche in a small catering service where investing in equipment is the most important thing. It is also an attempt to develop and identify an area where design has been overlooked. The study that leads to a single solution might not be the best solution, but keeping in mind the users and factors.
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Form and emotion
by V P B Chakravarthi. K
by V P B Chakravarthi. K
The emotional experience of the user towards the products has been argued to become increasingly important in the development of new products. A difficulty with handling individual emotional responses towards products seems to be as intangible as it is appealing. A problem with many of the existing design methods and models for understanding the emotional experience is that they rely on the personal interpretation of the designer. An interpretation that is hard to communicate and justify through a product development project. In most markets, product differentiation is difficult because products are similar in respect to their technical characteristics, quality, and price. Only emotional responses can incite the customer‘s first impression of a product, which strongly influences purchase decisions. The focus of research is to present the process, technique, and specifications that involve the user in the design process, enabling the designer to manipulate the emotional impact of his designs on the user by capturing the intended expressions in form that match what the user desires to see and feel, thereby preserving the longevity of the emotional fit between the product and the user.
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Design And Development of Mnx Starters
by V P B Chakravarthi. K
by V P B Chakravarthi. K
An experience with a product refers to the effective, ergonomical, and aesthetic reactions of people while seeing or interacting with it. All the products that belong to the same category have identical technical performances, and consumers base their choice on the pleasure a product will give. Companies have come to realise that purely technology-driven design often does not fit with real user needs and concerns. Industrial design, which has effective concern for the user, is prevalent.
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Re-Design of A Specimen Cutter for Metallurgical Analysis
by V P B Chakravarthi. K
by V P B Chakravarthi. K
New technical applications and the operating requirements pushed to higher levels have created a continued need for the development of new alloys. In the metalworking industry, work pieces of most different shapes and dimensions are made of different materials. The material properties of different metals are to be fully studied before they are sent for fabrication or take the shape of any component. For this purpose, the metallurgical properties of the metals are to be observed and estimated. Based on this estimation, the suitability of the material for the specific purpose will be known. A metallurgist separates a layer of metal from the parent metal and carries out the study based on the requirements. For the separation of a layer from its parent component, a specimen cutter is used in metallurgical laboratories for the mechanical preparation of solid specimens. The project deals with a new design and development of the existing, fully manual equipment with enhanced functionality adopting contemporary technical developments, increased usability, a substantial reduction of human intervention, and aesthetics to create a new identity and reduce monotony, etc., which results in an efficient and accurate output.
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Design And Styling of Earthmover
by V P B Chakravarthi. K
by V P B Chakravarthi. K
The role of design and designers in the development of industrial vehicles has taken on tremendous importance over the past few decades, influencing almost every category of industrial vehicle as well as many aspects of an individual machine. Although the function of the earth mover is fundamentally the same, regardless of where it is being used, design features are the key elements that make the difference in the choice of purchase. They are to be built into the original design to make implementation easy and to accommodate the functional requirements of the user wherever it is intended to be used. These attributes, which strongly affect how consumers will react to a product, must be designed in harmony with the final appearance and goal so that it successfully communicates in unspoken ways what it is really trying to offer the customer. Styling, form, material choices, colour, colour breakups, and other elements of design are the dimensional aspects that affect the appearance of a product and, more importantly, the whole character that the product portrays to its end users. This project is about achieving the perfect balance between the bookends of appearance and function and targets developing the backhoe loader to enhance its service to the user in terms of functionality and user comfort with appropriate feedback and making it just as pleasing to the eye as it is practical.
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Sharing Mental Imagery in Collaborative Design
by Darshan Rathod
by Darshan Rathod
The focus of the research started with the goal of understanding mental imagery in the field of design. Several questions related to the nature and role of imagery in design have been a focus of research. Some questions asked are whether creativity depends on imagery or whether discoveries can be made in imagery. This experiment is a continuation of the studies of mental imagery in the architectural design process. The earlier experiments attempted to study the nature of mental imagery in the mind of the architect during the design process and the subsequent sharing of the same with a co-architect. In this experiment, the focus would be on the issues that arise in a team while sharing mental imagery.
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Training at Blow Plast Ergonomics Limited, Nagpur
by Darshan Rathod
by Darshan Rathod
Blow Plast Ergonomics Limited (BPEL), Nagpur, is a division of the D. G. Piramal Group of Companies. BEPL is primarily interested in SYSTEMS FURNITURE. Operations commenced in 1992 under a technical collaboration agreement with Element International Partnership, Australia.
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Lifestyle Products in Glass and Steel
by Darshan Rathod
by Darshan Rathod
This project started with a wish to understand materials and the way one could use one's hands to create an object, a product. The scale of the product is very important, and the first thought was of small products, things that one could hold. Lifestyle products were chosen as a domain of work. This phrase provided the necessary direction to understand what exactly goes into defining the word lifestyle and, hence, lifestyle products. The word lifestyle has different connotations and is often misinterpreted for hedonistic pursuits. This made a thorough understanding of the field very important. Probing further, one realised that there is no single definition one could ascribe to the term. The definition existed within various shades, often overlapping and defining the product in various diverse ways.
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Storage in Bamboo and Metal
by Darshan Rathod
by Darshan Rathod
Introducing bamboo combined with metal. The purpose of employing metal, such as to provide it with a base framework or because of its finish, is to add a lasting quality to the item. It creates a queue of goods to be sold in city markets.
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Study of Product Skin and its impacts on today’s products
by Kiran Kulkarni
by Kiran Kulkarni
The study of product skins is an attempt to view and speculate on our traditional notions of surface and its impacts on product communication. With the clues observed in nature, it is evident that skin is more than a surface left for your sensory responses. Skins in nature acquire different meanings and relations, which makes our understanding of the object direct, easier, and simpler. An overview of recent technological directions for product skin as assumed by the outermost surface of an industrial product takes a new dimension of use and expression. With the invention of chips and the multifunctional use of products, the outer surface is facing a new challenge of product communication. With the disappearance of physical features, skins behave as extensively used interfaces for various multiple functions and uses.
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Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (Cbtc)
by Kiran Kulkarni
by Kiran Kulkarni
As an employee of the firm, I participated in workshops organised to encourage local entrepreneurs to develop bamboo-based products. I was keen to know the design approach of the firm with a unique vision of identifying and disseminating technologies for economic enhancement of craftspeople and small and medium-scale entrepreneurs and also to enhance the skills and quality of goods produced in the cane and bamboo sector of North East India. I was also involved in conceptualising a new product range for bathroom accessories, considering the local crafts and the species of bamboo. I travelled extensively in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura to understand the skills of people, their culture, and their long association with the material. I attended a workshop organised by NID and BCDI in Agartala on the making of musical instruments from bamboo.
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Design of Musical Products in Bamboo
by Kiran Kulkarni
by Kiran Kulkarni
Music has been an integral part of every culture. Man has tried creating numerous shapes to suit his song or to listen to musical sounds. He ventured meddling with many materials and forms to play the harmony of sounds, creating a musical experience. I chose to work with bamboo for its ability to create sounds. I learned that it is a wind instrument in the form of a flute, a string instrument in the form of a Bhudung Dhuppa (a traditional North East instrument), and a percussion instrument as well in the form of drums. Many traditions have historically used bamboo in various ways to create musical sounds. Summer training in north-east India provided an opportunity to see bamboo in its habitat. Attending a workshop on creating sounds in bamboo organised by BCDI gave an insight into the making and use of bamboo as musical instruments. It also made me question the design aspects of a musical product.
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Design of Educational Products for ISRO
by Kiran Kulkarni
by Kiran Kulkarni
Space exploration is ancient, but recently, in the last two centuries, a new way of thinking called science and its applications have fueled this dream with a large number of possibilities. It leads us to a huge body of research, discoveries, and findings, creating a great wealth of human knowledge. It is a task to comprehend. My experiences made me discover more about satellites. I feel an incident can kindle your curiosity and imbibe a way of thinking to know about the phenomenon by discovering it. I wished to work with ISRO because of its new spirit of encouragement and commitment to bring scientific knowledge to common people. ISRO is one of the leading research centres in the world that has mastered the technology of building satellites and facilities for national use. We launched our first satellite, "Aryabhatta,” in 1975; after that, there was no looking back on the developments in space technology. The satellite programme involves the design and building of satellites for various applications involving national sks. Two families, one of communication and the other of earth-observing satellites, dominate our satellite program. The launcher programme involves the design, fabrication, and launch of launch vehicles. Interactions with the scientists and engineers inspired me to take a challenge to make complex concepts of science easier, imaginative, playful, and pleasurable and experience educational value for the general audience. We encounter science as prescribed by the syllabi in our schools and colleges. We relate ourselves to the words of the book to understand, not giving ourselves a chance to relate to the experience of the phenomena by using our imagination. I have tried to explore the design of an educational product with these concerns.
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Poetry- reflections on the Mirror
by Kiran Kumaran
by Kiran Kumaran
This project began with an inquisition into the phenomenon of the methods and processes used in a medium borrowed from another medium. Why are these methods and ideas borrowed? How were they borrowed? How does it affect the new medium? Do these ideas transform themselves with the material of the new medium? Do they act as brakes, or do they help in flourishing? Do these finally end up as adaptations of well-worn methods that come under imitation or mechanical craftsmanship, or are they taken forward to a new dimension to suit the material of the new medium? The interdependency and how it would move away and gain its own autonomy. This project aims to understand this phenomenon and attempts to answer some of the queries.
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Summer Internship at NHHDC, Nagaland
by Kiran Kumaran
by Kiran Kumaran
This training has given me a chance to understand and think about traditional crafts, apart from giving me a chance to work on materials like bamboo. I realise that everything that we call design and technology has evolved from our traditional craft. A deeper understanding of its evolution, its effect on the social system, its role in education, and the total sustainability and well-being of a craft-based society needs to be understood.
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Inconspicuous Furniture
by Kiran Kumaran
by Kiran Kumaran
Seating in public spaces is best represented by the common bench. This project was aimed at looking at the common bench from the point of view of making the everyday act of sitting an aesthetic experience. Landscape artists and environmental artists have used art to make our public spaces more active and meaningful. But public art is usually monolithic and custom-made and is often seen as a confronting presence in our urban spaces. Our public seating could be our public art. This project is an attempt at using outdoor furniture as a means to achieve what public art aspires to do.
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Lamps in Bamboo
by Kiran Kumaran
by Kiran Kumaran
Bamboo is rich, eco-friendly, and a sustainable material. This project aims to reposition bamboo in ‘Table Lamps’ in the present market scenario. It started with looking at various table lamps and finding segments where bamboo could be introduced. Bamboo craft was looked at closely to understand the various aspects of it. New forms and processes were explored in the coil technique. Lamps were designed using the newly generated forms. The overall goal of the project is the production of craft objects with an industrial discipline while maintaining craft variety and richness.
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Product Possibilities in Cola Palm Leaves and Bark Found in IIT
by Krishna Kumar R.
by Krishna Kumar R.
From time immemorial, man has been fascinated by the things that surround him. In all his efforts, he has been trying to conquer the limits of his ignorance. As part of this ongoing process, a lot of materials, both man-made and natural, have been explored and put to use in various fields. The leaves of the Coca-Cola palm tree, with their characteristic and distinct texture, attract anybody’s fascination. The project aims at exploring the possibilities of a craft product that could emerge from the studies of the properties of the material.
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Contemporary Lifestyle Products With a Touch of Craft
by Krishna Kumar R.
by Krishna Kumar R.
In today’s world, where everyone wears the same kind of clothes, talks over the same kind of cell phone, travels in the same kind of car, works in the same environment, and buys things that are not very distinct from each other, how does one stand apart from the crowd without blending into the surroundings? People have their own tastes and appreciations for life. They like to show their feelings and expressions. They like to show they are distinct from one another. To get a clearer picture of what lifestyle is, what lifestyle products are, and how they become one, the daily lives of people across the world were studied. This study helped in identifying behavioral patterns that are followed. And how products graduate from one level to another. The study of daily life in various regions of India helped to identify the underlying commonality despite the regional variations.
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Wearable Products Combining Fashion and Technology
by Krishna Kumar R.
by Krishna Kumar R.
For ages, man has been carrying different objects with him, holding them, wearing them, and taking them wherever he goes. The advancements in technology have made it possible for him to carry various electronic devices with him. The birth of these portable devices posed a set of new questions about the relationship between an object and the person’s body on or around which it is worn. In the future, multimedia devices communicating via wireless networks will be ubiquitous and built into the clothes and objects we wear every day. The family of these products will utilise the latest advances in miniaturisation and wireless connectivity technology to enable entertainment, business, and security-related communications and broadband applications. These modular devices would be wirelessly connected, allowing them to share information with other devices and the user, forming a seamless network. In these technology-loaded devices, functional capabilities and features are often implemented without much regard for actual human needs and aspirations, sometimes at the expense of the user experience.
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Design of A Propulsion Model for Human Powered Bionic Boat
by Nikhil S. Rane
by Nikhil S. Rane
This project was envisaged with the intention of exploring the bionic mechanisms for locomotion in fish and to analyse and thereby develop a model of fish propulsion. It is a part of the ongoing research of Prof. . V. P. Bapat and is guided by him. The work done so far by other students through previous projects has given a certain direction to the research. A scale model of one fish propulsion type has been previously tested. The project focuses more on the development of an appropriate mechanism for subsequent building and testing of a scale model to verify and evaluate the nature of the movement obtained with reference to the bionic principles involved. It is observed that most bionic research in this area focuses on the development of electrically powered crafts. This project, however, focuses on developing a mechanism for pedal-powered boats for leisure and recreational activities, sports, etc. The approach has been to develop a mechanism that conveys the essence of the action with correct proportioning and becomes an integral part of any boat form developed for it.
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Automotive Design Workshop
by Nikhil S. Rane
by Nikhil S. Rane
The ‘Automotive Design Workshop’ conducted at IIT Guwahati provided us with an opportunity to explore our potential in the vast arena of automotive design. Working with PU foam was a good experience in model making, as it is very easy to carve with blades and knives and also to abrade with sand paper. However, the use of simple tools enabled me to produce a model with greater speed and accuracy. The easiest way to make my own tools was by using sandpaper and wood, especially soft wood. This allowed me to work on flat surfaces, contours, etc. with equal ease. By using different grades of sandpaper, one can achieve better results than by using the sandpaper by hand. Templates are needed for the front and side profiles to check the maximum dimensions. These are made from either wood or styrene sheets with drawings on graph paper.
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A Sportsbike Concept - Motorcycle Styling
by Nikhil S. Rane
by Nikhil S. Rane
Motorcycle design is not a question of line. It is primarily about proportion. The objective of the project was the styling of a 'sportsbike’ for young people, possibly in their early twenties.
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Styling of a Sportsbike
by Nikhil S. Rane
by Nikhil S. Rane
The idea for the project emerged as a result of an initial study of the trends prevalent in the motorcycling arena in the country. Motorcycles are a fast-growing sector and have gained an ever-increasing market share in the two-wheeler market, as against scooters, scooterettes, and mopeds. The success of bikes like the Bajaj Pulsars and the Hero Honda CBZ surely points to the near future being that of ‘Sportsbikes’, which is what people in the country generally term them as. This project attempts to conceptualise a ‘Sportsbike’ for the youth in this scenario, in the process breaking my own preconceived notions about the mental image of a ‘Sportbike’ in the minds of the Indian user. The methodology relies on an innovative approach, user inputs for design, and last but not least, the past eight years spent riding, studying, and experiencing almost all the types of motorcycles, for they are my passion.
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Design Of The Exterior For A Three Passenger Auto Rickshaw
by Nikhil S. Rane
by Nikhil S. Rane
The ‘Autorickshaw’ has established a name for itself as a functional and relatively comfortable mode of transport for almost two decades. It provides an efficient means of commuting over short distances, such as in cities or towns. The very construction and mode of operation of the three-passenger autorickshaw have rendered it very useful in developing countries where low-cost transportation is an important economic need. In spite of this, its design has undergone very few changes, and it has been subject to vast and sometimes outrageous modifications by owners to suit their taste and needs. Also, the monopoly associated with autorickshaw manufacture has made newer designs and improvements very slow to arrive. It is in this light that the project attempts to design a passenger autorickshaw. The project aims at designing an autorickshaw that will provide a higher level of comfort, superior technology, safety, and a fresh new look, thus proving to be a strong competitor to the existing one. Due to the vast nature of the overall project, the scope of the project is ‘Design of the Exterior’ with close coordination with ‘Interior Design’. It goes without saying that considerable attention has been given to an existing setup, mechanicals, and other constraints, which are in fact nothing but design opportunities.
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Exterior Design for A Three Passenger Auto Rickshaw
by Nikhil S. Rane
by Nikhil S. Rane
The ‘Autorickshaw’ has established a name for itself as a functional and relatively comfortable mode of transport for almost two decades. It provides an efficient means of commuting over short distances, such as in cities or towns. The very construction and mode of operation of the three-passenger autorickshaw have rendered it very useful in developing countries where low-cost transportation is an important economic need. In spite of this, its design has undergone very few changes, and it has been subject to vast and sometimes outrageous modifications by owners to suit their taste and needs. Also, the monopoly associated with autorickshaw manufacture has made newer designs and improvements very slow to arrive. It is in this light that the project attempts to design a passenger autorickshaw. The project aims at designing an autorickshaw that will provide a higher level of comfort, superior technology, safety, and a fresh new look, thus proving to be a strong competitor to the existing one. Due to the vast nature of the overall project, the scope of the project is ‘Design of the Exterior’ with close coordination with ‘Interior Design’. It goes without saying that considerable attention has been given to an existing setup, mechanicals, and other constraints, which are in fact nothing but design opportunities.
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Design of a Propulsion Model Based on the Bionic Movement of Fish
by Prashant Vetoskar
by Prashant Vetoskar
The oceans and seas are the most ecologically diverse places on our planet, and yet we know very little about them. Man-made systems developed for ocean exploration, up to this point, have been very limited in their capabilities. For our engineering solutions to become better suited to marine exploration, we must look to nature for inspiration. While man-made marine systems, such as submarines and ships, have been optimised over the years to perform long-range cruising, they lack the agility and manoeuvrability of biological systems. A good measure of the manoeuvrability of waterborne systems is the turn radius. The minimum turning radius for a fish is 0.00-0.47 body lengths, while for sea lions it is about 0.09-0.16 body lengths. In contrast, rigid-body submarines have a turning radius of 2–3 body lengths. In general, the performance of man-made systems, constructed from rigid members with propulsion from propellers, falls far short of that of biological systems. The most common method of underwater propulsion is the propeller. Propellers are often shielded in part by the body of the vessel, reducing their efficiency. Also, boats have a lot of frictional resistance to overcome since they are submerged in a viscous fluid. They also have to produce enough power to carry the added mass along with them. More efficient means of propulsion would benefit these vessels. This project aims at developing a more efficient propulsion method. Other methods of propulsion are being studied based on successful natural systems.
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Bamboo cane development institute, Agartala
by Prashant Vetoskar
by Prashant Vetoskar
An introduction to the people and the place they live in is necessary in order to show the importance that bamboo has in their lives. Bamboo houses line the road, and a large number of them have their own ponds, where they sit and fish. Trees like jackfruit, mango, betel nut, and other local fruit trees grow within the bamboo fences. Inside, the bedroom doubles up as the living room, and the house is decorated with objects of everyday use. There is no put-on decoration but a frank description of everyday life. (In one house, a modern sofa showing family affluence was a complete misfit.) The kitchen is a room attached to the main room where people sit on the floor to eat. (A dining table looks pretty outsized and a misfit for these houses.) However, the introduction of the LPG burner separates the server from the served. (The act of making a chaopati demands the person cooking be close to the person being served the hot chapatis.) The introduction of these alien implements makes the poor lady bend down twenty times. The toilet is never attached to the house and is even considered bad design if it is. However, in a city, an attached bath is supposed to be an excellent feature.
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Baby Carrier
Combining the Need of Carrying and Keeping a Baby
by Prashant Vetoskar
by Prashant Vetoskar
There is nothing in the world that is more dear to parents than their baby. Every moment of this period is special for both the baby and the parents. The baby begins to experience the world outside the mother's womb, the place where all its needs are taken care of. The parents learn to respond to their babies needs. Everything is a new experience. One such experience is taking the baby outside, away from home. In fact, every time the baby is taken out, it is a real special occasion, as there are a number of things that must be considered before venturing out from home. Parents have to think of the place to be visited, the duration of the outing, the accompanying people, the mode of transport, the weather, and the elaborate preparation regarding the things that need to be carried for the baby. Looking after a baby is a full-time occupation. One of the activities in this experience is carrying the baby itself. All cultures throughout human history have found ways of carrying babies throughout day-to-day life. Parents in India mostly carry their infants in their arms or on the hip. Babies are swung around to the nursing position when it is time to feed. In north-east India, the practice of tying the baby to the back is commonly seen. Babies enjoy the warmth and security of being close to another person and observe the environment, making sense of it and gradually adding to their experience. There is also a segment of people in India who use baby carriers that enable them to have both hands free while at the same time maintaining proximity to their loved one. This group of people also owns other kinds of equipment that will tend to be used for other special types of outings where the baby cannot be carried all the time but needs to be kept in a cradle.
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Breakfast Kit
for people living away from home
by Prashant Vetoskar
by Prashant Vetoskar
Indian food reflects an amalgamation of the cuisines of many diverse regions. It represents its religious beliefs, cultural practices, and, above all, its geographical attributes. There is great variety in Indian cuisine, and popular breakfast foods vary from region to region. Although there has been great exposure to cuisine from all over the world, lunch and dinner are still very traditional. In an urban context, the meal that has been changed the most is breakfast. Variety and flavour have been compromised for convenience and to save time. This phenomenon is seen in urban families, but to a much greater extent in the breakfast habits of people staying alone, away from their homes and families. Urban breakfast habits are, to a large extent, a legacy of British rule in India. At a point in time, it was considered a terrible sacrilege to eat bread. If someone threw bread into your well, then it was considered that you had been converted to Christianity. However, things have moved a long way from such beliefs. To such an extent that it was considered fashionable to have an English breakfast, it copied the ways of the ruling class. The system of a nine-to-five office was introduced, and slowly but steadily, people started compromising their breakfast to match their office timings. To complement this shift in breakfast habits, there was an increasing ease in the availability of things like bread and eggs. The excellent distribution of these items makes them very popular in urban contexts. So bread, eggs, cornflakes, and milk are here to stay. But this is a shift in trend, not by choice but rather as a result of need and convenience.
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Design patterns in products
by Siddharth Patil
by Siddharth Patil
About 20 years ago, Christopher Alexander, an architect, established the concepts of patterns through his breakthrough books ‘Timeless Way of Building’ and ‘A Pattern Language'. He found out that, though the quality of a well-designed building is sublime and hard to put into words, the patterns themselves that make up that building are remarkably simple and easy to understand. Patterns are not abstract principles that require you to rediscover how to apply them successfully, nor are they overly specific to one particular situation or culture. A pattern describes possible good solutions to a common design problem within a certain context by describing the invariant qualities of all those solutions. Each pattern describes a problem that occurs over and over again in our environment and then describes the core of the solution to that problem in such a way that it can be used millions of times without ever doing it the same way twice.
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Summer Training At Whirlpool Of India Ltd.
by Siddharth Patil
by Siddharth Patil
Whirlpool Inc., US, is one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of major home appliances. The time that I spent at Whirlpool this summer was very enlightening and informative. It gave me an opportunity to see, observe, and actually be a part of the industrial set-up. It helped me understand the workings of a multinational company and gave me valuable insights into the latest materials and production technology in refrigerators. It made me aware of the current scenario in product design and development in the refrigerator industry. More importantly, it made me realise the role of a designer in the whole set-up—design is the teamwork of people from diverse fields of industrial design, engineering, and marketing.
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Holographic Projection
by Thomas George
by Thomas George
Being three-dimensional, it is only natural that we live and interact with a three-dimensional world with the greatest ease and comfort. From the houses we live in, the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, and the food we eat, everything envelopes and enfolds our very existence. Holography, a science that is more than fifty years old, is only now coming into its own. In the 1970s, skilled researchers from wide-ranging fields such as physics, biology, psychology, neurology, etc. were making startling discoveries. The very facts of science, they were saying, the actual data (from physics to physiology) seemed to make sense only if we assumed some sort of implicit, unifying, or transcendental ground underlying the explicit data. Moreover—and here was the shock—this transcendental ground, whose very existence seemed necessitated by experimental-scientific data, seemed identical, at least in description, to the timeless and spaceless ground of being so universally described by the world’s great mystics and sages, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Taoist.
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Automotive Design Workshop
by Thomas George
by Thomas George
The ‘Automotive Design Workshop’ conducted at IIT Guwahati provided us with an opportunity to explore our potential in the vast arena of automotive design. Working with PU foam was a good experience in model making, as it is very easy to carve with blades and knives and also to abrade with sand paper. However, the use of simple tools enabled me to produce a model with greater speed and accuracy. The easiest way to make my own tools was by using sandpaper and wood, especially soft wood. This allowed me to work on flat surfaces, contours, etc. with equal ease. By using different grades of sandpaper, one can achieve better results than by using the sandpaper by hand. Templates are needed for the front and side profiles to check the maximum dimensions. These are made from either wood or styrene sheets with drawings on graph paper.
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Design of a passenger-cum-cargo microbus (interior)
by Thomas George
by Thomas George
The project aims at understanding the various roles that vehicles play in the context of both passenger and goods transportation, either on independent purpose-built platforms or hybrid derivatives such as multi-utility vehicles, which have been in existence for over twenty years now. The emergence of a need for a vehicle platform that allows either partial or total convertibility from passenger mode to cargo mode has been the driving objective. To bring about a holistic vehicle platform that merges these disparate needs and vehicle characteristics will be the challenge and goal of the project.
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Lifestyle and Lighting
by Thomas George
by Thomas George
Light is fundamental to life. At its simplest level, light enables us to enjoy the world around us and carry out a myriad of visual tasks. It can create a psychological mood of delight or melancholy, or one that is stimulating or soporific. Lighting may affect our performance. It is also believed to affect our health, although the link is not yet well established. However, it is felt that by providing a visual amenity, people's feeling of 'wellbeing' will be enhanced and their performance increased.
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How people live and the objects that surround them
- An ethnographic Observation
by Vaibhav Gadade
by Vaibhav Gadade
Ethnography, a scientific description of human cultures and a study of the world of meanings that shapes behaviours, is the study of culture and social organisation through participant observation and interviewing. Ethnographic research provides interpretive and descriptive analyses of the symbolic and other meanings that inform the routine practices of everyday life. Ethnography draws on different methodologies, including in-depth interviews, participant observation, and secondary analysis of documents and archives. It is mainly qualitative but may incorporate methods such as surveys. The choice of method depends on the topic; e.g., perceptions and concepts are best explored through actual interviews; practices can be looked into through a combination of interviews, observation, and secondary research.
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Summer Training at Pinnacle Industries Ltd. and Bajaj Tempo ltd.
by Vaibhav Gadade
by Vaibhav Gadade
Bajaj Tempo Ltd. is a 45-year-old company with an annual turnover of 850 crore. They have two plants, one in Akurdi, Pune, and the other in Pithampur, Indore. They have an in-house R&D centre with 400 engineers and two industrial designers. Pinnacle Industries Ltd. was formed in June 1996 with an annual turnover of around 35 crores.
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Design Of A Three-Wheeler
by Vaibhav Gadade
by Vaibhav Gadade
I got interested in this project after I saw a three-wheeled motorcycle concept that tilted while cornering. A Spanish engineer called Carlos Calleja had designed it. The tilting mechanism was very simple and very viable. He had made a prototype and had tested it successfully. I immediately imagined an extension of the mechanism to be applied to a small vehicle that can function as an extended two-wheeler and be made more safe and reliable. There is no automotive product of such kind in India that can be better and more secure with the comfort of a car and the ride and handling of a two-wheeler. This project is a humble effort to design a new type of vehicle that attempts to solve many of the problems associated with the two-wheeler while maintaining the benefits of the same.
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Design Of A Household Dishwasher
by Vaibhav Gadade
by Vaibhav Gadade
The first dishwasher was invented as early as 1850, and it has come a long way since then to become a commercial success in America and Europe. With the combination of mechanical and chemical (advanced detergents), the wash they have today has become highly efficient, and the days of unsatisfactory cleaning are gone. But as far as India is concerned, they have failed to make an impact. In a place where washing machines have become household appliances and even microwaves are now considered a necessity, the dishwasher is still considered a risky investment, especially when there is cheap labour available. But there are fallouts with the maid system too, in terms of hygiene and flexibility of time. Seeing a window of opportunity, I took up this project as a design challenge to overcome the drawbacks of the existing American dishwasher models, adapt them to fit Indian utensils, and make them more efficient in terms of size and usability.
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Light and Space
natural and artificial light in spaces
by Vidya Joshi
by Vidya Joshi
Different cultures have interpreted light in their own unique ways. The character of light in a space depends on the position and nature of the light source; the ‘formal character of the space (the play of light and shadow in a columned corridor would be distinctly different than in a dome structure with a skylight on top).
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Summer Training At Whirlpool Of India Ltd.
by Vidya Joshi
by Vidya Joshi
Whirlpool Inc., US, is one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of major home appliances. The time that I spent at Whirlpool this summer was very enlightening and informative. It gave me an opportunity to see, observe, and actually be a part of the industrial set-up. It helped me understand the workings of a multinational company and gave me valuable insights into the latest materials and production technology in refrigerators. It made me aware of the current scenario in product design and development in the refrigerator industry. More importantly, it made me realise the role of a designer in the whole set-up—design is the teamwork of people from diverse fields of industrial design, engineering, and marketing.
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Products in Glass
by Vidya Joshi
by Vidya Joshi
This project started with a wish to understand materials and the way one could use one's hands to create an object, a product. The scale of the product is very important, and the first thought was of small products, things that one could hold. Lifestyle products were chosen as a domain of work. This phrase provided the necessary direction to understand what exactly goes into defining the word lifestyle and, hence, lifestyle products. The word lifestyle has different connotations and is often misinterpreted for hedonistic pursuits. This made a thorough understanding of the field very important. Probing further, one realised that there is no single definition one could ascribe to the term. The definition existed within various shades, often overlapping and defining the product in various diverse ways.
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Design of Play Objects for Children
by Vidya Joshi
by Vidya Joshi
As human beings, we know that a few things in life are guaranteed. One thing is certain: everyone is a child at least once in his or her lifetime. The promises held out to children by adults are very fascinating. Designing for children’s products gives us an opportunity to deliver on these fascinating promises. Designing for children requires a very special focus. One criterion that has priority over all others is relevancy. It is necessary that products for children be designed specifically for them and not just scaled-down versions of adult products. The toy industry has the opportunity more than any other to mould, shape, and assist in the development of future adults. We, as designers, should definitely give our best to this industry in terms of design.
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Imagine Music
by Atul Paranjpe
by Atul Paranjpe
Music is the medium through which one can express his thoughts and feelings. It is the sum total of the experiences and emotions that are not bound by time, community, or rationality. It is the universal language of the pious souls of all times and places.The three fold arts of music, namely vocal music, instrumental music, and dance, have varied from time to time and space to space according to the aesthetic taste and likings of the people.
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Summer Internship at Phocos India Pvt.Ltd
by Atul Paranjpe
by Atul Paranjpe
Auroville Energy Products (AEP) was founded in 1996 by Carsten Michelsen.It specialises in solar energy products, such as solar lamps, solar charge controllers, and inverters, to provide a complete solution for solar home systems, wind energy systems (design, supply, and election of wind-diesel hybrid systems), as well as micro-hydro systems. The product development concentrates particularly on the problem of energy storage in autonomous electricity supply systems. The goal is to increase efficiency and reliability and lower costs through intelligent production, storage, and consumption of energy.
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Musical instrument design : To design a product in the world of music
by Atul Paranjpe
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by Atul Paranjpe
Music is the medium through which one can express his thoughts and feelings. It is the sum total of the experiences and emotions that are not bound by time, community, or rationality. It is the universal language of the pious souls of all times and places. The threefold arts of music, namely vocal music, instrumental music, and dance, have varied from time to time and space to space according to the aesthetic tastes and likings of the people.
All true arts are expressive, but they are diverse. Music is, without contradiction, the most penetrating, profound, and intimate art. There is a marvellous relationship between sound and the soul, both physically and morally. It feels like the soul is an echo where sound takes on new power. Music pays for the immense power that has been given to it; it awakens the sentiment of the infinite because it is vague, obscure, and indefinite in its effects. It is insufficient merely to listen to music in terms of the separate moments in which it exists. One must be able to relate what one hears at any given moment to what has just happened before and what is about to come afterward.
Luggage design
by Atul Paranjpe
by Atul Paranjpe
Luggage design as an industrial project with ‘VIP luggage’ is a project chosen to reconstruct all design learning that happened at IDC and recollect it through direct implementation in industry. This is a six-month project that started in June 2007.
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What do Children Play
by Charulatha. D
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by Charulatha. D
The Indian toy industry is facing a very great challenge from the flood of cheap and high-tech toys in the Indian market from Chinese manufacturers. Along with these, there are multinationals like ‘Funskool’ and ‘Barbie’, etc., who can afford to market their products to woo growing child consumers. There is a sudden awareness in the Indian toy industry to take advantage of ‘design strategies’ to beat these competitions.
To arrive at these design strategies, the Indian children in all their variety have to be studied and insights gathered, with respect not only to what kind of toys or games suit their needs but also as to what are the new emerging markets and what are their potentials. But dealing with children can be a real challenge, especially with the lack of comprehensive data available about Indian children’s choices and behaviors. Add to this the diversity of the markets, right from the rural to the metropolitan, and the relative socio-economic cultures the children belong to, and what we get is a very complex situation with no point of reference to start from. Thus, the idea of a broad, comprehensive study across the socio-economic spectrum was formulated as a response to the above-mentioned needs.
Restyling of scooty PEP
by Charulatha. D
by Charulatha. D
The need of the industry presently is to think about new ventures of development for the women segment of society. This is taken as the aim of the project: to analyse the possibilities of exploration. With engineering being the prime focus of the industry, very few form variants are made, which in today’s context needs emphasis since the final decision of buying a vehicle depends more on the visceral effects than on functional factors. Taking the visceral qualities of the vehicle alone as the main challenge, the existing trend in vehicles is studied. The styling part of the vehicle is taken for form exploration, for which a vehicle that is more common and used by various age groups in the ladies segment is searched for styling. The choice of vehicle is narrowed down to the TVS Scooty, which is chosen for its low power, less weight, and simpler features.
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Eye Movement during Creative Conceptualization in early Design Phase
by Edwin Mendes
by Edwin Mendes
In many cultures, the eyes are said to be a window to the mind or even to the human soul. In this project, no such claims would be made, but an attempt is made to find the relationship between the mental image in a designer's mind and his eye movements. The role of visualisation and mental imagery during the early creative phase in design problem solving has already been established in previous papers (U. A. Athavankar, Singh A., Hiremath M). However, in these experiments, the subjects were blindfolded and asked to solve the design problem. They were restricted from sketching their ideas and, hence, had to rely on their mental imagery to develop ideas. The entire process appeared as if the designer was conceiving a shape in the mind's eye and kept modifying and shaping it throughout. In an experiment done on an industrial designer (U. A. Athavankar, 1997), where he had to design a casserole, it was observed that the subject used a large number of gestures to shape the object. This study was carried out to understand the role of gestures in imagery and in modelling 3D shapes using a hypothetical intelligent system.
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Training at Ticket Design, Pune
by Edwin Mendes
by Edwin Mendes
Ticket Design is a multidisciplinary design group offering a cohesive and seamless approach to product design and development, with industrial design as the core offering. It is a privately held firm based in Pune, founded by graduates from the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad in 2000. Their services include: product design, application development, design adaptations to match market feedback, system design, applied ergonomics and interface design, product accessories, retail display packaging, technical illustrations, POP packages, and product graphics.
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Redesign of Seating for Indian Railways - Ac Chair Car
by Edwin Mendes
by Edwin Mendes
The Indian Railways have a fairly large number of AC chaircar coaches plying on many inter-city routes all over India, particularly in the northern and western sectors. Most of these journeys are short-term, ranging from 3 hours (Mumbai-SSurat Shatabdi route) to a maximum 9 hours (Mumbai-Goa Jan Shatabdi route). The Indian Railways faces stiff competition from Budget Airlines with discounted APEX airfares, faster time travel, and added comfort and service. Most travelling business professionals prefer air travel for the very reason that more comfortable and time-saving journeys are viable on most flights connecting important destinations. Hence, the need to enrich the experience of travelling by the AC Chair Car was identified and developed by the design team.
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Redesign of Seating for Indian Railways - Ac Chair Car
by Edwin Mendes
by Edwin Mendes
The Indian Railways have a fairly large number of AC chaircar coaches plying on many inter-city routes all over India, particularly in the northern and western sectors. Most of these journeys are short-term, ranging from 3 hours (Mumbai-SSurat Shatabdi route) to a maximum 9 hours (Mumbai-Goa Jan Shatabdi route). The Indian Railways faces stiff competition from Budget Airlines with discounted APEX airfares, faster time travel, and added comfort and service. Most travelling business professionals prefer air travel for the very reason that more comfortable and time-saving journeys are viable on most flights connecting important destinations. Hence, the need to enrich the experience of travelling by the AC Chair Car was identified and developed by the design team.
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Design of Two Wheeler for Traffic Police
by Edwin Mendes
by Edwin Mendes
The project aims at designing a two-wheeler that addresses the duty requirements of traffic police and also enhances the identity of the department and the person using it. During my visit to the southern region of Mumbai, as a causal observation, I noted that the two-wheelers used by the traffic police department lacked the functional and identity requirements. This observation and my interest in two-wheelers led me to take up this as a final design project. The Mumbai metropolitan region is one of the largest and fastest-growing regions in India. The vehicular traffic in this city has been constantly rising. This leads to the need for a better traffic control system. Mumbai’s concern regarding traffic control dates back to 1924, when the traffic department was created by the administration. From then on, the department has been in constant effort to improve the efficiency of our electronic equipment and vehicles.
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Beginning to understand the Philosophy of Jiddu Krishnamurti
by Girish S
by Girish S
The project is a record of my personal journey. Questions, answers, more questions... My beliefs and my worldview... Never before have they taken such a beating as they have in the past year. Krishnamurti reconfirmed some of my beliefs and introduced me to a more objective way of looking at things, which is light years away from my fanciful subjective way of thinking, where I am the centre of my universe and the entire cosmos revolves around me. Happiness, pleasure, fear, social Darwinism, problem-solving, transformation, and the meaning of life are the few topics that have been discussed in my own distinctive subjective manner.
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Communication device for Micro-trade Networks
by Girish S
by Girish S
This project aims at the micro-traders involved in the sale of agricultural produce in rural areas and proposes a solution based on a mobile phone platform that would assist them in their trading activities. The focus is on a group of people acting as aggregators called Hundekaris who aggregate the produce from different farmers and facilitate the selling of the produce in market yards through agents called Adatyas. However, this is only one of the many ways in which agricultural produce is sold. This project proposes a robust process that may be applied in other scenarios as well, and it is also possible to extend this concept to other microtrading operations after suitable customisation. This project suggests two solutions: first, an application that can run on existing mobile phone platforms, and second, a different hardware specifically designed for micro-trading operations.
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Experiential Learning Kit for School Children
by Girish S
by Girish S
This project looks at children and tries to understand the difficulties faced by children in understanding the concept of area. Children find it rather difficult to appreciate the concept of area and its implications in real life, even after two years of being introduced to the concept. Children who are exposed to all kinds of virtual stimulations through television, the Internet, and computer games seem to be disconnected from the real world. Their knowledge base is a collection of facts dished out by these sources. These children find school and subjects like mathematics and science insipid and inconsequential due to the absence of powerful stimuli. The project aims to wean children away from their virtual world, introduce them to the real world, and make it of immediate consequence to them by making it a hands-on activity with elements of fun and playfulness.
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Design as a Performing Art
by Neha Bharshankar
by Neha Bharshankar
This paper explores the way designers use body movements to support mental imagery while solving design problems. Given the task of designing a handout place for students on campus, this paper will identify and compare the unique strategies by which the architect developed the design using his body as a crutch to take visuo-spatial decisions when blindfolded and prevent them from using their usual thinking tools like sketching. This experiment is an attempt to reveal the invention of design issues and requirements using body movements, which have relevance to mental imagery.
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Emergency Patient Transfer System
by Neha Bharshankar
by Neha Bharshankar
The need for arrives at various kinds of scenarios. In different scenarios, the patient is transferred from one surface to the stretcher or to the hospital bed, and vice versa. The initial transfer of patients, which is done by lifting, causes a lot of injury to the patient. In the case of a spinal injury, utter care should be taken to transfer the patient; otherwise, it may damage the spinal cord, which might become a lifetime injury. Inside the hospital, patients have to be transferred laterally to various department beds for constant monitoring and checkups. So there must be some transfer of aids for the ease and safety of the patient.
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Design of CNG Dispenser
by Neha Bharshankar
by Neha Bharshankar
There is a lot of demand for CNG fuel. This project aims at designing a CNG fuel dispenser for improved user convenience. The current CNG dispenser will be taken as a reference, and a user study will be conducted. The current CNG dispenser has to be designed with a new interface. So far, no attention in this direction has been given to the CNG dispenser. Today, there are a lot of advances in technologies in automobile design, and this is not reflected in the CNG dispenser.
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Conversation with artist Sadhana Raddi
by Poorva Lavate
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by Poorva Lavate
The intent of the study is to understand the creative forces behind the minds of creative people. My deep interest in visual art, especially painting, led me to take up 'an artist' for this project. The works of Sadhana Raddi have fascinated me ever since I met her during one of her exhibitions at Jahangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, last year. This project is a good platform to learn about and understand the approach of Sadhana Raddi in the creative realm. For ease of study, the research will be divided into three parts, which will cover various aspects of the projects. The work will happen simultaneously in all three domains, but to make it more comprehensible, I will explain them in three parts. The first part will cover the study of Indian and Western art history. It will also include studying the various art movements and artwork of different contemporary artists across the globe. Studying the diverse schools of thought that sprouted in the West and their influences on the post-independence Indian art scene will also be interesting. This part of the study will essentially accustom me to the art world and will give me an overall perspective of the art scene in India and the West.
In the second part, I will be meeting Sadhana Raddi. A series of conversations with her will be recorded and transcribed. Watching her at work in her studio will also reveal many aspects of her creativity. Meeting her over a period of time and talking about her work, her thought process, and her idea of creativity The third and final part will comprise viewing the artwork of Sadhana Raddi in relation to the study of art history done in the first part. It will essentially contain my impressions of her work. Viewing Sadhana Raddi in the spectrum of the art world will be the focus of this part. Understanding the creative aspects that are unique to her, her style, and her approach towards art will be seen in relation to happenings in the art world. A brief note about the background of an artist will explain her achievements. Sadhana Raddi is educated and lives in Mumbai. Her studio is located in Chandivali, Mumbai. She has been working and exhibiting since 1999.
Knock Down Bar Stool In Bamboo
by Poorva Lavate
by Poorva Lavate
The project aims at designing a knock-down bar stool in full bamboo for KONBAC in Kudal, Maharashtra. In today's world, globalisation has opened up access to customers all over the world. To ensure the success of the products in distant markets, it is important that they are easy to transport and are light in weight. This could help reduce the transport cost. The depletion of natural resources and its side effects have been a cause for great concern. Environmentalists have stressed the use of renewable resources. Green design is looked upon as a solution, and work in this field requires an hour. Bamboo is the fastest-growing biomass on earth. It is endowed with an exclusive and unique look. If the richness of bamboo is enhanced in furniture, it will cater to a niche market. Well-designed and finished bamboo furniture is being positioned as a premium range of furniture in the international market. If ease of transport is achieved by transporting in a knocked-down state, it will prove to be an important development for the bamboo furniture market. The existing bamboo furniture manufactured at KONBAC does not have this feature. This poses difficulty in transport and increases the end cost to the customer substantially. This also creates limitations on business expansion.
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Handbag in Bamboo and Leather
by Poorva Lavate
by Poorva Lavate
Lifestyle accessories are not new to Indian culture. With a rich heritage of textiles and crafts, people have been using customised accessories for various occasions. But repositioning this craft in today’s modern and post-modern world is a challenge. Also, it is important to give new meaning and value to the craft in order to keep our rich tradition alive. One such tradition prevalent in India is bamboo craft. It is highly evolved in Northeastern states like Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, etc. This project aims at designing a handbag in bamboo for ladies to be used at parties, weddings, and other social functions. My previous project was related to bamboo furniture design, wherein I could explore the possibilities of using full bamboo. The current project gave me an opportunity to explore many other facets of bamboo. Even though the present market is full of a wide variety of bags, many customer expectations are left unaddressed. This project tries to address this gap to ensure the success of the product.
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Teaching mathematics through play
by Prajakta Gokhale
by Prajakta Gokhale
Math is perceived as boring and difficult by most children. This impression starts forming in the primary school days and becomes difficult to overcome in the later stages of schooling. There is a need to make mathematics a fun experience akin to playing. Thus, ‘Teaching mathematics through play’ was taken up as a topic to understand the alternate and interesting ways in which the subject of mathematics can be taught to primary school children. If we observe children closely, their play involves the same set of activities being done over and over again, which helps one ‘play’ better, but without getting tired or bored. Learning involves a similar situation where problems are solved over and over again to be able to'solve’ better. With this similarity existing in both activities, why can’t learning mathematics become more fun? more interesting? This led me to investigate what can be done to make learning mathematics an enjoyable experience and what I can contribute as a designer.
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A Report on Summer Training at Elephant Design, Pune
by Prajakta Gokhale
by Prajakta Gokhale
Elephant Design is a multidisciplinary office that started in 1989 as a five-member team of graduates from NID. Since then, it has grown many times over. The firm believes that contemporary design requires a strong convergence of various disciplines. The team includes strategists, creative people, and specialists from numerous fields. The key team members are brand consultants, communication consultants, project managers,industrial product designers, architects, interior designers, model makers, etc. Elephant Design is over 15 years old and has grown rapidly; it consciously remains a young team. Young at heart and in mind and body. Energetic, ever curious, open, strongly driven, and high on energy.
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Tableware in Glass and Steel for Corporate Executives
by Prajakta Gokhale
by Prajakta Gokhale
Products can serve as symbols of an upwardly mobile rise in lifestyle. The contemporary user is more design-literate and has more disposable income. The atmosphere for design is created by repeated interplay not only between the designer and the production techniques but also between the object itself and the constants of popular culture and a market place. People seek products that are exclusively designed and of impeccable quality. A profound sense of individualism and risk-taking is pervading our society and is mirrored in its products. Designer tableware from Magppie, Art'dinox, etc. has started to be appreciated by the general consumer. This is a result of its availability in the lifestyle malls that have come up in every corner in an urban scenario. Tableware in combination with two materials is a new intervention. The aim of the project was to explore the uncanny appeal it holds. The project was not just about designing a lifestyle product but also about how a utilitarian product can be modulated to be presented as a lifestyle one.
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Luminaries in Bamboo - A Floor Lamp In Bamboo
by Prajakta Gokhale
by Prajakta Gokhale
When we go into a lighting store, all that is seen is glass and steel lamps. Rarely is a bamboo or cane lamp spotted in the store. People who want to buy a bamboo or cane lamp generally get them made by a craftsman or ask the interior designer to get them for them. Ironically, the only permanent market one could buy bamboo craft products from are the exhibitions held in urban areas from time to time. The existing bamboo lamps are either not of very good quality or have little variation in design. Thus, this project was initiated.
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Study of Grip Mechanism Based on Bionics
by Rupesh Nath. U
by Rupesh Nath. U
Bionics (also known as biomimetics, biognosis, biomimicry, or bionical creativity engineering) is the application of methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. It is a multi-disciplinary subject involving a wide diversity of other domains like electronics, informatics, medicine, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and many others. This discipline has already shown the way to a number of innovations and improvements in space engineering. Often, the study of bionics emphasises the imitation of a biological structure rather than just the implementation of its function. For example, in computer science, cybernetics tries to model actual organic structures that make humans intelligent, while artificial intelligence tries to model intelligent functions regardless of the particular way they can be achieved. The conscious copying of examples and mechanisms from natural organisms and ecologies is a form of applied case-based reasoning, treating nature itself as a database of solutions that already work. Proponents argue that the selective pressure placed on all natural life forms minimises and removes failures. Although almost all engineering could be said to be a form of biomimicry, the modern origins of this field are usually attributed to Buckminster Fuller and its later codification as a field of study to Janine Benyus.
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Summer Training at Desmania Design Pvt. Ltd.
Domestic Vegetable Washer
by Rupesh Nath. U
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by Rupesh Nath. U
As a student of industrial design, I am trying to learn and understand all the aspects of the design field. An internship is a small exposure to industrial work experience where many more things happen other than theory or practical, which were thought in the curriculum. I have looked for a small consulting design firm in which every field of design is dealt with. Desmania is one of those design firms that has already secured its name as one of the top design firms in India. The profile of Desmania gives much more elaborate details about their services.
Desmania was established in 1992 as a multi-disciplinary design firm. It has evolved into a one-stop shop for creative solutions, offering professional design services that are profitable to clients. Desmania has combined experience in product, graphics, and packaging to offer a full complement of design services. In the process, they have become more versatile, mature, and ambitious. The clients’ list now boasts market leaders and MNCs such as Whirlpool, LG, Reckitt Benckiser, GSK, Yamaha, OTIS, Eureka Forbes, Hero Cycles, Usha International, etc.
Play kit in Bamboo Based on Optics
by Rupesh Nath. U
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by Rupesh Nath. U
There are a lot of things that nobody taught us, but we know them, and most of them we learned while playing with the things around us. A child can find joy and excitement in discovering things. Play is an essential activity in a child's daily activities, contributing in a manner similar to health and development. For a child, a plaything can be anything from a simple stick or a stone to complex play objects. Playthings are indirect teachers for kids, which implant knowledge in a playful mode. Hence, the right kind of toys has direct implications for the overall development of the child.
Playing is an excellent and unique means of improving the child’s perceptual, manipulative, and conceptualising abilities while he is having fun. Although the importance of concrete experience in the learning process has long been recognised by educational psychologists, children are rarely given the opportunity to learn through play and manipulation. Our educational system is too bookish, promoting routine learning of facts and methods rather than encouraging learning of facts from experience.
Range of Handles for Mortise Lock
by Rupesh Nath. U
by Rupesh Nath. U
A lifestyle is the way a person (or group) lives. This includes patterns of social relations, consumption, entertainment, and dress. A lifestyle typically also reflects an individual’s attitudes, values, or worldview. Having a specific “lifestyle” can be described as patterns of behaviour based on alternatives given and how easy it is to make this choice over others given. A lifestyle product embodies the values and aspirations of a group or culture. A lifestyle product speaks to the core identity of its customer. Individuals each have their own sense of self, based on their background. Door locks and their handles are a life-style product that is the main line of defence that most people use to protect their valuables. The main reason we use locks everywhere is that they provide us with a sense of security. If we consider the door as the main protector, which is the partition of two different spaces, then a lock will be its weapon or accessory to support the door. The door is the main interface, which will speak about the room inside and what kind of lifestyle it has, and the lock handle is no exception. It has to go with the door form and aesthetics. Lock handle is the interactive zone, where people push or pull the door. The main interaction is with our palm, which senses the material, its form, feels the comfort, etc. There are many designers who have tried to give their best to provide the above-listed elements and have become successful. My project is one more attempt to enhance those parameters.
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Investigating the Rotomoulding Process
by Sarabjit Singh Kalsi
by Sarabjit Singh Kalsi
Rotational moulding is one of the most versatile plastic manufacturing methods, much enhanced by the range of specialist polyethylene and polypropylene materials available. Rotational moulding has the creativity, the productivity, the quality, the simplicity, and the professional standards that are required in product design and production. Simple in concept, rotational moulding is considered by those in the industry to be as much an art as a science in view of the importance of human judgement in the quality of the finished product.
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Styling of a Tractor
by Sarabjit Singh Kalsi
by Sarabjit Singh Kalsi
Tata Elxsi is a public limited company promoted by Tata Industries Limited and Tata Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Singapore. 40% of the equity is held by the Tatas and the remaining 60% by the public. The company began in 1989 with its corporate office in Bangalore and has consistently registered an annual growth rate of 40% in the last four years. The entire process starts with the client submitting a product brief in which he states all his design intents. Then, on the basis of all the metaphors given, a simple and elegant design solution is found, going through a series of stages of idea sketching, concept development, and concept refinement. The concepts are then refined in software like Photoshop and 3D modelling software whenever there is doubt. Also, while making these concept refinements, great care is taken for the choice of materials used and also the cost and time involved in the process of manufacturing these products.
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Computer Workstation Design for Cerebral Palsy Children
by Sarabjit Singh Kalsi
by Sarabjit Singh Kalsi
This project basically deals with the problems of people with cerebral palsy while using the existing computer workstation. This project includes the design of an ergonomic workstation, which will help people with cerebral palsy work on computers efficiently. A proper design approach was followed, which included determining different ergonomic-related issues like body dimensions, biomechanics, behaviour, safety, etc. of the users with reference to the neuro-muscular difficulties and applying those observations in designing a computer workstation for the CP. The later part of the project also describes different concepts that were evolved for these individuals along with the final concept.
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Design of a Luxury Sedan
by Sarabjit Singh Kalsi
by Sarabjit Singh Kalsi
Cars are generally categorised on the basis of their engine power and their overall dimensions. For most consumers, choosing a car has as much to do with its design as with its performance and driving capacity. This project is concentrated only on the exterior styling of the sedan, and it will be a pure styling project.
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Investigation on Rangoli pattern Kolam
by Sweta Suthar
by Sweta Suthar
Every region of India has unique ways of expressing their culture through various forms of art, which also reflect their beliefs and rituals. This study includes a basic analysis of one such traditional art form, the floor art of Rangoli. The scope of the project includes understanding the patterns that are created using various methodologies, which also have variations with respect to the region. The variety of patterns and forms of decorations are dependent on types of function or purpose, occasions, various artefacts, and environments. In this particular study, one is trying to analyse the visual elements, motifs, and principles of creation that reflect various influences from region to region. To restrict the domain of the project, the criteria of study have been limited to mainly those related to region or place, occasions or events, and environments or artefacts. The execution of this work includes identification of patterns, motifs,motifs and iconography; documentation of the different styles of decoration and various methodologies; analysis of the diverse kinds of Rangoli from many regions; representation of decoration created by using various elements of design; and making the report and presentation of the entire study. It also includes the process of investigation by talking to people and finding out the process of creating the decoration. The study is to facilitate the creation of a new style of patterns and decoration with respect to the essence of its origin, to represent the basic graphical elements, and to create various applications for reusing these decorative elements.
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Redesigning of a two wheeler for fast food delivery
by Sweta Suthar
by Sweta Suthar
The business of fast food delivery is increasing as people are ordering food to their places rather than going directly to them. One more reason is to get food ready without disturbing their busy schedule. The system in this whole delivery business includes members of fast food restaurants like managers, cooks, and delivery men and waiters. The project is focusing mainly on understanding the entire system and how vehicles used for delivery purposes affect the business. And so the study includes the user (the deliveryman)and his interactions with the vehicle. The solutions relate to the problems he faces during the delivery process and try to make it more efficient. One is also trying to look at the manufacturing aspect of the vehicle, and so by trying to make the vehicle more universal for various kinds of delivery purposes, it increases the scope of mass production as the number of users increases, and so one can design a vehicle that is economical so that more people can use it.
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Design of an electrical cart for malls
by Sweta Suthar
by Sweta Suthar
Transportation within the huge malls and supermarkets is one of the areas that has not been addressed. Specifically, the case studies that are done here are examples of the same. There are no specific devices designed for the transportation of the people who visit the mall. The aim of the project is to address all those issues related to public transportation within the mall with respect to the environment within the mall. And design an electrical vehicle to be used in the super malls. There are electrical vehicles designed for short-distance transportation. In hospitals, campuses, industries,industries ,resorts and super malls, one is trying to analyse the existing vehicles for various uses. Providing the best services to customers has become a main priority for any super mall.
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BIOMIMETICS
Study of Blossom of Hibiscus Flower
by Tabitha Purathur
by Tabitha Purathur
Today, in contemporary design, one can observe that non-linearity has taken hold, breaking away from Platonic and Euclidean ideals, where objects are not looked at as a whole and absolute but interconnected within a larger system. They derive their formal definitions, such as organic, amorphous, folds, and blobs, by taking analogies from nature and understanding modern sciences such as the theory of relativity, chaos, complexity, etc. On the other hand, there are contemporary designers whose core concern is to achieve systems that work efficiently and conserve resources and energy. These approaches seeking a higher ethical order and striving to work symbiotically with nature without damaging her tend to lose weight on their aesthetic dimension or artistic foci. An initial effort was carried out to collect data on the existing areas of bio-mimicry and how they have influenced man’s life in innumerable ways through different case studies. The five main areas of simulation, interpretation, integration, replication, and emulation were delved into with practical applications in the field of design. A brief overview of some of the research studies carried out at MIT also shed light on the applications of bionics, right from developing intelligent robots to creating artificial limbs for the physically challenged.
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Styling of a military truck for the Indian Army and designing the interior cabin for a mine-blast proof design
by Tabitha Purathur
by Tabitha Purathur
This project was done as part of the internship course, where the main intention was to learn the principles behind styling in automotives, manufacturing, and the construction process, with limitations in design owing to military warfare use. The aim of the project was to develop a mine-blast-proof design for an LMW, responding to the needs of soldiers for use in warfare.
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Application Development With GE Plastics:
Redesign of Interiors of Ac Chair Car for Indian Railways
by Tabitha Purathur
by Tabitha Purathur
The project aims at enhancing the comfort level of the passengers travelling by a second-class AC chaircar coach. Most of the budget airlines offer very affordable rates, connecting most of the major cities in India, and are providing stiff competition to the Indian Railways in this regard. With the extra comfort and luxury of flying for a slightly higher price, air travel has become more feasible in a developing country like India today. Hence, the need to enrich the experience of travelling by the AC Chair Car was identified and developed by the design team.
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Refresh Design of the Scooty Pep Plus
by Tabitha Purathur
by Tabitha Purathur
The two-wheeler segment being the backbone of the Indian automotive industry and having caught up with a huge population of Indian users on roads today, one identifies a need for constant development of existing models. The crowd is in constant search for something that is new and different. Even with automotives, the user is very conscious of styling trends, and every year, the two-wheeler industry has more models to offer. Scooty Pep was last styled in 2000, and a refresh design of the third degree was introduced in 2004, which included design intervention in colour panels and decals mainly, along with a few added features. With fashion changing and styling trends taking many leaps over the past seven years, Scooty Pep Plus demands a new style statement. Also, with the advent of competitor industries capturing the same user group, one has identified a possibility for a refreshed design. It is time that the vehicle strives to target a larger user group and also addresses an older age group consisting of working professionals and homemakers. These individuals are more mature and manage to balance their careers with household responsibilities, and the vehicle could help ease this situation.
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Sri Aurobindo
A beginning to understand his philosophy through his writings
by Utkarsh Gautam
by Utkarsh Gautam
While studying Sri Aurobindo's works, one important fact should be remembered: Sri Aurobindo's consciousness was in a constant state of development, and there was a radical change in his views, particularly after 1910. Sri Aurobindo's earliest writings were poems that he penned as a student in England. This literary interest continued during his thirteen-year stay at Baroda, where he wrote a number of poems and plays, and afterwards in Calcutta and Pondicherry. He first rose to national prominence as a writer for his editorials and articles in Bande Mataram, a Calcutta daily (1906 and 1908).
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Petrol pump dispenser unit Components
by Utkarsh Gautam
by Utkarsh Gautam
Mercantile & Industrial Development Company Limited (MIDCO Ltd.) Midco was incorporated in 1949 and has been in the business of manufacturing petroleum dispensing units since the early 1960s. Its head office is in Mumbai (Bombay) and it has production units in Mumbai (Bombay) as well as in the city of Ahmedabad. Midco's R&D is aimed at continuously adding value to its existing line of products as well as developing new components, products, and solutions for its customers. The R&D Department is based in Mumbai (Bombay) and shares work with premier Indian technology institutes and with foreign companies and agencies to ensure that it is always up-to-date in all areas of technology within the scope of its products.
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Redesign of car interior for elderly people
by Utkarsh Gautam
by Utkarsh Gautam
One of the hazards of ageing is an increasingly failing health. On the whole, the health and stamina of an individual decline with age. This sometimes requires encouragement, which could be in the form of design suitability. Body degeneration is one of the most troubling parts that affects their dealing with every activity. Modern society is organised in a way that is suited to the majority population distribution. But reality is going to be different, as the elderly will comprise a greater proportion of the population some time from now. A fact is that, in many situations, cars are the easiest mode of travel for older people facing declining physical skills.
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Design of a Mobile Computer Aided Learning bus
by Utkarsh Gautam
by Utkarsh Gautam
The project deals with providing an innovative solution for the mobile computer-aided learning bus. The objective is to make the learning experience a bit more comfortable and enjoyable. An observation was made to understand the entire process of e-learning by these children as well as their interaction with the bus. Different methods for user study and analysis were used, like video documentation and questionnaires regarding issues like ingress, egress, orientation of the workstation, ergonomic factors, etc. Due consideration was given to devising the solution according to the manufacturing constraints.
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BIOMIMETICS
Study of Blossom of Hibiscus Flower
by Vinatha Babyprakash
by Vinatha Babyprakash
Today, in contemporary design, one can observe that non-linearity has taken hold, breaking away from Platonic and Euclidean ideals, where objects are not looked at as a whole and absolute but interconnected within a larger system. They derive their formal definitions, such as organic, amorphous, folds, and blobs, by taking analogies from nature and understanding modern sciences such as the theory of relativity, chaos, complexity, etc. On the other hand, there are contemporary designers whose core concern is to achieve systems that work efficiently and conserve resources and energy. These approaches seeking a higher ethical order and striving to work symbiotically with nature without damaging her tend to lose weight on their aesthetic dimension or artistic foci. An initial effort was carried out to collect data on the existing areas of bio-mimicry and how they have influenced man’s life in innumerable ways through different case studies. The five main areas of simulation, interpretation, integration, replication, and emulation were delved into with practical applications in the field of design. A brief overview of some of the research studies carried out at MIT also shed light on the applications of bionics, right from developing intelligent robots to creating artificial limbs for the physically challenged.
Details >>
Temporary One-room living for beach shacks in Goa
Application development in FRP
by Vinatha Babyprakash
by Vinatha Babyprakash
The beach resonates in most of our memories as vast expanses of sand and moving water, as hot sun, as endless play being buffeted by the waves, as growing overtired and being carried to bed. It is a place quite different from everyday life because of its promise of freedom. The beach, as I see it, is so much like each one of us because of its possibility of wilderness that, like how it exists in each one of us, lies so subtle beneath its neatly groomed and guarded everyday identities. It is here that the individuals become so acutely aware of their bodies and of their bodies's own tides, passions, and anxieties. It is here that the body wins the struggle between nature and culture. My project envisages developing a space for every individual on the beach committed to their physical and emotional engagement on the beach. An ambivalence of pleasure and pain.
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Refresh Design of Scooty Pep Plus
by Vinatha Babyprakash
by Vinatha Babyprakash
The two-wheeler segment being the backbone of the Indian automotive industry and having caught up with a huge population of Indian users on roads today, one identifies a need for constant development of existing models. The crowd is in constant search for something that is new and different. Even with automotives, the user is very conscious of styling trends, and every year, the two-wheeler industry has more models to offer. Scooty Pep was last styled in 2000, and a refresh design of the third degree was introduced in 2004, which included design intervention in colour panels and decals mainly, along with a few added features. With fashion changing and styling trends taking many leaps over the past seven years, Scooty Pep Plus demands a new style statement. Also, with the advent of competitor industries capturing the same user group, one has identified a possibility for a refreshed design.
Details >>
Pottery
Chauhan Earthen Works
Kumbharwada, Dharavi, Mumbai
by Girish S
by Girish S
This paper explores the way designers use body movements to support mental imagery while solving design problems. Given the task of designing a handout place for students on campus, this paper will identify and compare the unique strategies by which the architect developed the design using his body as a crutch to take visuo-spatial decisions when blindfolded and prevent them from using their usual thinking tools like sketching. This experiment is an attempt to reveal the invention of design issues and requirements using body movements, which have relevance to mental imagery.
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Retail Vision for Bharat Petroleum Corporation
by Prof. Ravi Poovaiah
by Prof. Ravi Poovaiah
Prof. Ravi Poovaiah from IDC IIT Bombay played a significant role in shaping the retail vision for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) through design and innovation. This project focused on transforming the retail experience at BPCL's fuel stations and establishing a strong brand identity, aligning with modern customer expectations and the corporation’s goals for expansion and modernization. The core objective of the Retail Vision project was to make BPCL's fuel stations more accessible and user-friendly for customers. Prof. Poovaiah and his team focused on improving the overall customer experience through design, making fuel stations more visually appealing and functional. This included rethinking station layouts, signage, and wayfinding to create a seamless and efficient experience. Prof. Poovaiah helped refining BPCL’s visual identity, including the development of consistent signage, logos, and brand colours across all retail outlets. The design emphasised clarity, ease of navigation, and the corporation’s commitment to providing quality services. The visual system created a strong brand recall for BPCL, allowing the corporation to stand out in the competitive market. One of the goals was to ensure that all BPCL stations had a uniform look and feel. This included the design of service counters, lighting, canopy structures, and the arrangement of pumps to ensure a cohesive and appealing appearance that aligned with BPCL's new vision. The Retail Vision project under Prof. Ravi Poovaiah’s guidance significantly contributed to BPCL’s transformation into a modern, customer-centric corporation. The new design language and infrastructure reflected a strong, unified identity while also setting the groundwork for future growth and innovation in services.
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Swarachakra
by Prof. Anirudha Joshi
by Prof. Anirudha Joshi
Swarachakra is a popular virtual keyboard designed for Indian languages, created under the guidance of Prof. Anirudha Joshi from the Industrial Design Centre (IDC), IIT Bombay. The keyboard is specifically developed to address the challenges of typing in Indian scripts on mobile devices, which often require more complex input systems compared to the Roman alphabet used in English. Swarachakra supports several Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and others. The keyboard uses a unique "chakra" layout, where each vowel or consonant is arranged in a circular (chakra) manner around the base character, making it easier for users to find the appropriate form of a letter or its combination. Indian scripts often require combining consonants with vowels or other consonants (e.g., ligatures). Swarachakra makes this process intuitive by organising all possible character combinations in proximity to the base character. Prof. Anirudha Joshi has a strong focus on human-computer interaction (HCI) and designing solutions for underserved user groups, particularly in the Indian context. The development of Swarachakra reflects his emphasis on creating technology that is culturally relevant and user-friendly for native language speakers.
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Keylekh: a keyboard for text entry in indic scripts
by Prof. Anirudha Joshi
by Prof. Anirudha Joshi
Prof. Anirudha Joshi and his team at the Industrial Design Centre (IDC), IIT Bombay designed Keylekh, a significant virtual keyboard, to facilitate text entry in Indian scripts on digital platforms. Like Swarachakra, Keylekh is aimed at addressing the challenges of typing in complex Indic scripts, but it adopts a slightly different approach to text input. Keylekh is based on a phonetic typing system. Users can type Indic characters using Roman alphabet equivalents, which are then automatically converted into the corresponding characters in the target Indian script. This helps users who are familiar with the Roman script but may not be accustomed to typing in native scripts. The keyboard supports a wide range of Indian scripts, making it versatile for users across India who speak and write in different languages like Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and others. As users type in phonetic Roman letters, the system dynamically converts them into the correct Indic script, allowing users to see the text in real-time. This immediate feedback ensures that users can quickly correct mistakes and learn the mapping between the Roman and Indic characters. Keylekh stands out as an innovative approach to digital text entry in Indian languages. It simplifies the typing process for a broad user base, particularly for those more familiar with Roman characters than complex Indian scripts. This keyboard is part of Prof. Anirudha Joshi’s broader mission to make technology accessible to underserved communities by designing culturally appropriate and user-friendly interfaces.
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Design of a Post Box
for India Post
by Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy
by Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy
The "Design of a Post Box for India Post" is an important design project led by Prof. B. K. Chakravarthy from the Industrial Design Centre (IDC), IIT Bombay. The project aimed to redesign and modernise the post boxes used by India Post, ensuring they were functional, durable, and visually aligned with the evolving urban and rural landscapes of India. The redesign focused on improving usability while maintaining the iconic and familiar look of the post box. One of the primary goals of the project was to make the post boxes more user-friendly. The height, angle, and placement of the mail slot were optimised for ease of use, ensuring that people of varying heights, including children and elderly citizens, could comfortably deposit letters. India’s diverse and extreme weather conditions—ranging from heavy monsoons to scorching summers—necessitate the use of weather-resistant materials. The redesigned post boxes were constructed with durable, rust-resistant materials to withstand harsh outdoor environments, ensuring long-term usability and reducing maintenance costs. The redesigned post boxes for India Post were successfully implemented across the country, serving as a vital tool in connecting people, especially in rural and remote areas.
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Design of human powered bionic boat
by Ashish Chandel
by Ashish Chandel
This project aimed at utilising the motor qualities of fish to conceptualise a human-powered boat. Such projects have been studied deeply under the discipline of bionics; however, what was needed was conceptualisation of the principle into a feasible product, which was ultimately the aim of the project. The initial task was to come to terms with the existing studies in this area and underline guidelines that have to be followed. As I understood from the data collection, most of the work in this area has been done on scale models and has been solely devoted to perfecting the motion of fish. Little effort has been made in putting the principle into a product form. In our effort to conceptualise a product, a scale model of the boat was made and experimented upon. Useful observations were taken from our experiments with the model; however, given the constraint of time in this project, the data generated is mostly qualitative. Some concepts have been generated in this project that broadly define the possible scope of utilisation of this bionic project in various fields of aquatic transportation. Notable among them is the human-powered boat, which theoretically is more efficient than propulsion-powered boats and has unique turning qualities and mechanisms. Although this project was with me for only a few months, it was undertaken under Prof. V. P Bapat, IDC, who is an authority in the field of bionics. Given his special interest in this area, the project is under development under his guidance.
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Summer Internship at Mozaic
by Ashish Chandel
by Ashish Chandel
Industrial training is an exposure to the design scenario as it exists and to get a feel of practices that shape the products that reach the masses. The training is also a chance to get first-hand exposure to market forces and constraints under which a designer works. It's an opportunity to understand the demands of the design field, which the design students will have to rise to as they move into the arena. The student gets to work with senior designers and technicians and gets a first-hand feel of design methods, materials, and processes. The students get constant guidance and comments from the senior designers and work towards conceptualising and detailing a complete product within a month. However, given the time constraints, whatever the student achieves in the month should reflect a sincere effort towards a feasible design solution.
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Design of thermal jackets for industrial workers
by Ashish Chandel
by Ashish Chandel
Design of thermal suits for industrial workers working in hot, stressed conditions was a six-month product design exercise undertaken by me under the guidance of Prof. GG RAY, IDC IIT Bombay. The objective essentially was to use the vortex tube technology and use its specific advantages to create a product that is economically viable and more user-friendly than existing technologies. The project was sponsored by ESSEN ENGINEERS, MUMBAI. The sponsors initially provided us with technological logistics along with a vortex tube and a suit. Henceforth, it was left to us to integrate the technology into a user-friendly product designed specifically for the target users. The product, which was eventually prototyped, is the result abstract of a planned design process involving inputs from human physiology, fabrics, pneumatics, fashion, and thermodynamics, to name some of them. Special care was taken to keep in mind the capabilities of sponsors in actually manufacturing the suit in desired numbers. The suit has to compete with other imported concepts only in terms of cost, which was illegitimately high for their poor product packaging. The cost of the suit has been kept optimum in terms of its utility and economics. The design is dedicated to Indian industrial workers who work in extremely pathetic conditions for meagre financial benefits. Their extremely poor working conditions created the passion and urgency in the design process, which helped me to reach this stage. Although the design will help them in more than one way, more still needs to be done at the system level, where the administration takes measures to educate their workers on industrial safety.
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Styling of two wheelers
by Ashish Chandel
by Ashish Chandel
In life, we can't help but think of what others have done before us. The sculptor Alberta Giacometti said of his contempories that although they could look outside, they could see the landscape only in terms of what painter Camille Picasso had done. Williams boroughs had said that after looking at the sunflower painted by Vincent van Gogh, he could never see nature the same way again. If we look at the current realm of individuals and products, we see that we have come to accept the notion that the identity is fluid. Even the self can be reinvented in the personal wisdom of our times. This assertion can be seen in the plethora of products that we see today. They challenge our discretion to select amongst them through banal criteria of the tangibles. However, products bring with them certain experiences that shape our perceptions and aspirations. A lot of factors are involved in this metamorphosis, which needs to be understood.
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Interaction Patterns in Cell Phones
by Deepak Saini
by Deepak Saini
“Interaction Patterns in Cell Phones” deals with organising and identifying the interaction patterns in cell phones. The basis of the project has been taken from the book “A Pattern Language” by Christopher Alexander and Jenifer Tidwell’s proposal of Patterns in Interaction Design. The basis of the project has been taken from the book “A Pattern Language” by Christopher Alexander and Jenifer Tidwell’s proposal of Patterns in Interaction Design.
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My bike- Design of an adolescent bike
by Deepak Saini
by Deepak Saini
Most of the teenagers like action movies. Most of them like red and black colours. Teenagers of 10th grade and above tend to lose their interest in bicycles. Bicycle using group is from 5th standard to 10th standard. No one among the teenagers knew about MTB, ATB, or BMX features. Most of them liked Hi-Tech things like SHOCKERS, SUSPENDED SADDLES, etc. Teenagers have a great urge to possess things. Bikes and cars are the dream objects for this age group. Teenagers have a strong urge to become independent. Most of the teenagers associate them with anger and intelligence. Parents are the final decision-makers, so their interest should be considered. Parents use bicycles to tempt teenagers to perform well in academics. The relatives and friends of the parents, the advertisements, and cycle repairers play an important role in the opinion-making.
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Cell phone (Communicator) Design For Elderly Executives
by Deepak Saini
by Deepak Saini
Cell phones have become the vital part of modern accessories, and there is a distinct need for organising oneself in this fast life. The age group of 50 and above is at the apex of their career; they are one of the busiest age groups, and thus communication and organising (scheduling, appointment management, reminders etc.) become extremely important. The product is primarily dedicated to this age group but designed on the lines of Universal Design so that it does not get contained to this age group but could be used by others too. the possibilities of combining the two things (cell phone and PDA) so that they combine in the most functional and efficient way to generate interest and user delight. The resulting design has a unique combination of the PDA and a cell phone with all the accessories like a QWERTY keyboard and stylus integrated with the form. All the elements have been functionally integrated to generate the desired freshness and create a distinct identity of the product.
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Bioacoustics
by Dhananjay Wagh
by Dhananjay Wagh
Bioacoustics is the study of the adaptive basis of animal sound signals: how (when, where) and why animals make sounds. Animal’s signaling behavior is a complex of structural and behavioral features that had adaptive consequences in previous generations. Bioacoustics is the investigation of these adaptive consequences. A number of taxa make very extensive use of sound signals, and in a loose sense, it may be convenient to consider them ‘acoustic animals’. The acoustic insects are the crickets and katydids, the grasshoppers and cicadas, all noteworthy sound signalers. Though the extent of the literature addressing Orthoptera and cicadas justifies the use of the term acoustic insects, in fact the incidence of sound signalling in insects, especially if one expands'sound’ to embrace'mechanical disturbances in water and solid substrata’ as well as air, is catholic. Among vertebrates, sounds are produced extensively by fish and mammals, but the frogs and birds are especially studied from an acoustic perspective. The birds are perhaps the preeminent acoustic animals. But anyone studying bats or cetaceans could find many arguments for disagreement. A final comment: we greatly underestimate the numbers of taxa that make an important use of sounds in their daily lives, particularly if we include vibration in terrestrial substrata and sound and vibration in water.
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Bed-Side Storage for Hospital
by Dhananjay Wagh
by Dhananjay Wagh
Storage cabinets are the need of every hospital. From small P.H.C. to specially equipped hospitals. This is one kind of small storage that is given to a patient to keep his belongings, medicines, food, etc. The current design of the storage unit doesn’t allow the user to keep all the required things. There are many problems related to the current design, like space, usability, accessibility, visibility, cleaning, and maintenance problems. Also, there are some more problems related to material, manufacturing, and transportation. From the last many years, there has been a typical image of this ‘Bedside storage cabinet' that hasn’t been subjected to any change due to considering it as secondary furniture and a lack of change in design approach towards this product. As we know, the big hospitals can afford to take imported hospital furniture, whereas the small hospitals are using the same old design, which is absurd to the user. But the study shows even the imported furniture does not seem to fulfil the requirements of the user. The design of a bedside storage unit for a general hospital, with the help of a different design approach by knowing the user. The targeted users were the patient, visitors, attendant, doctor, nurse, and other hospital staff. The requirements and problems related to them were understood with the help of a user survey in the general hospital. The survey included observing the user, the handling, the storage requirements, the volumetric study, the duration of the patient's stay, and the usage of the cabinet.
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Digital caretaker for elderly
by Dhananjay Wagh
by Dhananjay Wagh
The project deals with conceptualising and designing an electronic product to take care of elderly people’s health-related problems. The aim was to design a device for the elderly that will act as a digital caretaker and help them to solve some of their health-related problems based on physiological and psychological requirements. There are many problems everybody comes across in old age, like health problems, communication problems, entertainment problems, relationship problems, memory problems, economical problems, and time management problems. These problems arise due to changes in the human body, physiological functions, motor ability, and sensory and mental changes in old age. The first step was to understand all the above problems of elderly people and then select the important one. A user survey study was done with 20 elderly targeted users to understand the requirement of the product. The survey was based on contextual enquiries, which helped to understand the real problem faced by elderly people. The data was derived with the help of consolidation of work models and affinity diagrams. This gave us the list of problems, which were carefully segregated into two parts: a) problems that can be handled by design and b) problems that cannot be handled by design.
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Creative Aid for School Children
by Muralidhar K.
by Muralidhar K.
In our present educational system, maximum importance has been given to the bookish way of learning (i.e., the manipulation of 26 alphabets and 10 numerals). The interaction between the bookish knowledge, the reality in the environment, and the self forms the basis for a creative experience. The ability of the child to question, to find form and order, to rethink and restructure, and to find new relationships with knowledge at hand needs to be encouraged. Optimal reading occurs when it is fun and the individual is challenged to the limits of their state. It occurs when the challenge is matched to the child’s knowledge and skills. This state occurs when the challenge is matched to the child’s knowledge and skills. Every kid must be taken to the optimal level of challenge, regardless of skill. Kids become winners when we enab'losers.' entiated learning, thus overschoolchildrenitional ga of ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ To design creative, enjoyable school children of age 12+ years so that learning becomes a hands-on, enjoyable, and self-taught experience. The aid is aimed at means for kids to work with to illustrate various materials and activities that they can relate to their day-to-day activities like play, games, hobbies, and academics.
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3D Form Generation Through Emotions
by Pankaj Dhamane
by Pankaj Dhamane
Due to increased competition in the market, companies are continually introducing new products with unique aesthetics. As products in the same category often have similar technical performances, consumers are basing their purchase decisions more on the pleasure a product can provide. Companies have come to realise that technology-driven product design does not always align with real user needs and desires. Today, intelligent product design increasingly requires a focus on emotional or affective intelligence to create meaningful connections with users. In a customer-driven market, individuality is paramount; consumers seek products that reflect their own identity and preferences, making customisation an essential aspect of modern product design.
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Micro passenger vehicle- A transportation concept for India
by Pankaj Dhamane
by Pankaj Dhamane
The design of a micropassenger vehicle for intra-city transport is intended to address urban mobility challenges with a compact and innovative solution. The vehicle will accommodate two adults, two children, and a minimum of two VIP mantra bags. Its structure may feature a hard top or, optionally, a convertible design, emphasising lightweight construction. Compactness is key to solving traffic and parking issues, and the vehicle will employ an environment-friendly power plant, achieving a fuel efficiency of 25–40 km per litre with a maximum speed of 60 km/h. The vehicle is intended to be affordable, with a target cost of approximately 1,50,000 rupees, and will be suitable for mass production. Styling is an important consideration, as the vehicle should present a refined aesthetic, reflecting both current and future trends, and create a distinctive identity in the automotive market. Safety and stability are also prioritised, ensuring that the vehicle remains stable in all conditions and provides weather protection for passengers
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Personalized Vehicle for The Sophisticates
by Pankaj Dhamane
by Pankaj Dhamane
Vehicles for adults who have established their own sense of value: these vehicles should be both attractive and exciting to drive. Moreover, their unique qualities should help foster a personal bond with their owners—a bond that only grows stronger with time. The core target market is couples in their 50’s.
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Contemporary Industrial Design Methodology
by Pravin S. Padale
by Pravin S. Padale
One of the simplest and most common observations about designing is that it includes the three essential stages of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. These can be described in simple words as ‘breaking the problem into pieces’, ‘putting the pieces together in a new way', and ‘testing to discover the consequences of putting the new arrangement into practice’. These three stages are named divergence and convergence. Divergence: This term refers to the act of extending the boundary of a design situation so as to have a large enough, and fruitful enough, search space in which to seek a solution. It may be useful to think of divergent search as testing for stability, or instability, in everything connected with the problem; an attempt to discover what, in the hierarchy of community values, systems, products, and components, is susceptible to change and what are to be regarded as fixed points of reference. The aim of the designer is to avoid, as far as they can, imposing a premature pattern upon what they discover. Convergence: The last of three stages is that which, traditionally, is nearly the whole of designing but which, under the impact of design automation, may eventually become the bit that people do not do. It is the stage after the problem has been defined, the variables have been identified, and the objectives have been agreed. The designers aim becomes that of reducing the secondary uncertainties progressively until only one of many possible alternative designs is left as the final solution to be lunched into the world.
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Summer Training Report
by Pravin S. Padale
by Pravin S. Padale
The company is located in the industrial area called Gokul-Shirgaon Midc. This is one of the only big steel furniture manufacturing companies in this region. This unit is around 12 km away from Kolhapur city. The major products that this company produces are hospital furniture and kitchen equipment. This company was started by Mr. . Madan K. Kulkarni around 12 years ago as a small fabrication shop. He is also an excellent designer, qualified from the IDC’s third batch. Now this company has four units in this industrial area. One unit handles all development activities, such as die development and all machined components. The other one handles the total production of the hospital bed, and the other two handle the kitchen furniture and nonstandard as well as standard furniture for the hospital. Next, they are starting the furniture range for the academic and educational institutions. This is one of the reasons why I went company turnover for a month is around 40 to 60 lakh rupees. there for training. The company turnover for a month is around 40 to 60 lakh rupees.
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Design Of Cobbler Tools
by Pravin S. Padale
by Pravin S. Padale
In this project, only the cobblers of Kolhapur district are considered. The chappals they make are beautiful. These will be more beautiful with the help of new tools. There is good scope for designers to work in this field. New designs of tools can improve the production, and hence the productivity of the cobblers will improve. There is possibility of solving ergonomic issues with the help of new design projects in this area. Though the process of chappal making is interesting, it is quite complicated. This may improve with the help of new designed tools. These tools are not only used by the cobblers but also by the leather industry, which makes other leather products. At present, the Kolhapuri chappal industry is slowly shrinking. The leather industry doesn’t seem to be following this pattern of shrinking. There are a lot of small shoe and chappal manufacturers other than Kolhapuri chappals, who still use the same tools and are likely to use them for the next few generations because of the cost and tradition of the craft. Hence, there is a great scope for these tools to be used not only for kolhapuri chappals but also for other applications in the leather industry. So the data collection was started. The main focus was the cobblers in the Kolhapur district, as this city is famous for Kolhapuri chappals. These are pure leather chappals. In the first stage of the data collection, it was found that there are four types of cobblers. After study of these peoples, a user profile was decided. For this class of people, the tools were considered. A detailed study was done about the chappal making process and the tools they use.
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Design Of Mobile gasoline dispenser
by Pravin S. Padale
by Pravin S. Padale
The design of the mobile petrol pump is an innovative idea to serve the rural population of India. The gasoline dispensing unit can be a part of a vehicle or a transportation medium that will carry a sufficient amount of gasoline. The challenge in the design is about the storage of the gasoline and about the interface and dispensing module of the pump. Traditionally, in the existing petrol pumps, the storage tanks are located below the ground, but with new solutions, they will be above the ground, so this is another safety issue that needs to be considered. The interface issue is how one or two people can operate the whole dispensing system, right from refilling the tank and dealing with the customers. We are talking about making the stationary pump into a mobile unit, which has space constraints as well as a lot of layout and dispensing issues. The places where the designed unit starts dispensing also matter, as the terrain and changing locations put some constraints on dispensing units. The day and night conditions have to be considered, as illumination can be an issue for night dispensing of gasoline. Besides this, the system cost is another issue that must be considered. Therefore, the design needs to consider all such factors before it takes a saleable product form.
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Special Project- Defining Literacy
by Rajat. S. Singh
by Rajat. S. Singh
In order to understand the catch-22 that exists between illiteracy and other socio-economic problems in a society, one needs to carefully analyse and bifurcate the term "illiterate" in order to define it aptly and study its various forms and kinds. They do so from a conviction that how we define the term has substantial impact on the goals and methods that are set for literacy education, in particular, and for education overall. Definitions of literacy today are multiple, complex, and shifting, and often they add to each other.
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New Identity for Lee Stores
by Rajat. S. Singh
by Rajat. S. Singh
The concept for a new retail environment for the Lee brand aims to create a refreshing, highly differentiated space that stands out as trendy, aspirational, and effortlessly cool—a place where teenagers and young adults can hang out, relax, and engage with the brand beyond typical “jeans wear” imagery. The environment will be modular, practical, and dynamic, offering a constantly evolving backdrop that encourages visitors to explore without feeling pressured to buy. Designed to foster a laid-back, stress-free browsing experience, the space will allow customers to move freely, engage with products, and make decisions organically, with a focus on peer-led interactions that enhance the sense of community and shared style discovery.
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Design of a Wheelchair
by Rajat. S. Singh
by Rajat. S. Singh
The wheelchair project is taken because a need was felt for a wheelchair in India, which suits the Indian patients and gives them the much-needed comfort and motivation to use a wheelchair. It was also to seek meaningfulness in my work by contributing my little bit into the disability sector, where I personally feel lies immense possibilities, and the results generate very significant and obviously comforting change in the lives of the users.
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Design Of Solar Powered Vehicle
by Rajat. S. Singh
by Rajat. S. Singh
The greatest problem that faces the world today is global warming. It is more apparent here in India than anywhere else, especially Rajasthan, where temperatures over the last few years have risen from 32°C to 36°C to last summer's 42°C to 46°C. The principle forms of renewable energy suitable for places that lie in the tropics are wind and solar energy. The solar panels seen on the roof tops are usually for producing hot water and should not be confused with those used to produce electricity, which are photovoltaic panels. They are made of 2 thin plates of silicon containing slight impurities, which, when exposed to sunlight, experience a stimulation of electrons. If positive and negative terminals connected by a wire are added, as in a battery, the electrons will flow around the wire, producing electricity.
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The concept of aesthetics in ZEN, TAO and Deconstruction
by Ritu Sonalika
by Ritu Sonalika
This project aims to understand the doctrine principles propounded by various schools of thought.
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Introduction to Nagaland and its handicrafts
by Ritu Sonalika
by Ritu Sonalika
Nagaland, nestled in the northeastern part of India, is a vibrant state known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and traditional handicrafts. Home to a diverse array of tribes, each with its own unique customs, festivals, and art forms, Nagaland’s culture is deeply rooted in community values and craftsmanship. The state's handicrafts are a reflection of its rich tribal history and are renowned for their intricate designs, skilled craftsmanship, and the use of natural materials sourced from the region's lush environment.
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Design of luminaires
by Ritu Sonalika
by Ritu Sonalika
To design a family of luminaires with a contemporary Indian image for showrooms selling exclusively Indian products. The design of luminaires should complement the image of the space and the products being retailed. To develop a different language for lighting showrooms. The luminaires can be batch produced using a combination of craft and industrial production. Luminaires facilitating different objectives.
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Bamboo weave patterns
by Rupali Babahulkar
by Rupali Babahulkar
Bamboo products have a long history all across the world, specifically in China, Japan, and India. In all these places, there are various traditional bamboo weaving patterns, which have been developed through the ages. There are certain patterns that are common in every region, though these are known by different names in that particular region. However, some interesting weave patterns are developed in that particular region only, and thus these become the speciality of that region. It’s interesting to observe the method or process of weaving these fascinating patterns, which might be different for the same pattern in two different regions. These weaving patterns, which are in two-dimensional forms, are used to make mats, fans, partitions, screens, etc. For three-dimensional objects like baskets, vases, fish traps, etc., the same two-dimensional weave patterns are adopted and then converted accordingly. This project makes an attempt to analyse the grammar of existing weaving patterns and classify them into categories. Through this classification, the gaps can be identified, which can lead to developing the methodology to come up with new patterns.
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POP environment for Indian wear- Display system for sarees
by Rupali Babahulkar
by Rupali Babahulkar
A point-of-purchase (POP) environment for displaying sarees in an Indian wear retail setting should reflect the elegance, richness, and diversity of the traditional garment while enhancing the customer experience. The display system for sarees should be crafted to captivate attention, facilitate easy browsing, and highlight the saree’s fabric, pattern, and drape.
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Redesign of Coconut Dehusking Machine
by S. Sundara Mohan
by S. Sundara Mohan
The project, a redesign of a coconut dehusker, was taken up to improve the innovation developed by the innovator, Mr. R. Jayaseelan, from a small village in Tennessee. The objective of this project is to develop the machine to the level of a complete product with all the inputs from a product design perspective. The department of science and technology helped establish the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) of India in March 2000, with the main goal of providing institutional support in scouting, spawning, sustaining, and scaling up grassroots innovations and helping their transition to self-supporting activities. The foundation has a governing body chaired by Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Secretary, CSIR, and Director General, CSIR. Prof. Anil K. Gupta, president of SRISTI and professor, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, is the Executive Vice Chairperson of NIF. For the last ten years, the Honeybee Network and Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI) have been scouting innovations by farmers, artisans, women, etc. at the grassroot level.
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Design for Habit Formation
by Shilpi Kumar
by Shilpi Kumar
This project is an attempt to identify issues pertaining to “design for habit formation,” understanding user habits to be able to predict the usage pattern of any new product, which would help designers at the time of product development.
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Study of habit formation on Mobile Phone
by Vikram singh parmar
by Vikram singh parmar
There is no doubt that cell phones have had an impact on society, both good and bad. The possibilities of the usefulness of carrying a cellular phone are nearly endless—solving problems ranging anywhere from car problems to a heart attack. “Mobile phones have finally penetrated the entire nation,” Fausto Cardoso, president and CEO of BPL Mobile, a cellular service provider, told IANS. “India is really ready for accelerated growth in the year ahead." All though mobile phones have been around for about thirty years, it is only recently that they have become widespread. Experts estimate that 80 percent of the population will soon own a mobile phone. Study of mobile phones has helped locating some habits that are unnoticed by the user unless they are told. All the habits documented have some connection with the users previous behaviour in a similar context. Once the nexus of habits and primarily where it originates is understood, the whole polemic of technology and habits seems related or connected to each other. The study also tries to elucidate the fact that habit formations are not isolated processes.
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Summer training at National Centre for Product Design and Development (NCDPD)
by Vikram singh parmar
by Vikram singh parmar
The National Centre for Product Design and Development (NCDPD) is the result of the endeavouring efforts of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), and member exporters. The NCDPD has undertaken the responsibility of revival of languishing crafts for achieving a quantum jump in the exports. Indian arts have a charm of their own. But the international markets constantly demand something new and innovative. To help the Indian artisans cope with the fierce competition in the global markets, the National Centre for Design and Product Development (NCDPD) was set up to provide an upper edge to Indian handicrafts abroad by means of design and technical inputs. The centre has two branches—one in Delhi and the other in Moradabad.
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Summer training at National Centre for Product Design and Development (NCDPD)
by Vikram singh parmar
by Vikram singh parmar
The National Centre for Product Design and Development (NCDPD) is the result of the endeavouring efforts of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), and member exporters. The NCDPD has undertaken the responsibility of revival of languishing crafts for achieving a quantum jump in the exports. Indian arts have a charm of their own. But the international markets constantly demand something new and innovative. To help the Indian artisans cope with the fierce competition in the global markets, the National Centre for Design and Product Development (NCDPD) was set up to provide an upper edge to Indian handicrafts abroad by means of design and technical inputs. The centre has two branches—one in Delhi and the other in Moradabad.
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Design a mobile handcart for
pepsi
by Vikram singh parmar
by Vikram singh parmar
In the realm of consumer products, certain items may not be omnipresent but can still achieve ubiquitous status, seamlessly integrating into daily life across diverse geographies and cultures. Beverages, particularly soft drinks, exemplify this phenomenon. Major brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi are recognisable from the sands of the Kalahari Desert to the icy peaks of Alaska, symbolising global reach and adaptability. In India, the soft drink market is fiercely competitive, with Pepsi currently holding a slight edge over Coca-Cola, despite Coca-Cola’s position as the world’s largest soft drink producer. This rivalry for market dominance has led to a spectacle of innovative marketing strategies, with Indian consumers witnessing a variety of promotions and stunts by both brands. Both companies bring their aggressive marketing approaches from the U.S. and Europe, adapting their tactics to fit the Indian context, which continually evolves as consumers and cultural landscapes change.
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Interactive information system for bus commuters of Mumbai
by Vikram singh parmar
by Vikram singh parmar
As observed over the project, Mumbai is one of the only places where railways have a very significant presence in commuter routines. Delhi has the opposite situation; there, bus transport is more popular. (Now with the new metro in Delhi, there might be a change in the travelling patterns of commuters.) Everyday, approx. 15, 000 visitors, migrants, and businessmen come to Bombay to seek a desired job or money. Mumbai transport has a very significant role to play in terms of connecting all the novice people (new visitors) and regular people to their desired destination. The railway network is very linear and well defined because of the tracks, unlike the bus network. The bus network is quite diffused and distributed and has its own defined routes and stops. The bus is still popular among the users who stay at locations where there is no railway line or preferred by the commuter who can reach half way by train and later half by bus. Marriage of train and bus networking is very important, as commuters use both modes very effectively and efficiently for commuting short or long distances in Mumbai.
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Innovation matrix for new ideas
by Yogesh S. Patankar
by Yogesh S. Patankar
For every business, small, medium, and large, innovation is key to success. It is not necessarily about thinking up new things in the first place but about exploiting opportunities profitably and ahead of rivals. Innovation is the process that involves the whole company and its all disciplines to come up with new ideas. It is not enough that the company is innovative, so it will come up in the market. The competition in the market is tremendous. Every company is going for innovative products. So whatever you produce must be innovative enough to beat other products. The project “Innovation matrix for new ideas” focuses on this aspect of business. Is it possible to rank your innovative ideas? Focus is to answer this question. The work started with knowing basic definitions and differences between innovation and invention. Then reading papers on innovation processes and types of innovation. Various ways to make a matrix like these were analyzed. One of them is a QFD matrix, which tells the customer voice. In the later part of the project, the QFD matrix is used as an extension of the innovation matrix. The innovation matrix developed gives the innovation index of an idea considered as compared to present products taken along with it.
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Innovation matrix for new ideas
by Yogesh S. Patankar
by Yogesh S. Patankar
For every business, small, medium, and large, innovation is key to success. It is not necessarily about thinking up new things in the first place but about exploiting opportunities profitably and ahead of rivals. Innovation is the process that involves the whole company and its all disciplines to come up with new ideas. It is not enough that the company is innovative, so it will come up in the market. The competition in the market is tremendous. Every company is going for innovative products. So whatever you produce must be innovative enough to beat other products. The project “Innovation matrix for new ideas” focuses on this aspect of business. Is it possible to rank your innovative ideas? Focus is to answer this question. The work started with knowing basic definitions and differences between innovation and invention. Then reading papers on innovation processes and types of innovation. Various ways to make a matrix like these were analyzed. One of them is a QFD matrix, which tells the customer voice. In the later part of the project, the QFD matrix is used as an extension of the innovation matrix. The innovation matrix developed gives the innovation index of an idea considered as compared to present products taken along with it.
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Design of AuroDeep
by Yogesh S. Patankar
by Yogesh S. Patankar
Auroville’s Centre for Scientific Research CSR was founded in 1984, with an original focus on ferro-cement technologies: roofing channels, water tanks, doors, biogas tanks, and other products. Aurore Projects and Services is a renewable energy service-provider agency. It aims at progressively introducing renewable energy systems in India by interacting with product manufacturers, leasing companies, subsidy givers, and end users. AuroRE has executed renewable energy projects in the Indian states of Andaman and Nicobar, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Karnataka, Kerela, Orissa, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Gujarat. Partnerships have been established with the government, NGO's, and the private sector to promote renewable energy in different parts of India. Since 1992, AuroRE, through the Centre for Scientific Research (CSR), has been closely collaborating with IREDA, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, for the implementation of several renewable energy projects. The design of solar lights for different sectors of the market involved the study of the present lantern and a market survey. Then followed by making the concepts for solar lights, and work ended with four models of lights.
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Design of Water quality checking product
by Yogesh S. Patankar
by Yogesh S. Patankar
The chemical department of IIT Bombay has developed a biosensor that works on conducting polymers. These types of sensors can check the presence and quantity of various elements in a liquid. Media Lab Asia took this project for further development and appointed people from various departments like electrochemistry, microelectronics, biomedical, industrial design centre of IIT Mumbai, and people from Media Lab Asia. I took this project under the guidance of Prof. Munshi of IDC, IIT Bombay. The project's main aim was to do research in water quality checking. On every Friday, a meeting is used to be held in the Chemistry department where all the people in the group meet and discuss various issues of design at various levels of sensor design. Group looks on to the progress of every person. Inputs are given from experts in different fields and are used in the design of the product. The project's main aim is to develop a water quality checking product that can be carried in fields outside the laboratory. Each and every technical issue is discussed in a meeting, and solutions for problems were finalised by consulting with the people. The effort is to make such a product that is useful to people who are doing research in this field. Exploration for design ideas was done in many ways. At every level of design, concepts were evaluated and then carried forward.
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Design of Watches for Youth
by Yogesh S. Patankar
by Yogesh S. Patankar
“Design of watches for young people” In every day life we wear and carry many things along with us, for example, a watch, mobile phone, pager, valet, etc. . The important thing is to watch. By looking at the time in watch, we decide many things and follow many schedules. The watch is not only a time-showing instrument but also carries a lot of individual attachments to it. It reflects the personality of the person who is wearing it. There is a lot of aesthetic quality involved in it other than functionality. I have taken a project named “Design of watches for young people." The market is ever-changing, and new fashion trends are being set up. The young people are always looking for new things, and they are very keen to follow new fashion trends. There is a lot of challenge in designing watches for young people as it involves designing for continuously changing needs. The project work will involve the study of new products and their formal characteristics, parallel products used by youth. The work also involves image mapping and identifying elements, which define the youthfulness of the watch. Much stress will be given to the formal, aesthetic aspects of watch design. Finally, the output of the project will be the design of watches considering the youth segment in the market. Physical models will be done to conclude the project.
Details >>1989-1998
(46 items)
Simulation of Bamboo Weave Forms on the Computer
by Adamya Ashk
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by Adamya Ashk
Bamboo and Bamboo Crafts
Bamboo is an important natural resource for a country like India. Crafts in bamboo have reached a high state of development in our country. But with the coming of colonialism and subsequent industrialization, the subcontinent saw a gradual decline in the practise of crafts of all types. Bamboo craft was certainly no exception, although it continued to flourish in the rural and remote regions where other materials were scarce. Today, there is a need to see crafts as a means for economic upsurgence and as a symbol of strong cultural identity in the face of blatant industrialization. Bamboo craft is ecologically sound on the one hand, while on the other hand, it can be seen as a great employment generator (Kaley 1994). This makes a strong case for rejuvenating this craft form.
Design Input into Bamboo Craft
Design has evolved from craft. Design inputs into bamboo craft can be an important way of affecting this rejuvenation. It has the potential to bring much-needed innovation to bamboo craft, making it economically viable and competitive with industrially produced artifacts. This is something that traditional craft knowledge, which shows gradual improvement over a long time, cannot grapple with (Rao, 1995).
The Problem of Simulation
Yet designers with formal training have little or no understanding of bamboo craft. Bamboo crafts also pose a great difficulty in terms of simulation. The designer can simulate a plastic bucket and experiment with the form, but without making a bamboo basket, it is impossible to explore its formal capabilities. So, for meaningful participation of designers, methods of simulation, which provide for creativity that is free from the necessity of having the ability to make the actual products, are essential.
Apart from this, the designer has to explain his concepts to the craftsman, in which he faces great difficulty because the traditional methods of representation are limited in their ability to convey something as complex as bamboo woven forms. This brings us to the purpose of this project, that of using computers for the simulation of bamboo weave forms.
Simulation on the Computer
The computer is already an important tool for the simulation of artefacts of many materials. It provides a new way of simulating concepts in three-dimensional images. Computer-generated images also offer a certain precision, which can be used to convey the designer’s intentions in a better way than previously possible. This attribute significantly points to its use for simulating and generating images of bamboo weave forms, which can convey much more than product renderings and other methods of representation.
Environment, People and Crafts of Kutch
by Amin Thakker
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by Amin Thakker
Kutch is an ancient land located in the north-western region of Gujarat, the westernmost state of India. It has a rich history due to its strategic location on the historic route to India. It is bordered by the flat desert locally known as the "Rann" on the north and the east. The Rann is a unique feature found nowhere else in the world. Kutch is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and southwest and by the Gulf of Kutch to the south. The Kutch region can be divided into three parts, running more or less horizonally in the east-west direction. The village of Khavda is known for its printing work called Ajhrak and also for leather crafts.
The largest of the three is the Rann, extending towards the southeast. The central belt is known as Banni, a name derived from the area's rice cultivation. However, the land yields good quality grass if the rain is sufficient. It is now a major cattle breeding area, supplying milk to the major settlements to the south. The area has good potential for dairy farming if somehow sufficient water could be made available. There are no urban settlements in the Banni; in fact, not even villages are found. However, there are over forty beautiful semi-nomadic hamlets. The coastal area in the south is the most urbanised part of the region. The sea routes were a major factor contributing to their development in the past. Most of the larger settlements lie within these belts.
The entire region as a whole is very dry, and all the places you see around you get to see sand, thorns, and stones all over the place. This dryness of the land has made people very colourful in their lives. The average population density of the entire region is around 20 people per sq. They are distributed in pockets, either as a village or at a great distance. Previously, there were very few connecting roads. Now state transport buses are available and they reach almost all the villages in the entire region, as well as the tarred roads that cut across almost the entire region.
A Vernacular/Historic Pocket in a Metropolis
by Asok Abraham George
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by Asok Abraham George
The underlying themes of this project are ethnicity and modernisation. The task was to identify a vernacular and historical pocket in a metropolis and study its origin and growth, its religious and cultural roots, as well as the changes due to the onslaught of modernization and how traditional culture has endured or adapted itself to the present times. The study included the place-its sights, smells, images, pulses. architecture, etc., as well as its people—their needs, feelings, desires, and fears. The vernacular pocket and its relationship with the city as a whole, the cross-cultural influence, and possible conflicts and clashes between them were looked into.
The vernacular or historical pocket chosen for the project is the ancient township of Fort Cochin, once a major trading centre but now just a small pocket in the metropolitan city of Cochin, the commercial capital of Kerala. This unique urban settlement was chosen because of the component of plurality, or the existence of multi-ethnic groups that form its population. Unlike most of the vernacular pockets that exist in other cities like Bombay, this pocket is inhabited not by a single community but by different people, with different religious and cultural identities.
The study tries to find if a common denominator exists among all these groups, something that makes it possible to collectively identify the people of this area. Due to the limitations of time, the study was restricted to the four main communities of the area, namely the Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Anglo-Indian communities. Other minority communities which exist in the area, such as Gujaratis, Konkanis, Jews, Jain, etc., have not been included. Most of these communities are settled in Mattanchery, another historic pocket adjacent to Fort Cochin.
The study includes the documentation of people, places, objects, phenomina, activities, rituals, festivals,streets, buildings etc. A brief outline of the unique urbanisation in Kerala and the differences it has with urbanisation in Kerala and the differences it has with urbanisation in the rest of India is included in the study. A brief write-up on the history and the present scene in Cochin is also included.
The study has not ended with this report. As a part of four similar projects undertaken at the same time at different places, the study has sparked off a quest within ourselves, a thought for human values, and a hope that we shall not only become good designers, but more importantly, better human beings.
Modern Fashion: Ethnic Aspects
by Chandrashekhar Madhusudan Wyawahare
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by Chandrashekhar Madhusudan Wyawahare
The term "ethnic" has a lot of importance in this fashion industry. This term has a lot of importance today. Its origin lies in the traditions and customs of India. The various kinds of cultural backgrounds have got their own colours, fabrics, and so do the stitches. It has also got its handicrafts. Because of the strong cultural background, fashion designers have been able to explore handicrafts and traditional items in a modern context.The designers are doing lots and lots of new stuff based on the glory of the past, but they are actually in the process of "search." The search for an ethnicity in the modern era.
Designers experiment with existing traditional art forms such as embroidery, mirrorwork, tie and die, and so on, and end up combining Indian designs with fabrics from the west. It ends up with a feeling that ethnicity has been explored at a very superficial level. The dynamics of a good combination are contoured by its basic patterns, for example, the ghaghras. Its basic patterns, plains or printed, are the basic things associated with the ghaghra, but topping the hierarchy is the mirrorwork and the embroidery. Easily the most formal and elegant of all the ghaghras, it stands out when worn with the backless choli, silver ornaments, and the dupatta. Is the ethnicity of the fabric found in the utilisation of the fabric?
Showing ethnic has become bolder and now seems to follow certain metaphors. Some of the designer's conceptions are very bold and are regulated by the wildness and the vibrant Indian colours. For example, Suneet Verma’s creation is symbolised by the tantric collection, which is modern and ethnic and not modern and ethnic. Sarees with exciting bustiers and salwar kurtas with dupattas in bright colours and using various design methodologies such as tie and die, embroidery with applique, painted effects, block printing with the nalamboli type scripture letter forming the border. The colours used are also very bold and pure.
James Bond - 007 - A Character Analysis
by Debasish Mahapatra
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by Debasish Mahapatra
Years ago, when he was "bigger,better, Bond and beyond", in those legendary Bond sagas like Dr. No and Goldfinger, Sean Connery cried out in anger: "I’ve always hated that damn James Bond. I’d like to kill him!". The rancour was understandable. For here was an image that had grown larger than the actor: a fictitious character who had gained iconic proportions as the one-man army against evil; and a celluloid series that promised to go on indefinitely, despite the falling grandeur, increasing pyrotechnics, failing histrionis, and dwindling charisma... and yet it goes on.
Such is the saga of the super secret agent who emerged out of the imagination of Ian Fleming in 1952 and went on to become one of the most popular and legendary characters, spanning four decades, eighteen films, and fourteen Ian Fleming novels, including a number of short stories. Today, James Bond is history, which is not dead but ever alive and kicking-neither shaken nor stirred.
It is a truly remarkable achievement for an intensely personal creation, created, initially, as a money spinner and a means of escape for its author. In return, James Bond 007-license to kill, has provided escape and enjoyment for 100 million readers and one and a half billion cinegoers, and has earned a permanent place in the world’s consciousness.
James Bond has become a worldwide cult figure, crossing all race and language barriers and proving he is something much more than Secret Agent 007! What is it about this character that stirs, grips, and mesmerises in celluloid as well as in pulp? Many critics and authors have attempted explanations for it: Len Deighton; Raymond Chandler; Kingsley Amis; John Le Carre. Film and Filming, the prestigious cinema magazines, stated: "James Bond is not a screen hero, he is an institution, and as such has influenced world affairs, art, music, motion pictures, and fashion."
Critics have attributed his appeal to'sex, sadism and snoberry’; the films have been panned for their unheatable blend of conspicuous consumption, brandname snobbery, colour supplement chic, comic-strip sex and violence, and technical wizardry. Fleming himself generally felt that Bond should not be analysed too closely and said; They’re reading too much into the man—he's not all that important. This may be so, but there is unquestionably something in the Bond formula which still leaves people the world over asking for more, even though the fantasy remains the same. A new world, new threats, new enemies, yet the only man who can save the world is still James Bond: England’s dream do-gooder who carries on the good work long after the sun has set.
Colour Pyschology
by Gautam Satalkar
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by Gautam Satalkar
An Indian industrial designer was asked to suggest a new colour shade for the newly launched Maruti Zen. The colours popular for the similar cars by Maruti, the 800, were Maroon Red, Dark Blue Grey, and Dark Green Grey. Now the company wanted a new shade that would cater to the female market.
Study of the psychological setup of the mind of the typical Indian woman played a key role in this problem. The new colour chosen by the designer was lemon yellow, which the company officers were reluctant to introduce. The designer somehow convinced them, and in reality, the colour shade proved to be very popular, especially amongst women.
Color and light play a key role, though generally unrecognized, in our lives. The above example shows the same. It is an example that shows the same. It is an example of the proper use of colour for the product. But many a time, the colours are used without giving proper thought to the psychological and psychological effects of the colours. This leads to bad colour design, which can cause anxiety, stress, and visual disorder and be the host to many other problems.
There have been numerous attempts by people all over the globe to understand the role of colour in human life. Many experiments have been done in history to detect the influence of colours on the human mind, both scientific and mystic. The main hindrance towards creating a set of identified rules or an elaborate theory on the behaviour of the human mind with respect to colours is that the results of all such experiments are subjective. Now, the days have changed and science has emerged with new tools for research. Today, thanks to sophisticated techniques of research and analysis, we know that colour affects cortical activation (brain waves), functions of the autonomic nervous system (which regulates the body’s internal environment), and harmonal activity, and that colour arouses definite emotional and aesthetic associations. In short, our response to colour is total; it influences us both psychologically and psychologically.
Joints in Modular Systems
by Lalitesh Mandrekar
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by Lalitesh Mandrekar
Broadly defined, a joint is a structural relation between two individual bodies so that mechanical forces are transmitted from one body to the other. But many other aspects, such as aesthetics and compatibility with the system or product functions, also contribute to designing a joint. This project is a study of various joints in modular systems and focuses on problems related to panel joinery systems. Various principles in joinery are analysed and some different ideas are suggested for the joining of FRP panels.
- About modular joints:
- Joints in modular systems are designed for a particular set of modules considering their sizes ,shapes, materials and variations.
- Modules and joints are developed together, and joints add to the character of a modular system.
- Joints determine the configuration of modules.
- They allow fast assembly and knock-down of the prefabricated modules.
- Modules and joint elements are reusable after knock-down without any work on the material.
Colour symbolism in ritual art - A study on Kalamezhuthu, the ritual painting of Kerala
by Madhu KS
by Madhu KS
This is a study on the ritual painting of Kerala known as Kalamezhuthu, bringing out the symboloic significance of the five colours (Panchavarnam) used for making the painting by linking them with various rituals, practises and beliefs prevalent in Kerala. It is concluded that the colours represent the symbolic nature of the process of kalamezhuthu-creation (red), preservation (green), and annihilation (black). The other two colours represent the earth goddess (yellow) and fertility (white).
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Documentation of Low Cost Low Level Mobility Aids for the Physically Handicapped
by Poornima K Shenoy
by Poornima K Shenoy
It’s not being "normal" that’s important, but learning to accept being different. Let's accept them as "SPECIAL" people and make this world a better place for them to live.
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Evaluation of formal aspects in design
by Satish Patil
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by Satish Patil
Today, we, as users, are surrounded by thousands of products, each contributing to our lives in some other way. The list of products is endless, from tooth brushes to sky-scrappers to... All products are designed to perform certain functions, physically or otherwise. The vehicles we use are not only for transportation but also as status symbols. The clothes I wear show which class I belong to. I must have a wall clock that will not only show time but will match my sense of beauty and go along with the decor in my drawing room. The shoes that I wear for going to the office will be different from the ones that I will prefer for a picnic. Thus, I have different criteria as to what my shoes should look like in different conditions. Electronic equipment in houses which are more playful. Thus, under conflicting visual requirements, we live in a complex visual environment which is generated by thousands of man-made objects. And at times, there are chances that it goes beyond control.
A quote reads, "We live surrounded by too much visual squalor that is man-made, and living in a visual slum is hardly likely to foster the development of an emotional experience." Each product form is designed to have certain aesthetic implications and expressive or symbolic meaning. And if we don’t control it, there is the possibility of visual chaos. Before looking at these aspects, let us look into the historical perspective of the evolution of form and the development of the human sensitivity towards form.
Prototype Tooling
by Shantanu Panse
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by Shantanu Panse
Tooling is a prime consideration in the decision-making process involved in the planning of the manufacture of any product. It is obvious that because the tooling costs are part of the manufacturer's investment, these costs must be recovered as part of the price of the product. Therefore, before the decision is made to produce a product, the manufacturer must make very detailed plans with regard to the identification of the required tooling and the estimating of the tooling cost. When the tooling costs have been determined, they will be combined by estimates of manufacturing costs, marketing costs, desired profit margins, and various other considerations. It cannot be over-emphasised at this point how important it is that the forecasted costs are accurate. This is particularly true for the estimated tooling costs. In most industries, the tooling costs represent a substantial part of the investment. Consequently, an error or an underestimate of the total tooling costs could mislead the management into undertaking an unprofitable venture.
The use of plastics as tooling materials has provided many new opportunities for tool engineers to advance the state of the art and improve tooling costs. The very dynamic nature of the plastics industry promotes constant change and improvement. Through the continued development of new materials, new applications, and new tool fabrication techniques, the plastic tooling industry has steadily grown.
Fivefold Symmetry in 2D and 3D
by Sunil William Moothedath
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by Sunil William Moothedath
This project, entitled fivefoldness in 2D and 3D, was taken up due to the special relevance it has that it is one of the most widely occurring forms of symmetry in nature, especially in the plant kingdom. In this project, it was decided to look into the meaning of symmetry, the various aspects of expression of fivefold symmetry and its possible connection with weaving in bamboo.
The first part of the project involves mainly the documentation of symmetry and fivefoldness. The second part consists of the exploration of bamboo weaving in 2D and its exploration into 3D.
The main aim of this project was to get a better understanding of symmetry, especially fivefold symmetry, and to open a new direction for exploration into bamboo weaving using fivefoldness in 2D and 3D.
Image of a City: A Vernacular Pocket
by Toa Mukerji
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by Toa Mukerji
"Before the city, there was a hamlet and the shrine and the village: before the village, the camp, the cache, the cave, the caira, and before all these, there was a disposition of social life that man plainly shares with many other animal species." – Lewis Mumford, The City in History
The aim of this study was to study the conflicting coexistence of ethnicity and modernization arising in a city.
From various other aspects denoted by this idea, that of studying the life of a community as a whole; from their arrival to their present status; the development of a lifestyle in its totality, within the fabric of an urban settlement, formed the central concern of my efforts.
The city of Bombay offers many such examples, existing in vernacular pockets throughout the island. The existence of such havens of tradition can only be explained by looking towards the development of Bombay, which has not been like that of any traditional Indian city. Out of these, Girgaum, Mazgaon, Bandra, Bhynder, and Mahim come to mind immediately. In all of these precincts, communities have settled more than 200 years ago, some even 400 years ago, in search of economic stability around or near centres of occupation.
The vernacular pocket of my interest was Mazgaon, where the 250-year-old Matharpacady village exists, inhabited mostly by the East Indian Christian community. My study includes a brief introduction to the city of Bombay, the pocket and its origin, the images of the community-its roots and traditions, the families living in Matharpacady-their present status and growth with time, the changes with time in the traditions and lifestyle of the people in Matharpacady and in prominent land marks as a result of the onslaught of modernization.
Explorations in bottle forms using RP technology
by Abhinav Dapke
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by Abhinav Dapke
Introducing new products at an increasing rate is critical for remaining competitive in a global economy; decreasing product development cycle times and increasing product complexity necessitate new ways to realise innovative ideas. In response to these challenges, industry and academia have invented a spectrum of technologies that help to develop new products and broaden the number of product alternatives.
Most designers agree that "getting physical prototypes fast" is critical to exploring design concepts. The sooner designers experiment with new products, the faster they gain inspiration for further design changes.
The key idea in rapid prototyping is the decomposition of a difficult problem of manufacturing a complex 3D component into thin slices that are then physically realised in some manner. These slices are stacked and joined, giving us the required physical prototype.
During the art-to-part conversion in RP, none of the traditional manufacturing steps such as process planning, tool design, and material movement for machining are required. What is required is only designing the part and generating it with the help of software (using different operations).
Motion Stereotype for Material Handling Equipment
by Atul A Rajwade
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by Atul A Rajwade
We humans in this world are in a situation where things are getting automated and new gadgets, machinery, and equipment, as well as computer software, are getting stuffed into our immediate environment.
It is not easy for humans to learn new things and handle new equipment. Unless there is a certain pattern and code applied while designing the equipment, it will be very difficult to operate a new machine. So one must take into consideration how the man will operate a vehicle or equipment that he hasn’t seen at all. This is known as "control motion expectancy" and, in ergonomic terms, falls under the chapter of stereotype and compatibility. In this special project, some research was accomplished on this topic, especially regarding material handling equipment. Also in this project, an experiment was carried out to determine the stereotyped reactions of the people controlling material handling equipment (the movements of which are taking place on the rear side of the operator).
It is postulated that, greater the degree of compatibility, the less re-coding must be done to process the information. This in turn results in faster learning, a faster response time, fewer errors, and a reduced mental workload.
Personalisation of Vehicles
by Charuta Bobade
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by Charuta Bobade
In the olden days, palakis or menas, which are structures carried on shoulders by slaves, were a popular means of transport. Other means of transportation were riding on tamed animals like elephants, horses, donkeys, and camels. Then the carriages were combined with animals to form bullock carts or horse carts. Let the transportation be of any kind the owner uses to make it himself or under his supervision. Everything in the vehicles has the personal touch of the individual using them, from saddles on horses to cushions and curtains in Palakis, to the point of making them a work of art without sacrificing their functional value.
Personalisation is a psychological need for human beings. If there had been a natural difference in the looks of people showing their educational and economic status in society, the need for personalization would not have been there. This need for personalization is specifically observed in objects used by human beings. We like to create our own environment around us. In today's time of "mass manufacturing," we have to add our own touch to the things we buy, to give them a sense of belonging. This gives scope to our creativity and adds colour to our lives. This gives identity to the product. Thus, anything we buy, may it be a bag, a house, or even a car, we like to add our personal touch to it. While doing this value addition, we might borrow ideas from elsewhere. Thus, we find lots of car accessories to be direct derivatives of house accessories.
Trim Design Trends in Automobiles
by Devesh A Desai
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by Devesh A Desai
If the exterior shape is currently born more out of technology than art, the interior remains a domain almost entirely dominated by creative instincts. There are the inevitable ergonomics and human factors to be considered, of course, and the package envelope developed according to the engineering rules has to be the starting point, but the final appearance of the interior is essentially decided by artists and designers.
As in the domestic and commercial fields of interior design, there are strong outside influences coming to bear on the actual style of how the car looks inside, what is acceptable in taste, and how far the thresholds of appearance and material usage can be pushed. For example, it took several years for cloth fabrics to meet the durability standards required for high-wear areas such as a car seat surface, and even longer for plastic moulding technology to allow the production of a rattle-free full-width facia.
Within the industry itself, the interior designer’s job carried much less prestige than the major role of creating the outside shape. Exteriors carry a much stronger identity, both for the company and the individuals responsible, although ironically, it is the interior that the buyer has to live with more closely throughout his period of ownership. No car was ever bought on the strength of its interior alone, however.
During the initial post-Second World War recovery in Europe, the priority was simply for cars to fill the void of independent transport. As long as it worked, it was acceptable in the strong seller’s market that prevailed. Practical black or natural tan interior colours in any hard-wearing material were the rule because they blended neutrally with all exterior colour ranges. There was little thought for comfort in the modern sense, none of the sophisticated moulding techniques for foam. Trim and carpets were tailored, stitched, and clipped in place using methods not far removed from the traditional coach-building crafts.
Generally, though, in the period up to 1970, little creative talent was displayed in the car interior. There were distinctive styles, such as the traditional wood-veneer fascia panels of luxury models, which found their way right down to American fashion for color-keyed interiors. However, most popular vehicles exhibited a distinct lack of integration, with painted dashboards, exposed seat runners and lower frames, visible window mouldings, and an abundance of exposed screw heads. Instruments were still separate gauges with bright rims, black faces, and white spindly needles covered by reflecting glass. Switches were placed wherever there was room on the fascia, and steering wheels had black shiny rims mounted on sprung wire spokes. In large corporations, interior design work was physically divided at the steering wheel, with one team handling everything in front and another handling everything behind. The segregation showed clearly in the product.
The role of interior designer has changed and is expected to change further in the future. Interiors of automobiles have changed and will continue to change. Car interiors are given equal attention as this has helped in adding real value to the vehicle as a product. Though the interior designer is not much of a celebrated figure, media attention is picking up on this aspect too. And businesses will undoubtedly profit from it.
Projecting Personality in Various Roles, Occasions, Situations Through Dress Sense, Fashion, etc.
by Jawwad I Khan
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by Jawwad I Khan
The personality of a person is a very complex issue. There are various factors that contribute to the development or projection of one's personality. A person's personality will to a great extent depend upon the family background, its values, and beliefs. A person may either be a strong follower of these beliefs or become rebellious. This type of behaviour is very much influenced by the person's influence in the outside world and his experiences in the past.
The physical attributes of the person create some sort of halo effect. It may either uplift or lower one's personality are,
- Physique: body dimensions
- Appearance: skin colour, looks, dressing, hair style, body make- up etc.
- Behaviour pattern: the person's body gestures, behaviour, and communication styles while interacting with others.
Personality is definitely moulded in some way or another through the education or knowledge one attains in life. The person's personality or image is often weighed against his qualifications in social circles.
The culture factor plays an important role in projecting one's personality or image. A person from a rural area may project a different image from that of a person residing in an urban area. This is actually due to the cultural differences that exist between the two. This difference can be minimised by exposing the person to a culture other than his own and by the person's willingness to undergo change.
Human psychology is a very important factor in projecting a person's actual image. With a change in the individual's mental state, a charming personality can suddenly become arrogant and irritating. The temperament and patience of the person play a very important role in image projection in the changing surroundings and events that take place.
Car - Toons
by Jevak Badve
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by Jevak Badve
In the midst of the never-ending tussle of work and work, one must make time to entertain oneself. He must find a way to entertain himself. It could be a Chaplin film or a practical joke; a chess game or an afternoon nap; a mug of coffee or a casual whistle. checking e-mail, watching a movie, traveling, or learning.
Thus, in order to stay "alive," each of us has devised some method or another. Some people simply work for them. They range from musicians to painters, illustrators, and film directors. Computer hackers to gossip mongers, magazine editors to humble cartoonists.
Executive Toys in Ceramics
by Nachiket Tahkur
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by Nachiket Tahkur
The mad scramble for power, authority, and one-upmanship has taken a toll on the entire human race. Every other person is seen clamouring for more. He can do anything to get hold of the "magic" that will help him reach the top; however, it is not at all simple. To accomplish the impossible, he must overcome numerous physical and mental challenges. To fulfil his never-ending needs, he taxes himself in many ways. This race to remain on top destroys his psychological and mental stability. Every now and then he takes help from something or other to overcome the anguish and disturbance in his mind and body. Physical ailments can be treated with surgery and other methods. What is difficult to achieve is mental stability. He requires a companion to whom he can relate in times of distress.
Secondly, the situation in which you are not under any kind of tension or stress For example, all the leisure activities are done in solitude. It can be talking endlessly on your phone to your girlfriend, two housewives talking on the phone, people watching television, reading, or getting lost in sweet memories. People often tend to fiddle with the things they lay their hands on, so give such people some interesting alternatives.
Mutilation of Elephant God
by P N Chakravarthy
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by P N Chakravarthy
An auspicious beginning to any task is with "Sri Ganesha," the most beloved of all gods. People have an emotional attachment to this god. They feel closer to this god than to any other; perhaps this is why they take more liberties when creating forms of Gajanana, whether an idol or a graphic image. For example, people accepted the Ganesh form as a paper weight, flower vase, pencil box, etc. It has become a decorative piece with a lot of expression. Another reason is that the god having an elephant head and a human body lends itself to very interesting combinations. This phenomenon of variation in a given form is known as "mutation," though this is not its dictionary definition.
Mutation is the process of deforming by removing a material part. Mutilate means to damage by breaking, tearing, or cutting off a necessary part, destroying the use. God's form is shown in such a way that it lost its original identity as a divine image and became an artist’s creative character. Here mutilation is not in the literal sense, it is transformation to a great extent. People are depicting the elephant god form for many different purposes, so the transition is too much.
Mutilation is not only because of Ganesha's popularity, graphic potential of this half-human, half-animal body gave enough scope to create so much of his interesting form. Not only that, but the psychological attachment that people have with this god is also responsible for this. It is not possible to mutilate other god forms as it is happening with the elephant god form because many factors are involved in this, including sociocultural factors, psychological factors, and religious factors.
Ceramic Jewellery
by Parag Trivedi
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by Parag Trivedi
Jewellery is a decorative art, and what matters is not the words that can be coined from it, but whether or not it gives pleasure to the wearer and spectator.
India's jewellery industry is on a scale that few can match. It appears that a unique ornament was required for each part of the human body. However, the significance of Indian jewellery extends beyond its size; in terms of variety and aesthetics, it is a part of Indian culture.
Edge Treatments of Sheet Metals
by Patil Bhushana
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by Patil Bhushana
Sheet metal is currently being used extensively in a variety of product assemblies. Though commodity and engineering plastics have contributed a lot towards replacing the metals used in products, for specific applications like heat, stress, durability, and some stringent working conditions, one has to go for the metals. As product designers, we spend the majority of our time designing parts and components for assemblies using sheet metal.
During the design stages, the designer always specifies or assumes some of the materials for the final product that will be sold. For this material selection, the designer has to be really keen about the materials and their behaviour in practice. Also, he should be able to judge the material's susceptibility and durability. To decide in advance on these factors, the designer should take into account some guidelines that will help him make a decision.
The majority of the time, the product designer worked with sheet metal as a construction material. For the designer to specify the material for any component, he must understand the material's limitations and advantages in order to get the most utility out of the product and material from this selection.
The purpose of this topic is to set guidelines for the designer that enhance his knowledge of what he can do to reduce the very high cost of failures caused by wrong material selection or wrong design of the components. Because design is the first stage in the launch of any product, taking proper care in selecting the material can save a lot of money rather than repairing the mistake after the product goes into production.
So, in terms of economy and life efficiency, the designer should always have some guidelines in hand as a basis for the selection of materials here, particularly sheet metal. The majority of the sheet metal components are either stamped, formed, bent, etc., or designed with some special techniques like edge folding, denting, drilling, etc. When choosing metals, the main consideration that draws attention from a product design standpoint is the treatment given to the open edges of sheet metal, as many problems such as;
-Edges are the strating points of corrosion
-Open sharp edges in assemblies can cause some injury
-From a design point of view, edges are the major areas that give strength and shape to the sheet metal component
-Open sharp edges are neither aesthetically appealing nor adopted as design feature in the product
-At the edges, the anticorrosive coatings also become inefficient because of the non-uniform thickness of the coat,
is associated with the open edges. As a result, the edges are given the most attention in this topic.
Study of Styling and Trends in Car Dashboards
by Pradeep Joseph
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by Pradeep Joseph
The study of automobiles is like an endless sea. It's easy to get lost and not reach the shore. It requires the experience and dexterity of a seasoned navigator to get you on shore. The coachbuilding industry was heavily involved in the construction of the cars back then. Because of the method of fabrication, many of the cars were custom built, much like a horse-drawn carriage or a truck.
Wood was the chief material used during those times to construct the body shell with metal joinaries. Metals such as stainless steel and alloys such as brass were widely used for decorative purposes.
The headlights, windshield framework, horn, and rearview mirrors, among other things, had a shiny metallic appearance. The theme was carried through to the car interiors as well.
Study of Indigenous Products in Day to Day Life
by Ratnam B V
by Ratnam B V
Indigenous solutions are the creative solutions that are triggered out of the minds of very few people in the process of fulfilling their needs under conditions of limited resources. Their solutions are devoid of creativity and obvious logical analysis. They use simple indigenous knowledge and arrive at indigenous solutions. To our delight, many of them are remarkably brilliant at creating amazing products that cater to their needs, irrespective of their basic qualifications. These products are the live examples needed to prove how constraints catalyse creativity. Today, in the world of ever-growing technology, people are ignorant about indigenous skills, which is why such products, in spite of being a treasure of creativity and innovation, could not stand out to the level of public appreciation. No wonder we find such products even in our backyard, lying unnoticed. So as a designer, it is our responsibility to recognise and respect such indigenous knowledge, systems, and thereby enlighten our creativity.
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Forms in Soft Weave
by Sandeep Thombre
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by Sandeep Thombre
What would a modern civilised man be like without the soft art of weaving that surrounds his home with comforts and lies with luxury?
Weaving is one of the oldest crafts. The best part of the weaving craft was that it did not require any tools for working. It all started when men started interlacing the twigs of trees beside the river, which evolved into a weave. The same principle of weaving was developed and explored further with different materials, taking into consideration the physical properties of the material, and going further to make woven cloth from fibers.
Weaving began by creating a flat surface of 2D form in the form of mats as needed. But with the influence of pottery coming in, some flat weaves were wrapped around the clay form, which evolved into a 3D form through weaving. Then came the evolution of the woven basket. Woven baskets are the best examples of 3D forms created through weaving.
Castle in air- by computer model
by Shikha Varshney
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by Shikha Varshney
During the early stages of design exploration, designers and architects tend to treat freehand sketching as a mirror of their minds. The spontaneity of conventional sketching is undoubtedly important for the designer’s thinking process. CAD systems and their contrived interfaces do not offer the advantages that sketching does. But, can modern technology offer a tool that the designers would readily accept for their creative explorations?
The research is based on a visualisation of a hypothetical system in which the designer creates a representation of three-dimensional shapes of reasonable complexity while sitting in front of a terminal. Using his gestures and limited speech, he inputs into the computer an online representation of shape. This feedback is available to the designer live on his monitor. The experiments reported here test this hypothetical system using simulation.
Gestures involve spatial movements, and they could be more convenient tools for the designers to express spatial ideas. This paper aims to identify the potentials and limitations of natural gestures as a source of shape information by focusing on shape modelling in the computer during the design process.
Inlay on Wood
by Shyam Sunder B K
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by Shyam Sunder B K
Every object is not just a shape or form. When a craftsman creates it, a definite design is worked out through basically organic or geometrical shapes. When the designs are repeated on a surface, a whole rhythmical composition emerges. A rhythm is worked out by relating the size of the motif to the surface by alternating positive and negative space or varying the size of the motifs. Design can be two- or three-dimensional, projected through texture, color, and the variations throughout created by the interplay of light and shade in an object. Man has always tried to accentuate certain basic qualities of materials through further ornamentation. These methods could be painting, carving, lacquering, planting, glazing, inlaying, etc.
This study examines a few examples of inlay craft from the past, their analysis for motifs and materials used, the origins of this craft in India, the types of inlay that were used, and specifically inlay on wood. Inlay work is very pleasing to the eye and can afford a good deal of aesthetic pleasure. This craft has been attempted on a variety of materials, including marble, metal, and wood, with inlay materials such as mother of pearl and coloured stones on marble, tortoise shell and sea shells, animal bones, gold and silver on metal, ivory, plastic, natural-colored wood, and so on.
It is interesting to understand this process of inlay and try to formulate a rule that will direct us to apply this technique to materials that have not been tried so far. Another important aspect is that in the present world of imitation, craft is losing its importance, which is not a positive sign. So it is important to develop this craft and find an application in the utility area that can be easily mass produced.
Bird and Animal Forms in Ceramic Mobiles
by Suparna Dani
by Suparna Dani
The dictionary definition of "mobiles" describes them as "artistic hanging structures whose parts move with currents of air. They are used for various purposes, such as decoration, amusement, advertising, etc. According to research, the concept of mobiles is more prevalent in eastern cultures, where they are used for festive decorations, religious purposes, and as flags, bells, and banners. There is a distinct difference between hangings and mobiles. We see many mobile devices, i.e., not the ones that are purposefully made but those that are generated as a result of many function requirements. These are the toys that are kept hanging for advertisement purposes in front of toy shops. They are suspended from single points of suspension, and they attract the attention of small children in the process of their movement by the breeze. The clothes hanging from stores, the hangings on the carts of hawkers, the hangings from the fruit stalls, and finally the decorative hangings in cars and rickshaws.
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Explorations with Paper Mache for Structural Applications
by Yogesh S Dandekar
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by Yogesh S Dandekar
Man has always needed three-dimensional expression, and paper mache is a cheap and easy material to use that has the advantage of drying naturally to a hard and durable substance without necessarily having to be baked like clay. In IDC, some work has already been done on the paper mache and its techniques. This project is a phase of this study devoted to the research of paper mache in various applications in IDC.
By the end of the second century AD, the Chinese had invented paper, made from mulberry bark, cotton, vegetable fibers, and linen rags. Papermaking was slow, laborious, and therefore expensive, so it would follow that good things were to be made from off-cuts and scraps. Two paper mache helmets, toughened by lacquer, that survive from this period are the first examples of paper mache. Paper mache started getting used extensively for elaborately decorated and ornate furnishings that we see in museums. But the decline in the use of this material was revived by the French in the 18th century. Paper mache actually means chewed-up paper. Trays, boxes, and even furniture were often made with inlaid pearls.
Significance of Space and Time in Music
by Prasad Boradkar
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by Prasad Boradkar
This project's goal is to investigate the relationship between space, time, and music. An attempt is made here to briefly show how space and time are used to advantage in music and how music is modulated to create effects of space and time.
There can be two distinct approaches for conducting this type of study. One would entail selecting a specific musical form, such as rock music, Hindustani classical music, folk music, or any other, and then studying how spatial and temporal effects are created in that musical form. This would require a thorough study of that particular form of music and access to a large number of compositions in that style.
The other approach would be to keep the spectrum of music choices wide and demonstrate through various forms of music how spatial and temporal effects are achieved. The method followed here is the second, as the first necessarily requires extensive knowledge of one particular form of music. These ideas and interpretations are personal and thus highly subjective.
Tea in IIT- A Case for a Cafetaria
by Anil Kumar Gupta
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by Anil Kumar Gupta
Drinking tea has become a ritual. Tea has become a "social drink" and is consumed in enormous quantities. Surprisingly, about 350 litres (3600 cups) of tea are consumed every day in IIT during the working hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.).
During these hours, no one is officially permitted to discontinue his work and go for tea. But almost as a ritual, most people drink tea twice a day between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Do we consume tea only for its warm, stimulating effect, or do we have other reasons too? This inexpensive drink has so widely influenced people that it drives hordes of them towards itself throughout the day. Someone has aptly commented that IIT is engulfed by a "tea phenomenon." This is an attempt to look into this "phenomena." It seems futile to convince people that it is a waste of time (if one thinks so). It would be preferable to understand what people want and to provide them with certain basic amenities so that time is not wasted in this process (tea drinking).
Though the study could be done for the amount of tea consumed in 24 hours in the whole of IIT, we have decided to limit ourselves to studying this "phenomenon" only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The study will also be limited to the working areas (administrative and academic) of IIT and not include residential areas.
Design of parameters of visual grammar with reference to Business Management
by J. Bhaskar
by J. Bhaskar
Business management science is an interdisciplinary science and is quite new to our country. The various concepts and terms used are not easily understood not only by students but also by practitioners themselves. At times, communication is quite difficult, particularly in a multilingual situation. So the concepts can be symbolically represented. This will facilitate:
-Better Communication
-Training of managers
-Teaching of abstract concepts.
Here an attempt has been made to develop visual symbols for various terms associated with assets and liabilities that are commonly used in a business management situation.
Details >>-Better Communication
-Training of managers
-Teaching of abstract concepts.
Here an attempt has been made to develop visual symbols for various terms associated with assets and liabilities that are commonly used in a business management situation.
Study and Simulation of Robotic Finger Movements
by K. Puhazhendi
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by K. Puhazhendi
The robotic finger is an end effector, which is called a gripper. The gripper is the device mounted at the distal end of a robot arm, enabling it to pick up workpieces and hold, manipulate, transfer, place, and release them accurately in a discrete position. Thus, the gripper is an all-important mechanical interface between the robot and its environment, without which, in many circumstances, the robot cannot function effectively, irrespective of the degree of sophistication it may otherwise possess.
The project consists of two parts, namely, a study of existing gripping mechanisms. The goal of this work is to provide the designer with a database of various gripping mechanisms and their related biological mechanisms so that the designer can link the two approaches to solve specific gripping problems. This is done by giving a rough classification based on various parameters like type of mechanism, scope of utility, etc., of available gripping mechanisms and certain biological grippers. A study of their operation is provided to help the designer understand the fundamentals and develop his own classification methodology suitable for his applications.
Thinking Process and its Relation to Visualization and Form Generation
by Madhuri Vetsa
by Madhuri Vetsa
For the development of a product, the most important criteria are its functional, aesthetic, and ergonomic aspects. The various stages involved in the product development are:
-Product conceptualization
-Drawing
-Prototyping
-Mould making
-Final Production
Details >>-Product conceptualization
-Drawing
-Prototyping
-Mould making
-Final Production
Once upon a time, the whole process was solely controlled by people and machinery, but now computers are extending their utility to these areas as well by having CAD for engineering drawings and CAM for manufacturing processes. However, there has been no such computer input at the product conceptualization level, which is the stage in which the designer has the most creative involvement. It is at this stage where the problem is understood, decisions are taken in terms of volume, size their shape and finally decisions of details, graphics and colours etc. This lack of computer support and help in this area drew interest, and thus this became the area of concentration for this study.
Meaning in Products
by N. Prasad
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by N. Prasad
A child, with the assistance of its parents, starts recognising things around him. He starts developing his own vocabulary and, within a short time, starts identifying the objects correctly. He can recognise a car as a car, a cow as a cow, a TV as a TV, a shop selling ice cream, etc. The children of these days are even smarter; they are able to operate a TV, a tape recorder, a VCR, etc., which were unheard of by an adult some 15 years ago.
We can judge the capacity and capability of the human brain if a child can correctly recognise everyday objects, even as more and more new objects are introduced. It assigns different meanings to different objects and helps to differentiate clearly between two types, two classes, or two families of objects.
The number of products that are being introduced into the market is increasing day by day. These products were designed to meet basic and higher needs, as well as some that were designed to meet very minor human needs. People can clearly identify the product or recognise the class or family to which the product belongs.
The degree to which the product is recognised depends on several factors: the person's value system, cultural background, relationship with the product, environment, and other demographic and psychographic factors related to the person recognising the product.
CD ROM Technology and its role in design activity
by Ramamurthy Shastry B. G.
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by Ramamurthy Shastry B. G.
Computers and their applications have evolved along with storage media and their capabilities. Every time the storage density increased, it resulted in new applications with better and better facilities for the users. While the first computers occupied the space of a room with very few arithmetic and logical functions, the latest personal computers with portability (less than the size of a briefcase) can do better than big minicomputers.
The following table provides a summary of some of the characteristics of personal computer storage media, both currently available and under development. But it is to be noted that no one medium suits all applications, nor can one generalise the suitability of a particular medium to a specific environment. Each has its own advantages and limitations.
Study of Columns in Hindu Architecture
by Rashmi Gothi
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by Rashmi Gothi
If we were to observe all the columns that exist in Hindu architecture lined up in one long row, we would be overawed by the countless forms their outlines define, fascinated by the range and complexity of motifs that adorn their narrow surfaces, and confused as our minds would attempt to segregate and find connections so as to absorb the essence of these unique structures. The richness of motifs and forms is exemplified on the one hand by the surrounding structure, which offers an immediate context, and also by the fact that the information these forms communicate is at varying levels of obvious and symbolic. The variations result from a well-thought-out, predetermined principle rather than a mere juggling of shapes and images. The perfection of form here does not mean a display of physical beauty, but the adequacy of compositional outplay to the significance and inner meaning of the image.
In hindu symbology, the straight is considered active and dynamic. It penetrates, cuts, divides, and disrupts. The movement of the straight line runs into infinite space. It is bodyless and limitless. The forms predominant in the vertical axis are regarded as being in the nature of fire and standing for divine aspirations and illumination. They are imagined to rise upward, raising the spirit of the beholder towards a vision of divine truth.
Hence the column is accorded great importance in Hindu architecture, symbolising as it does a structure that was built to transcend the space and time in which it was erected.
Papier Mache
by Ravi T. Reddy
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by Ravi T. Reddy
Papier mache is a modelling material consisting of a mash of paper used with a binder and moulded round a shape to make functional and decorative objects. It is a cheap and easy material to use and has the advantage of drying naturally to a hard and durable substance without necessarily having to be baked like clay.
This craft of making objects is an ancient one. Soon after the Chinese discovered how to make paper, 2000 years ago, they began to experiment with papier mache. The interest in this craft declined for hundreds of years until the French revived it in the 18th century. They called it "papier mache," meaning literally chewed up paper. They used it to make trays, boxes, and even furniture that was often inlaid with mother of pearl.
India also boasts of a papier mache tradition. Especially so in the Kashmir region, where highly finished decorative articles like small boxes and containers are made. Papier mache craft forms are an important part of Kashmiri handicrafts. Traditionally, in rural areas, they are sealed with papier mache. This both seals the tiny holes in the container and strengthens it.
Developing visualization through games and puzzles
by Shah G. A.
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by Shah G. A.
Thinking is central to human existence. It is not only habitual; it is compulsive. We gather information from the environment with our senses and process it. Thus, in essence, thinking is information processing. It requires words, abstract concepts, and images. When we think using words – as we almost always do – we are indulging in verbal thinking. This is characterised by inner speech. Thinking with abstract thinking When thinking involves visual images, it is called visual thinking.
Visual and verbal (or abstract or mathematical) thinking are complementary by virtue of their differences in structure. Verbal and mathematical symbols are strung together linearly in conventional patterns such as those afforded by grammar. Mentally tracking these linear structures automatically enforces certain thinking patterns. By contrast, visual thinking is wholistic, spatial, and instantly capable of all sorts of unconventional transformations and juxtapositions. This is because visual thinking involves images that are not exact replicas of reality. These images are a highly personal creation and are more flexible and encompassing than any reality. Visual thinking is a very powerful thinking tool because of its flexibility. It can be immensely helpful in creative thinking because of the innumerable possibilities of transformations.
Visual thinking pervades all human activity. Most memory systems rely heavily on visualization. Designers, engineers, and architects use it most often. Athletes often visualise scenes during practice. Physicists exploring the world of atomic and subatomic phenomena use it. Surgeons think visually while performing operations. Carpenters and mechanics use it to translate plans into actions. Unlike verbal and mathematical thinking, visual thinking is laden with sensory content, which leads to pleasurable experiences.
Simulation of Crab Movement on Computer
by Suresh G. Bhat
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by Suresh G. Bhat
What is movement, and how does one perceive it? One generally defines movement as a change in position. This, however, is an incomplete definition in and of itself, despite the fact that the other part is generally implied. Movement (of an object) is a change in its position with a change in time. We generally perceive movement through our visual receptors. The other sensory modes can also help in the perception of movement by receiving relevant stimuli that are then properly interpreted by the brain.
Visual perception, which is the major mode of observing movement, itself is possible only if there is relative movement between the object and the eyes. Even when we view stationary objects, the eyes vibrate so as to shift the image in order to receive the necessary stimulus. It is the brain that then decodes the visual message to form an image. The movement of any object may therefore be easily perceived.
Visual perception is essentially an educated reaction of the brain. In addition to the basic image formation by virtue of the optical stimulus, the significance of the image is only obtained through acquired pattern recognition and association as a result of continuous training during an individual's growth. Thus, identification of colour, texture, tone, size, depth or distance, and direction are attributes of a trained brain.
Humor in Product Design
by Unmesh Kulkarni
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by Unmesh Kulkarni
In today’s society, when one wants to get a message across with speed and efficiency, humour could be one of the best tools because human beings react to such a phenomenon willingly and immediately.
In today’s mechanical life of increasing stresses, one needs to relax somewhere, but our environment is getting dominated by modern, similar looking geometric objects like computers. Their aesthetics are dominated by their function, manufacturing capabilities, and the effects of mass production. We are now passing through a phase in which a universal urban culture is emerging. The rise of the middle class has put designers in a challenging position with their changing needs. Objects that are produced appear more sophisticated. If this trait continues, human beings will get trapped in various concentrates and plastic boxes and lose their sensitivity. It is always said that man invented machines to serve him, but day by day, it seems to be happening that he is getting busy serving these machines. It might so happen that human beings become mere automatons.
It is everybody's duty to prevent this. That is why we see that some design movements like "post modern" or "Memphis" were started. They criticise the Bauhaus tendency towards functional products that follow the philosophy of minimal design. Here the design was considered an opportunity for exploration, and many times humour is used effectively.
Exploration of form using a coconut shell
by Vinayak Nabar
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by Vinayak Nabar
Like explorations of several kinds, an exploration of form has been a journey into the unknown, with a few things heard and read about, a few known inlets with unknown destinations, a few tools and a fragile material, a mind prone to distractions, but also with benevolent guidance from time to time and people to people, and a hand that liked the work. It has also been an exciting journey, full of surprises and both pitfalls and reward.
And the way it happens so many times, one starts in one direction and arrives at a totally unexpected clearing. The jungle that one thought would be full of trees also harboured beautiful animals.
The intention was to explore various aspects of form, using a material with its inherent potentials and limitations and tools that would act as agents of space while carving out one form from another.
The complexity of the process lay in the fact that one had to be simultaneously aware of the clues of a potential form in the material in hand, the minimum essential characteristics of the possible form, the distortions allowable without loss of identity, the possibility of materialisation with optimum efforts, and the integration of finer details with overall form. Additional complexity was imposed by the desire to explore meaningful form by way of the removal of material with minimal or no addition to the basic shell form.
Clay Exercise
by Prof. A. G. Rao
by Prof. A. G. Rao
The clay exercise conducted by Prof. A. G. Rao in 1991 at IDC IIT Bombay was a significant event. Prof. Rao was known for his innovative teaching methods and his emphasis on hands-on learning. The clay exercise was designed to help students explore their creativity and understand the basics of form and structure through tactile engagement with the material. It encouraged students to think beyond traditional design constraints and develop a deeper appreciation for materiality in design. The exercise likely included activities where students shaped clay into various forms, experimenting with different techniques and approaches to achieve their design goals.
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Electronic Voting Machine
by Prof. A. G. Rao & Prof. Ravi Poovaiah
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by Prof. A. G. Rao & Prof. Ravi Poovaiah
The Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is a reliable system for conducting elections in which one person has to be elected out of many candidates. The EVM is designed for single posts and single votes. In the 1980s, the Election Commission of India initiated efforts to modernize the voting process and reduce electoral fraud. Professor A.G. Rao, along with his team at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata, and later Professor Ravi Poovaiah, played crucial roles in designing and developing EVMs for use in Indian elections. Their work led to the creation of a reliable and tamper-proof electronic voting system that has been widely adopted in India. The EVMs developed by Professors Rao and Poovaiah's team have several security features to prevent tampering and ensure the integrity of the voting process. These include encryption techniques, secure storage of votes, and built-in mechanisms to detect any attempts at manipulation.
The introduction of EVMs has revolutionized the electoral process in India, making voting faster, more efficient, and less prone to fraud. EVMs have been used in multiple general elections and state assembly elections in India since their introduction, and they have generally been well-received for their effectiveness in streamlining the voting process and improving the accuracy of vote counting.
Cognitive aspects of visual elements in public open spaces
by Zoeb Kanorwalla
by Zoeb Kanorwalla
Public spaces are crucial components of the city, both in terms of the physical as well as social function they serve. These spaces not only form the image of the city, but people co-exist within this space in the presence of the various visual elements it offers and the manner in which they are perceived. The purpose of this project is to provide an understanding of existing public spaces in Bombay and to study the cognitive aspects of the numerous visual elements in these open public spaces. To achieve this, it is essential to articulate the different visual elements in a select set of places and make a comparative analysis to get a deeper insight into the visual elements and their perception and varying interpretations.
Details >>1979-1988
(31 items)
A Documentation on Manual Material Handling
by Atul I Kedia
by Atul I Kedia
Since the dawn of history, man has been struggling to find ways and means of extending and multiplying his own physical efforts in order to free his muscles from the burden of life’s tasks. Not that human beings are inherently lazy. This ceaseless search for easier ways to do things is indicative that Homo sapiens has intelligence and that he uses it to his own advantage in his struggle with his environment. Day by day, the requirements of manual materials handling (MMH) are tremendously increasing, and today we find MMH in each and every walk of life. The excessive load carried by a man or the load carried by a man for an excessive period of time leads to the breakage of various body segments or components depending on the kind of load he carries, which are absolutely unrepairable. Overloading or improper handling has a great and permanent effect on the human body. For a scientist or a research fellow, it is absolutely necessary to find out what those methods or habits are, or how many ways the people follow to handle the materials. Thus, an elaborate documentation of the different ways and habits involved in material carrying by the Indian people is necessary.
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Product Instruction Manuals- A Study of Design Aspects
by Dipan Shah
by Dipan Shah
Product manuals are an essential part of the product. They are given along with the product. They are very important as they establish a better relationship between the product and its user. To a user, it gives a better understanding of the product and also its potential. Very often, product manuals are badly designed. Most often, they give misleading information, which makes it very difficult to understand the product completely. Sometimes they also give insufficient information, which conceals from the user the full potential of the product. By and large, in India, product manuals are not given the professional attention they deserve—both for the text and for the illustrations. They are designed in a very casual manner, or rather, left unattended completely. The textual portion of most manuals is prepared by lower-level employees in industries. These are usually freshly appointed engineers who just make a list of the matters to be covered in the manual. This matter is then arranged in a slightly better way by the advertising department, which ultimately results in a badly designed manual. Hence, it was decided to study and analyse a few product manuals, identify the typical problems and the areas of improvement, and also suggest a methodology for a better design. Several product manuals were collected for this purpose. These ranged from a single page or flap to more detailed booklets. Also, a few foreign manuals were collected along with the Indian Manuals. It is hoped that it will serve as a useful guide to designing a better product manual. It can be used by graphic designers, advertising departments, etc. It can also be used by product designers, who can help the company to design a good manual for their products.
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Study of Industrial Enivronment
by G. N. Sairam
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by G. N. Sairam
The concept of industry in India has a very short history, dating back to the early 20th century. It is only in the post-British period that industry has seen the light of day. The government has encouraged industries, big and small, public and private, to develop the country. The new legislation coming into force in the very recent past is bound to give a dramatic boost to the process of industrialization. Old concepts and ideas will be replaced by modern, radical, and fast-paced ones. Newer methods of production and better quality standards will be the order of the day. Industries that lag behind may be allowed to sink rather than pumped with precious resources. Similarly, the people employed in the industries will also have a very demanding period. Is the industry prepared to meet the oncoming challenge? Are the people prepared for the onslaught? Where do they stand? What does it take to cope? Who is responsible? What are the shortfalls? These and many more questions come to one’s mind when one sees the revolution that is sweeping the Indian industrial scene. Gone are the days when one could sit back and watch the world go by. The "Timelessness" of Indian philosophy does not appear to be valid in the Indian industry.
If the output of the industries is to be of a high order, the input has to be thoroughly scrutinized. The various inputs to the industry can be broadly classified into "tangibles" and "intangibles." Obviously, tangibles are those that are apparent and measurable. It is with the intangibles that one runs into a problem. To begin with, it is not apparent or measurable. Secondly, their influence on the output is also very difficult to gauge. Given this situation, one naturally tends to neglect this very important area, which will only become known over a long period of time, when it may be too late to take any corrective action. It leads one to assume that past neglect may be one of the main reasons for the present state of affairs in the industry. Among the various intangibles that affect industry and human beings, the environment is one of them. There is an old adage which says that the environment can make a man or break him. Hence, its importance need not be overstressed. A man spends a major chunk of his productive time at work, either going to the place or coming back, or in the workplace itself. This place plays an important role in moulding his mental attitude. This psychological aspect of one’s life is one of the main intangible inputs to the industry. An attempt has been made to portray this important environmental dimension.
Visual Documentation of Physical Environment of Bangalore
by Hittalmani Vishwas
by Hittalmani Vishwas
Bangalore is the capital city of Karnataka state, in South India. It's an important commercial, administrative, and industrial centre of India. A subordinate ruler of the Wodeyar Dynasty of erstwhile Mysore State, called Kempegowda, was the founder of Bangalore. With the permission of the Vijayanagar emperor, he erected a strong mud fort and constructed many important temples like Gavi Gangadhareshwara and Basava temples, which are identified till today as the only constructions with original traditional characters. Bangalore is an important centre for cultural, religious, and social activities. The characteristics governing these are clearly reflected in the form of art, crafts, sculpture, and architecture. In Bangalore, one can see the finest art works in the form of paintings on various media, moral paintings etc. This place is noted for its architectural extravaganza. We can find a lot of interesting monumental structures, including administrative buildings, public amenities buildings, religious places, etc. Most of the monumental structures we see in Bangalore are of colonial style, a kind of mixed character. Bangalore is one of the rare places where we can see the most beautiful, vast parks and open spaces. The central core of the place bears the look of the centuries-old traditional township with its traditional characteristics such as narrow and curved roads, row houses, market places, etc.
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Aesthetic Concepts of Blind Persons
by Kashmira Rathod
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by Kashmira Rathod
It is an inherent, original capacity imbibed within all of us that often makes us exclaim "beautiful," "wonderful," and so on in rapturous tones, stumbling upon the creation of nature and man himself alike. We can term this capacity aesthetic sensibility. So natural is this trait with us and apparently so singular in its outcome (i.e. the exclamations), that none of us would be able to divulge any information as to why we find something or someone beautiful. The simplicity is merely a byproduct of a highly complex process, which has so far received extensive research and has been thoroughly discussed in a text written by a few psychologists. It would still be useful here to go through some fundamental theories.
Naturally, the first question that arises is: what is it in creation that makes us exercise our aesthetic sensibility? According to analysis, there are some distinct elements in the creation that work either individually or collectively to stimulate our senses. For example, there are various orientations of an object in a given space. All the orientations do not appear balanced to our eyes. But on the other hand, if there are various objects, then relatively, they may appear balanced or otherwise. This concept of balance is co-related to other concepts like scale and proportion. The eye has its own measure of comparing the sizes and volumes of positive and negative spaces, and this measure results in an effect of balance or imbalance on the psychology. Similarly, multidirectional symmetry, etc., which involves perception of propotions of various elements in an object (for example, the human body), To the perception of a particular form is attached the concept of pattern and its rhythm resulting from the repetition of units, and the whole effect may be one of harmony, where there is a definite connection between a whole and a part (for example, the various notes in music).
Comics as Educational Aid
by Peer Mohideen Sathikh
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by Peer Mohideen Sathikh
Education has been an important priority of the government of India. However, schools, colleges, and the educational system as a whole have much to be desired. There have been many attempts to improve the educational system using educational aids like 16-mm projections, etc. But these attempts have not come to widespread use in India. This may be attributed to a multitude of reasons, the most important being the total number of schools in India.
A time has come in which one will have to give serious thought to education improvement. New possibilities will have to be thought of which are not only technically feasible but also economically feasible. One such possibility is the comic strip medium. Comics have the advantage of being economical while, at the same time, enjoying popularity. In this project, an attempt has been made to study the possibility of using comics as an educational aid. While this seems like a novel idea in the beginning, one will realise the problems that will arise when implemented. For one, the image of comics as cheap entertainment will have to be changed and a cleaner image will have to emerge. This project aims at determining the factors that make it popular with everyone and identifying the possible problems that will have to be solved. As a final output, a lesson has been attempted in comic strip form using the findings of the earlier studies.
Checklist for Product Design
by M. V. Simhan
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by M. V. Simhan
In today’s complex society, having knowledge of computer-based information systems is important for a man to take decisions. An information system is a set of organised procedures which, when executed, provide information to support decision-making. It can also be defined as a tangible or intangible entity that serves to reduce the uncertainty of future events. The need for a computer-based information system was due to the explosion of information input and the need to access and extract the required information, where as in a manual system, it can never be completely documented.
The checklist is a guiding path and triggering mechanism for a designer when placed in a problem situation. In this type of situation, there is a need for the designer to think of new innovative solutions under various constraints and also consider all the various design factors. Before the design is finalized, a checklist would allow the designer to become familiar with various aspects of the problem and identify the cause.
Tactile Image of Products
by Nilesh T. Desai
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by Nilesh T. Desai
Much of our knowledge of what is around us depends on touch as well as sight. Our fingers react to rough and smooth surfaces, hard and soft, just as our eyes respond to form and colour. It is accepted that all cutaneous (skin) experiences such as itch, burn, stickiness, vibration, wetness and dryness, roughness and smoothness are due to simultaneous arousal of two or more of the primary skin senses. Touch is one of them.
We are mostly dealing with the visual sense and the visual imagery of the products, which gets quite emphasised in the "design world". But what kind of ‘product-images’ are formed in our minds due to our tactile sense is quite unknown. And the present project is an attempt to visualise and represent the ‘Tactile Image’ of a product. Such tactile images can open up new formal possibilities for designers. The sensation of touch usually results from the mechanical distortion of various types of sensory receptors in the skin. There are more touch receptors on the tongue and fingerprints than in other body areas. With this as background , I have chosen one of the personal products—a tooth brush—and attempted to represent its tactile image as best as I could. The reason for choosing a "tooth brush" is that it comes into contact with the tongue and fingertips, where more touch receptors are situated.
Complexity of Musical Compositions
by Nitin Urdhwareshe
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by Nitin Urdhwareshe
Every day, we hear a variety of musical compositions, including commercial jingles, nursery rhymes, and pure classical music.One kind of music is different from the other. We respond to musical compositions in various ways. Some we hum, some we like, some we dislike, some are monotonous, and some compositions are considered simple while others are complex.
If we generally divide musical compositions into categories like vedic recitations, nursery rhymes, folk, tribal, advertisement jingles, film songs, semi-classical music, and classical music (there can be other groups also if we consider western music), we can say that the degree of complexity of the musical composition is different in all these compositions. Vedic compositions sound very different from, say, a film song. Similarly, pure classical music sounds very complex. The complexity of a musical composition can be treated as one of the important variables of composition. What makes these complex or simple? How can we control the degree of complexity? Intuitive answers to these questions can be given. However, this study attempts to systematically investigate the complexity of musical and visual compositions.
Let us first try to understand complexity. It can be found in a lot of things. Just now we were discussing complexity in music. Likewise, a painting can be complex or simple to understand. Thus, complexity exists in visual compositions also. Some smells can be simple to detect, some can be complex. Some ideas can be simple enough to be converted into reality; some may be just too complex to even understand or explain. Many examples can be added to this list. Out of these, visual complexity and audio complexity are considered very close to each other. They are supposed to behave similarly in many areas and can be studied in relation to each other. We can define complexity in many ways. A composition can be semantically complex or structurally complex. This study deals only with the structural complexities of visual and audio compositions, using a direct subjective judgement of complexity by subjects or listeners, and reflects the difficulty experienced in encoding of patterns or the relationship between the compositions. One of the ways to study complexity is to give people different specially designed compositions and ask them to rate the complexity on a scale. Since the compositions are developed by controlling the variables, it is possible to study what factors are giving them that particular degree of complexity and how these factors can be predictably controlled to control the overall complexity. This is the general approach followed in this project.
Problems of Being Left-Handed
by Sanjay Jain
by Sanjay Jain
The primary function of a designer is to solve problems; this requires the designer to be more sensitive in recognising what problems exist. Sometimes a designer discovers the existence of a problem that no one had suspected before defining it and attempting to solve it. When the designer is a part of the problem, he is part of the answer also. I am left-handed. We design, usually for the majority. The process of redesigning is greatly simplified by considering the hierarchy of income groups. We design for the rich, we design for the very rich, we design for the stinking rich. Minorities are forgotten in the process. The elderly and old pregnant women.
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Use of Plastics for Future Housing
by Augustine Shelke
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by Augustine Shelke
Strictly speaking, one cannot predict the future. Yet a lot of attempts and efforts are made all over the world, especially in the U.S. and other leading countries, to predict the future for many reasons. One of the reasons is the curiosity of man to peep into the future. Writers of science fiction and scientists have dealt with this subject of predicting the future. The former gives free play to their imaginations and, in contrast, the latter tries to keep within the limits of nature, the known present day state of affairs, and then extrapolates to the future. This prediction could be made only for a period of 30–70 years.
Though we are not futurologists or experts in this field, we are making an attempt to predict the role of plastics in future housing. Because of its tremendous versatility, one would definitely try to relate this material to various applications, as we see today's trends in "PLASTICS." Here we are trying to relate to future housing as this material will be best suited for the demands of future people. Because of their reliance on one another, the end result will be a drastically different vision of future housing.
Expressions of Aggression in Nature and Manmade World
by Arvind B. Joshi
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by Arvind B. Joshi
Aggression is not an easy concept to define, although some cases are clear-cut: single individuals or groups of humans may kill or injure other individuals, force others to do something against their will, or overtly thwart the expressed desires of other persons. Obviously, threatening another person with death, injury, or violence is also aggressive. Perhaps simply the conscious desire or intent to injure, kill, coerce, thwart, or threaten other human beings, even if these things are not actually carried out, could be considered aggressive. On a more subtle level, ridicule, sarcasm, hostile laughter, and attempts to embarrass or demean others almost certainly have an aggressive component. What all these phenomena have in common is the intended or actual imposition of a person's or group's wishes on other people against their will.
Superficial aggression appears to be the antithesis of the cooperative aspect of humanity. However, paradoxically, the very forces that promote harmonious relations within a group are also often the basis of aggressive actions. It is important to make the distinction between individual and group aggression. The nature of aggressive behavior, particularly the underlying motivating and emotional forces, may be enormously different in a one-on-one situation (a barroom brawl, a husband and wife fight) as opposed to tribal or national conflicts when discussing the biological bases of aggression; this fact is sometimes overlooked or not fully acknowledged.
Humans have the capacity to feel and identify the emotions of fear, anger, hatred, rage, jealousy, greed, and competitiveness, and to exercise them sometimes as one individual against another. These emotions and the behavioural responses they promote are often adaptive; as Karnard Loven 2 has noted, assisting an individual in attempts to acquire and defend limited resources (wives, food, space, material goods, and wealth) is competition with others. In addition, aggressive defence of relatives, especially children, is a fundamental and highly developed aspect of individual aggression.
Designers Data-Base for Plastic
by Anupam Shukla
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by Anupam Shukla
The successful performance and profitable manufacture of any product depend on the material selected for production. The awesome growth of plastics has occurred over a very large range of load-bearing applications. Most of today’s plastic applications require high and sophisticated performance.
When we speak of design technology, we mean the prediction of performance, including all the characteristics and properties of a material that are essential to the process of material selection. To the designer or product engineer, a property is defined as one that permits calculation of part dimensions from stress analysis, and such properties are obviously the most desirable upon which to base material selection.
The need for systematic material selection has long been recognized. Product reliability is becoming more important.Plastics generally are substantially lower in strength and rigidity, especially at elevated temperatures. Consequently, they are designed close to their allowable limits. It has therefore become increasingly important to know these limits, both quantitatively and under actual environmental conditions.
Workbook to Develop Visualization
by B. K. Chakravarthy
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by B. K. Chakravarthy
Although visual abilities are not democratically endowed, differences in inherited aptitude do not afford a rationale to deny visual education. Whatever the inheritance, the unrealized potential for visual development is great. Even the most visually gifted people can improve. Writes psychologist MacFarlane Smith, "Our current system of education actively discriminates against the student who is competent in spatial ability." Given a one-sided education in the 3 R’s (arithmetic, reading, and writing), most people possess a large unrealized potential for visualization. Almost everyone can learn to see more fully, to imagine more productively, and to express their visual ideas by drawing.
Visualization pervades all aspects of human activity, from the abstract to the theoretical to the mundane and everyday. An astronomer ponders over a mysterious cosmic event; a football coach considers a new strategy; a motorist manoeuvres his car along an unfamiliar pathway; all are thinking visually. You are having a dream and are thinking visually. Surgeons think visually to perform an operation; chemists construct molecular models; engineers design circuits, structures, and mechanisms; businessmen organise and schedule work; architects coordinate function with beauty; and carpenters and mechanics translate plans into things.
Now let us see what the dictionary meaning for "visualize" is; it says "to make perceptible to the mind or imagination, to form a mental image." Visual thinking is made up of a series of visualisations that result from a lot of mental operations.
The greatest advantage of visual thinking is that while we are hearing, smelling, or touching, we are also seeing, and the brain, which constantly seeks to simplify information for us, sets up visual clues along with other clues, enabling us to substitute vision for our other senses. The brain's most important function is to quickly sort or identify our experiences using the most efficient sensory mechanisms. Consider this example: "Look at the picture of the large, sculptural water fountain in the middle of the park." The reflections of the water as it spills and sprays over the edge of the fountain are our visual picture, but at the same time, we experience dampness, coolness, and the pattern of the falling drops. Even if this fountain is only a small part of the picture, our gaze is drawn to it because it visually represents all sensual pleasures. Therefore, visual images are powerful because they represent experiences using the other senses.
Workbook on Bamboo Craft
by Boban P. Varghese
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by Boban P. Varghese
Education has a crucial role to play in the development of the country. The early years of childhood are vitally important to an individual's development since it is the period during which the maximum development of intellectual abilities occurs. The current educational system does not encourage students' creative participation. This system is often alien and unrelated to a child's environment.
Design education at the school level can develop creative thinking, innovative ideas, and the problem-solving capacity of the student. This can be introduced into the schools through craft teaching, where students can learn the craft and the basic principles of design simultaneously.
Bamboo craft is a well-developed craft in our country, which is going through a very bad phase at present. This craft could be introduced into the school curriculum with the necessary changes to suit the academic environment. The idea behind this workbook is to guide the teachers in planning and conducting this course in the most successful way among children of different ages. This book contains the necessary information about bamboo, bamboo crafts, and the basic tools required for working with bamboo. It also deals with the methodology by which this course should be conducted in the schools, through craft-oriented and academic-subject-oriented exercises. These exercises could be modified depending on the local conditions, like the availability of materials and facilities at the school, the reactions of the students, etc.
Engineering Drawing Workbook Using MacDraft
by J. R. Mehta
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by J. R. Mehta
We need a drafting table, a pencil, paper, and various tools for drawing conventionally, which is not only cumbersome but also time-consuming. Now, on the edge of computers, various computer-aided drafting programmes are available, like AutoCAD, RoboCAD, Mac Draft, Mac 3D, etc. Programs like AutoCAD and RoboCAD take a lot of time to learn. But as no workbook exists to teach engineering drawing using this program, an attempt is made to meet this need.
Simulation of Snake Movements
by K. Srinivas
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by K. Srinivas
The ways in which biological mechanisms function are quite intriguing. The incomplete and tentative character of our knowledge in biomechanics was expressed by the great British biologist James Gray, who said, "A bird flying" is one of nature’s great master pieces, and she guards very closely the secrets of her success.
The movement of fish and snakes assumes another dimension of complexity because, unlike other terrestrial animals, they are limbless and flexible. Because the parts of the snake’s body that exert motive forces are never as clearly defined as those in species with limbs, it is not obvious to a casual observer how such movement propels the animal forward. Such considerations make the movement of snakes a challenging task for simulation.
The objective of the project is to simulate snake movements and elucidate the way in which the snakes actually manipulate their structure and apply it to propel themselves forward. Second, it intends to use snakes as inspiration to see new relationships in materials and processes and to create objects that are pleasing to the human eye.
Product Semantics - Observing People Categorize Products
by Prashant Ahir
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by Prashant Ahir
Human beings are exposed to the "real world," which is very complex. The large area of the human brain offers an almost unlimited capacity to store symbols for objects and events from the real world. It develops its own symbols for objects and events in the outside world. The organisation of these symbols is also necessary for effective retrieval.
What makes it significant to the field of design is the fact that this coding is based on sensory information, and for most objects, it is primarily the visual component of the information about the object that is used in processing. Understanding how the coding process exploits the semantic information available from the objects can help us learn to deal with semantic issues more effectively.
The term "sustainability" refers to the process of reducing the environmental impact of a product. The strategy used to construct categories and form concepts is uniquely different and can offer clues on how visual information can be controlled.
The categorization process demonstrates the superiority of human information processing over intelligent machines. It is advantageous not to differentiate the object from others as long as the behaviour and properties of the objects within the category remain predictable. So instead of categorising objects into a large number of finely discriminate and tight concepts, the mind automatically chooses the cognitively economical option of neglecting the infinite difference among the objects to achieve behaviorally and cognitively usable proportions. The categorization process treats nonidentical objects as equivalent when differences are irrelevant to the human response. Objects within a category appear to substantially share features that show a clear correlation. The fuzziness of the boundaries, an important characteristic of the human categorization process, does not create operational problems because the categories are not defined by their boundaries but by their centres.
Errors in Approximation
by Sudheendra Dhulkhed
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by Sudheendra Dhulkhed
Human judgement is used to measure in many industrial and practical contexts.For example, in a heat treatment unit, the colour of the slab is the variable for judging the hardness temperature reached, even though technology is available to measure the temperature accurately.
In industry and everyday life, it is necessary to measure some value through human approximation even though no technology is available for doing so.
Even though there is technology available for measuring some variables, approximation is used. For example, in graphical and analogue displays, the value of some variable is represented by the length of a line without a scale beside it. The observer approximates the length of the line and estimates the value of the variable. Dial and pointer displays are often read by visually judging the angle of the pointer rather than accurately reading the scale mark they indicate. This happens when rapid reading is necessary. This also happens in the case of some watches where only four discrete points are marked on the dial.
In some process control rooms, dials and metres are located at a height. The operator has to visually judge and note readings, seeing only the pointers, as these metres will be at a height.
It is necessary to know the average deviation from the actual value or error in approximating the value of a variable under a given condition. This value will aid in providing the necessary amount of tolerance in machines, allowing accidents caused by human error to be avoided in all remote sensing plants, such as nuclear power plants and processing plants.
Innovative Products and Practices of Indian Origin
by Vani N Sheshadri
by Vani N Sheshadri
The project attempts to identify innovative and ingenious solutions to problems in the everyday life of an Indian. The main aim is to bring about awareness about these products and practices, which are slowly fading out. The relevance of old values is in the inspiration they provide for the present; they should not be recalled for the sake of history. The earth has been ploughed for hundreds of years, even as water has been drawn and used for a variety of needs; the needs have not changed, but the methods have evolved at each stage, with man at the center, effecting change and making the most of his knowledge and his resources.
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Status of IDC Alumni
by Vinay M. Mundada
by Vinay M. Mundada
The Industrial Design Center was started in 1969 at the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay with a post-graduate diploma course in product design. By 1979, 76 students had successfully completed this course. In 1979, this course was converted into a postgraduate degree course. The students admitted were from an engineering and architecture background. In 1984, IDC entered graphic design with a two-year postgraduate degree course in visual communication.
At present, IDC has very little information about its alumni because there is no proper way to interact with them. Presently, some of the alumni are in contact with IDC in two ways:
-Personally visiting IDC
-Through IDC news letter
Interaction between IDC and its alumni can help both in several ways:
-to get feedback on many important subjects.
-increased interaction with industries
-evaluating and revising the course work to meet the demands of the new environment.
-to make professionals known about IDC and its activities
-exchange of new trends and developments in design and its related fields
-to know the scope for a fresh designer as a freelancer
Details >>-Personally visiting IDC
-Through IDC news letter
Interaction between IDC and its alumni can help both in several ways:
-to get feedback on many important subjects.
-increased interaction with industries
-evaluating and revising the course work to meet the demands of the new environment.
-to make professionals known about IDC and its activities
-exchange of new trends and developments in design and its related fields
-to know the scope for a fresh designer as a freelancer
Design of Bamboo Products
by Satish P. Raut
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by Satish P. Raut
Bamboo is a natural material available in large quantities in our country. Since very ancient times, it has been used for building construction and for making many products. In recent times, it has been found that 80% of bamboo is used for papermaking. The value realised for bamboo in papermaking is very low. In addition, the private industry controlling the mills has indiscriminately destroyed the bamboo resources, affecting the large number of bamboo craftsmen traditionally dependent on bamboo as a raw material.
Bamboo, if used for products like furniture, can have an enhanced value for the craftsman, thereby increasing their self-employment opportunities. This would, of course, need structural support in marketing from the government. The design of a product or piece of furniture made of bamboo does not seem to have been tackled by a professional designer so far. With this background in mind, the present project on “Design of Bamboo Furniture” has been tackled.
Redesign of Moped
by Sudhir Kumar Atreya
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by Sudhir Kumar Atreya
The most serious problem that vehicles today face is the fast-increasing price of fuel. In two-wheelers, petrol (gasoline) is the most commonly used fuel. Mopeds consume the minimum amount of gasoline as they are light and low-powered vehicles. So they could be very popular among the day-to-day users. But unfortunately, in Indian markets, mopeds are not sold well. They are very rarely seen on the roads.
Most of the two-wheeler users are young males, and for some reasons, they prefer to buy motorcycles or scooters. So the project started with “converting the possible buyers of scooters and motorcycles into the possible buyers of mopeds” as the basic objective. It was decided to give riding comfort priority. Other design aspects to be considered were visual appeal, functional improvements, ease of production, and maintenance.
Clay Products for Buildings
by Gokhale V. S.
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by Gokhale V. S.
Earth, or clay, has been one of the basic elements of house building since the day man started living in man-made shelters. The earliest evidence of moulded lay is to be found in excavations of Mohenjo-Daro and Chanhu-Daro of the Indus Valley civilization. The various forms of moulded bricks being used in the construction of houses,streets, drains, etc.
Brick, wood, and stone were the major materials of construction in historic India. The very nature of these materials demanded prefabrication either near the site or construction or near the source of materials. Modern construction technology is also going more and more towards prefabrication and standardisation of building elements. With the growth of technology and science, prefabrication is no longer limited by external factors.
Design of a Materials Museum
by Vinod Gupta
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by Vinod Gupta
The selection of a material for a specific application is almost always a thorough, lengthy, and expensive investigation. Almost always, more than one material is a possible candidate, and the final selection is a compromise that weighs the relative advantages and disadvantages of all candidates. Service requirements such as toughness, adequate strength, dimensional stability, scratch resistance, heat resistance, non-toxicity, corrosion resistance, etc.; manufacturing requirements like formability, moldability, machinability, etc.; and various economic and market requirements should be met before finally choosing a material.
For an intelligent judgement or compromise in finally selecting a material, a thorough understanding of all materials and their various properties is required. No doubt there are thousands of books written on individual materials, processes, and their properties, but going through all of them for a quick reference in order to find the right material becomes a tedious and time-consuming process.
STC Exhibition Model
by Prof. Sudhakar Nadkarni
by Prof. Sudhakar Nadkarni
The STC Exhibition Model developed by Prof. Sudhakar Nadkarni was conducted on June 27, 1979. Tryst with India and the Made in India-State Trading Corporation (STC) Pavilion Dome are two exhibition designs that Prof. Nadkarni was a part of.
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Telephone
by Prof. Mohan Bhandari
by Prof. Mohan Bhandari
The Telephone project by Prof. Mohan Bhandari at IDC IIT Bombay is known for its emphasis on communication design, particularly focussing on user interaction with telecommunication devices. Prof. Bhandari, a notable faculty member in the field of industrial design, has contributed extensively to user-centric design projects that explore how everyday objects can be made more functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Details >>1969-1978
(51 items)
Redesigned 16mm Projector
by Prof. A. G. Rao
by Prof. A. G. Rao
16 mm Projector: It was the first major design project from Industry for IDC. The original design was from RCA(Radio Corporation of America), an American company. Photophone pvt ltd, the Indian company had bought the moulds to make the projector. 4 die-cast aluminum parts with several inserts formed the core of the 16mm film projector. The old design had several short comings.The additional castings brought in ‘visual binding’ to operating knobs, in addition to giving a functional advantage to take both spools to the top. The colour scheme ensured this visual organisation. Use of small halogen lamp reduced visual domination of lamp cover. Control knobs acquired a visual space. The controls for projection and Sound got segregated with colour coding. Vacuum formed covers in ABS plastic gave a new identity of a precision instrument to the projector and sound box. Additional castings one for the base and other at the top for spools were made in gravity die casting out of aluminum.Speaker Box Sizes of the Speaker box cover and Projector cover were kept same. This facilitated use of same basic moulds for vacuum forming. A cut out in the front gave opening for the speaker. In the back side cover of the ‘speaker box’ a compartment with a hinged cover was introduced to store the connection wires. Voltage Regulator Standard Voltage regulater was redesigned to give a comaptible as well as exclusive look.
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Card Storage System and Time Punching Machine
by B. Kalra
by B. Kalra
The industrial revolution was added to history books in the 17th century. Since then, more and more rules and regulations have been constituted for the hiring of labour and the remuneration of workers in an attempt to discover a satisfactory one that would be acceptable to the employer and adequate for the workers to suit a particular type of industry. One of the oldest methods in existence of remunerating workers is the "time work method," also referred to as "day work," "day rate," "time rate," etc. By this method, the worker is paid a stated sum per day of 8, 9, or more hours, or per week of 40–48 hours and upwards, in accordance with the custom prevailing in the particular industry. The general popularity of this system of remuneration may be attributed chiefly to its simplicity as regards the calculation of wages, etc. In modern practice, however, this method is modified by the introduction of various bonus schemes. In fact, the institution of schemes embracing a monetary incentive towards increased production has resulted in a considerable increase in production, with a consequent benefit to the employer and employee. Hence, this method is adopted by the maximum number of industries and is still going stronger and stronger. In the time-work method, the first essential is the ascertainment of the total time spent inside the factory, etc., for which the worker is entitled to draw wages. The three chief methods of recording workmen’s time are manual recording, the check or disc method, and the time recording clock method. The manual system is the oldest and is still in use, mostly in small industries. The disc method, which is superior to the manual system, is gradually falling into disuse. The time recording clock method is becoming more popular. The device used for recording a worker’s time is a time punching machine. The existing time punching machine has good scope for development and improvement, so a redesign of it is sure to receive a warm welcome.
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Autorickshaw
by Jagannathan Arvind
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by Jagannathan Arvind
India is a developing country. Her economic conditions are typical, as are her culture and the mode of living of her people. The country's per capita GNP is Rs 650 per annum. This also implies that only three million people in the country, or about five percent of the total population, earn more than Rs 5,000, and only six million earn more than Rs 3,000 per year. People in the uppermost income bracket are the owners of the 10 lakh motor cars that are on Indian roads. A lower section of this income bracket, earning between Rs 6,000 and Rs 12,000 per annum, can also afford some kind of motorised vehicle. However, this group cannot ever hope to buy a motor car, which costs around Rs 20,000. As a result, they must either forego the great conveniences provided by a family vehicle such as a car or opt for a secondary mode of transportation. The only substitute vehicle that also has a lower price and is suitable for family use would be some kind of two-wheeler, such as a motorcycle, scooter, or moped, all of which are poor substitutes for a regular family vehicle.
It is in this analytical framework that the three wheeled autorickshaw could fulfil a pressing transportation need for the average Indian. Being a small vehicle with a simple structural design and sufficient power (7 horse power), it is probably the closest reality to the concept of a people’s car. However, the autorickshaw is not accepted today as a family vehicle, despite its tremendous versatility and potential. The cost of the autorickshaw, at about Rs 8,000, is quite reasonable during the lifetime of the middle income group. This can be understood in its true perspective when the cost of the autorickshaw is compared to the cost of the existing motor cars, which cost two to three times as much. Despite these factors that position the autorickshaw as the ideal vehicle, it must now be noted that it severely lacks in several critical functional aspects, rendering it unsuitable for use as a family vehicle.
The primary aim of this project is to redesign the existing autorickshaw with a view to eliminating all these inherent defects and initiating the genesis of a far superior design specifically meant to provide all the functions of a family vehicle, unlike the existing multipurpose vehicle, which is modified to serve the purpose in a limited way.
Such an approach to the problem should give birth to a singularly unique design that would, in effect, be a substitute family vehicle for that large section of the population that cannot afford a motor car but does feel the need for one. It cannot be stressed enough here how significant such a solution would be for the immediate and substantial improvement in the standard and quality of living of the Indian people.
Drafting Table
by K. C. Mahapatra
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by K. C. Mahapatra
Designers everywhere must be aware of the great changes taking place in the drawing office. Drafting is rapidly becoming a new technology. The drawing office environment, which has hardly changed in the past half century, is undergoing a revolution. The employment of advanced electronic equipment and automated drafting machines within the drawing office has given rise to the creation of an atmosphere much more in keeping with the draftman’s important role in industry today.
Quality and reliability standards of products have become more rigorous, and manufacturers have been faced with the problem of needing to reduce overhead costs. Lowering standards of accommodation in the drawing office, coupled with the feeling of not being paid a salary proportional to the importance of their contribution to the company’s success, have resulted in trained drafttsmen leaving the drawing office for other related fields. These factors gave rise to the need to automate the traditionally manual methods of drawing offices in order to reduce to a minimum the lead time required between the conception of an idea and its production reality. And the drafting machine, as a device, is central to this.
The fuller utilisation of the higher abilities of draftsmen is a major challenge today. To meet this challenge, ways and means of reducing the time and effort required to make drawings are needed. Among these ways and means are the use of simplified drafting machines and methods, the elimination of non-essential and exclusive use of drafting aids, and time savers.
Unlike in foreign countries, India cannot go for computer-aided drafting machines because of the high capital costs involved in it. The majority of drawings required by industries today in India are still produced by manual methods, and this situation is likely to continue for some time.
Most of the drawing machines manufactured in India today are so expensive that an ordinary designer can never afford them. Furthermore, in the available drafting machines, no human consideration has been taken into account, resulting in user fatigue. The unnecessary floor area taken up by its bulkiness and complicated operational sequences make the product still worse. After studying the aforesaid problems, the redesigning of the drafting table was felt to be long overdue.
Safety Equipment for Welders
by Liladhar Jethwa
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by Liladhar Jethwa
Every industrial establishment, small and large, is now equipped with welding appliances. Welding has become one of the principal means of fabricating and repairing metal products. Modern welding has become one of the principal means of fabricating and repairing metal products. Modern welding methods date from the discovery of electric current by Davey in 1912. In 1881, electric welding was first brought into use. The first practical torch having an oxy-acetylene flame for welding was used by Fouche and Picard in 1901. This method was first applied in 1903.
The vast expansion of welding processes used in industry can be judged by the amount of welding material used every year. In the U.S.A. in 1937, five billion cubic feet of oxygen and two billion cubic feet of acetylene were used for welding. In the same year, 155,310,000 pounds of welding wire were also used. Welding finds extensive use in the following industries: aerospace and rocketry, automotive, railroad, shipbuilding, containers, furniture and fixtures, industry machinery, personal service machinery, building and bridge construction, maintenance, etc.
Welding is subject to greater hazards than any other manual or manufacturing activity, and these may lead to serious accidents not only for the workman himself but also for those in his vicinity. For this reason, safety regulations for welding have been framed by all the countries in the world.
Due to the nature of the process, the welder’s body and clothing must also be protected from radiation and burns caused by flying globules of molten metal. The arc, in addition to being very bright, is a source of infrared and ultraviolet light, which are harmful to the eyes and skin. The fumes also cause some problems.
Cloth Measuring Device for Retail Shops
by M. R. Gandhi
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by M. R. Gandhi
The importance of cloth is indicated by the fact that it satisfies man's second, but not secondary, economic need after food. The textile industry is the world's second-largest industry, consuming 10% of global energy and playing a significant role in the global economy.
At the retail level, millions of metres of cloth produced by global industry are measured manually with a measuring stick or tape. The process of cloth measurement at retail level is the most habitual, oldest, and most universal.
The idea behind taking up the project is to design an intermediate link between customer and salesman that will make retail cloth measuring more convenient and faster. Such a design can become a boon for the salesman at the time of stock checking, particularly for the mill’s retail shops.
Considering the present case of industrial and technological development, fashions, and a competitive market, it is found that the major factor governing the production of cloth in industry is the feedback that the sales department obtains from the sales of the cloth at retail level. Bearing all these factors in mind, I feel that my attempt at designing such a device will be justified.
Playground Equipment for Children
by R. A. Naik
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by R. A. Naik
Man is the kind of animal that must have adventure, excitement, and romance. The pursuit of happiness, the love of adventure, and the desire for achievement are great motivating forces, which are realised most fully in recreation play.
Universally, play is the chief occupation of the young child during his waking hours. Through play, the child attains growth and experience, it is the major business of life for him. It is nature’s way of affording outlets for the great biological urge for activity and the means of acquiring skills. A playground is an area designed to afford a wide range of enjoyable and desirable activities for children of elementary school age, youth, adults, and families. Equipment is provided in the playground to provide opportunities for play.
The report refers to the work carried out for the design of playground equipment for children in the age groups of 5–6 years and 12–14 years. The work starts with the facts regarding play, its psychological understanding; social and other relevance. This leads to the formation of concepts and ideas. The designer then proceeds with the development of the idea. The last section leads to the proposal for the equipment. The proposals are not solutions in and of themselves, but rather a first step toward the change-oriented organisation of space and theme for one of the environments that the child encounters. The proposals suggested are experiments outlined that may lead to the solution.
Miss. B. Sampat's sincere efforts to expose her knowledge, time, and experience for the design are heartily acknowledged, and the Industrial Design Center's efforts to convert this work into a play are beyond words.
Mobile Shops
by Harikumar Nair
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by Harikumar Nair
Escape from poverty is the problem of the poor. Attempts have always been made to solve this. The poor try everything, including begging the resourceful, before taking up the trade of vending their wares. This is only a small area of self-employment available to them. But still, they cannot afford regular shops because of their low finances. Then they have to find the market. In addition to this, they have a day-to-day economy and cannot be sure of the continuous supply of commodities. The mobile shop is the basic equipment for selling their wares. It transports the commodity to the market; the source may be far from market locations, so it lets him choose his own market at times. The existing mobile shops concentrate mainly on food items with little or no preparation. They are good to start with, since they require minimum know and do not require a large financial investment; otherwise, the number of items can be limited to the financial capability.
Sometimes the whole family helps prepare the items. Also, food items are easier to sell. The mobile shops also sell small articles when they are handicrafts or are cheaply available. They may have to change locations according to market conditions, seasons, trends, or personal difficulties. Sometimes even the commodity is changed depending on availability, changes in resources, seasons, markets, etc. The mobile shop owner faces a number of operational challenges, such as finding resources and continuously feeding them, transporting commodities, being unaware of market conditions and an unstable economy, and dealing with legal restrictions regarding selling on the sidewalk, such as licenses, etc.
The problems are complex when the mobile shop cannot find a suitable market for its commodities and wandering becomes a daily routine. The shop suffers losses if perishables are not sold in a timely manner. The mobile shop is a convenient arrangement for city dwellers. The general atmosphere of hurry and the need for fast service almost induce the common man to use these shops. Also, mobile shops are found to be very suitable for recreational environments. The sale of goods on the streets is prohibited by city authorities due to health concerns. The mobile shops also tend to use the pavement and sidewalks and get in the way of people. This creates issues with traffic and pedestrian movements.
Bread Toaster for Catering Establishments
by Siddha A. K.
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by Siddha A. K.
Toasting is the process of dehydrating bread. Toasting is primarily done to make the bread more tasty. Simple bread slice cannot be eaten without either butter or jam but a toast can be eaten independently. An oven-hot toast tastes better than an ordinary bread slice or a cold toast. In the case of toaster heat is given by means of radiation.
In these fast-moving days, bread has become one of the most important food items. It is a ready-made food item that does not require much further preparation and is cheap. The busy housewife of today or the working lady finds it suitable to serve bread either at breakfast or during the meals. So it is time-saving as well as cheap. However in India the bread has remained as a secondary article and not the main one. Therefore it can be seen that there is a heavy demand for a toaster which can serve the need of a restaurant or a hostel mess.
At present, a person has to wait for quite a long time to get a hot toast in the restaurants as well as in the hostel mess. This has been seen by myself and also has been head from many people. The reason behind this waiting is the non-availability of suitable toasters for such catering establishments. Hence I have chosen this problem. With the increase of hotel going people and the increase in hostel messes, the demand for such a toaster will be always on the increase. Hence I think this attempt in designing such a toaster will get a warm welcome.
Fruit Drier
by Subhash A Avasare
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by Subhash A Avasare
Drying of foods in order to preserve them during the seasons of abundance for the consumption during the season of shortage is an old art. In India this technique was much widely used in olden days. The traditional dry fruits like kokam ‘Ambapoli’, Manuka and dried mushrooms are eloquent testimony of our ancestors knowledge of dehydration technology. The word dryer, evaporator and dehydrator are at present used as if synonymous therefore at this stage it is essential to clarify the difference between those terminologies. To dehydrate means to remove water by any means, squeezing centrifuging or evaporating. Drying means removal of all possible liquids, water, ether, alcohol etc. from the solids. Evaporation is drying not under well controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and air flow, whereas dehydrator ensures much controlled conditions. In this discussion it is too early to say what degree of controlled conditions.
We are aiming at, hence it is preferred to call the machine a drier rather than a dehydrator or an evaporator. Just as the civil war stimulated the canning industry the Boer War and the First World War stimulated the dehydration industry. To conserve the cargo space enormous amounts of foods were dehydrated during the two world wars. In Germany in 1898 there were 3 drying plants and in 1917 there were 1900. It is this that increased her ability to maintain her food supply during 1939 to 1944. To give an idea of the space conservation may I illustrate with an example. A tonne of apricot in canned form weighs 2800 lbs and in dried form only 400 lbs leaving aside advantages due to the less costly and light packaging. The most economical method of drying is by sundrying and a majority of dried fruits today are sundried.
Domestic Flour Mill
by Subhash B. Bidre
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by Subhash B. Bidre
Raw materials often occur in sizes that are too large for the user, and therefore, they must be reduced in size. Depending on whether the material is a solid or a liquid, this size reduction operation can be divided into two major categories. If it is a solid, the operations are known as grinding and cutting; if it is a liquid, the operations are known as emulsification or automization. Grinding and cutting reduce the size of solid materials by mechanical action, dividing them into smaller particles. Perhaps the most extensive application of grinding in the food industry is in the milling of wheat grains to flour, but it is used on many other occasions, such as in the grinding of corn for the manufacture of corn starch, the grinding of sugar, and the milling of dried foods.
More than 6000 years ago, people ceased to eat grain in its wild state and began to break it up with a rude kind of pestle and mortar. Later, a primitive hand mill came into use. This consisted of two stones with roughened surfaces between which the grain was ground. The quern, the next mill to emerge, was made of two circular stones, the upper one rotating around the lower, to which it was attached by a metal or wooden pin. The corn was introduced between the stones by means of a funnel in the upper stone, which also had a small hole near its edge into which a stick was inserted to serve as a handle. The quern is still used by semi-civilised people, and in remote parts of Ireland, the Hebrides, and the Shetlands. Down to 1874, the grindstone remained the basis of the flour mill, but the power was supplied by animal labour, wind, and water. In smaller mills, grind stones are still used, and certain types of flour are produced. They are made of ‘buhr’, a very hard silicate. They are from 4 to 6 ft. in diameter, and their surfaces are grooved or furrowed from the centre to the circumference. The ‘hopper’ supplies the grain through the centre of the upper stone; the wheat is pushed along the grooves and broken upon the ridges.
Modern method: In modern flour mills, chilled iron rollers have taken the place of grind stones. The first successful steam mill was erected in London in 1784, and iron rollers were first used in 1840, following their introduction in Budapest. Hungary became the world centre for flour mills on account of this improvement. Minneapolis soon adopted it, becoming the most important flour mill centre in the world. It remains one of the most important centres today. Since 1880, the system of roller milling has been in operation in all large mills. As a source of motive power, steam has largely been replaced by electricity.
A domestic flour mill is a smaller version of a commercial flour mill. The traditional pair of stone wheels is driven by an electric motor. The other main parts of the mill are the hopper and the drawer for collecting the flour. It has been found out that mostly housewives operate the flour mill, and as it is, no ergonomic factors have been considered in the present design. It is also felt necessary to increase the aesthetic value, reduce the cost, and make its operation easier so that its services could be extended to a larger number of people.
Room Furniture for Students Hostels
by Suhas Kakde
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by Suhas Kakde
Long before history began, a monkey relaxing on a tree twig with its back against a vertical branch may have inspired man to create furniture. Many episodes in the Ramayana and Pre-Ramayana revolve around a throne, an ornamental piece of furniture in the centre of the room. Wood and metals have been involved in this business since then. Today, furniture has become an expression of style. With a wide variety of materials, many forms, feelings, and facilities are possible. Cost is the chief criteria. Unfortunately, one cannot sit in some chairs that are attempts to express and combine the character of hard plastic with good design. A few of them have sculptural values but less mobility and comfort. Furthermore, they frequently restrict our human freedom of movement. Whatever the material and the form of the furniture, it must be ergonomic and economical. In these years, furniture has become a concept in practically all urban hostels. This does not imply that the application was correct or that it met the requirements.
The age of technology offers us advantages that should be expressed in our surroundings; so that experiments with form and construction are adjusted to contemporary technical and social realities. The careless and rough handling of furniture by students at their school-homes, the average standard of living of our average society, and simple expectations about comfort and beauty call for extremely studied, economic, functional, and ergonomic sets of furniture, respectively. The design also depends on the environment. In remote rural areas, schools can afford to have spacious rooms for hostels, but then they may face the problem of having the skills to convert the available raw materials into the necessary set of furniture. In this context, my design is based on standard industrial inputs.
Portable Electric Saw
by U. S. Devadiga
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by U. S. Devadiga
Wood has always been one of man's most important resources. Directly and indirectly, in fact, it has been one of his basic necessities. For example, primitive man used wood to make fires and to make the clubs with which he could protect himself and hunt. His wooden hunting weapon brought meat to his fire and fur clothing for his body. Besides clothing himself with skins, he used them again with wood to make crude shelters. He made the shelters he didn't make from wood and skins by weaving three branches together.But it was not until thousands of years later that he learned to make wooden houses. During these years, he used wood for his tool handles and for his first machines, the lever and the wheel. Wood also provided his first means of transportation when he learned to make crafts, wagons, and ships.
Throughout history, man has perfected ways to bend, carve, smooth, polish, stain, and paint wood, as well as change its size, shape, and appearance to suit his needs and his ideas of beauty. One of the most widely used and oldest known machines for woodworking is the circular saw. Circular saws are defined as machines in which the working tool takes the form of a steel disc equipped with teeth on its periphery. This disc, usually known as the circular saw blade, is mounted on an arbour in the case of bench saws or on a spindle in portable saws, from which it derives a circular motion.
The various types of circular saws are grouped in the following categories:
- Ordinary table saws.
- Rip saws, including travelling carriage saws.
- Automatic edgers with one or more saw blades.
- Cross-cut saws.
- Firewood saws.
- Portable electric hand saws.
The preceding sections of this report primarily address the portable electric saw, which is widely used for cross-cutting and ripping sawing of wood.
Bird Scarer
by V. R. Patil
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by V. R. Patil
India is primarily an agricultural country, and nearly three-quarters of its population depends directly on agriculture for a living. Therefore, agricultural development is intimately connected with the joy and happiness of the people in this country. Total grain production in India could be around 106 million tonnes per year, with a safe five percent increase if bird damage could be avoided. Numerous efforts are made to eliminate this loss, but they are never completely successful.
The first attempt, still used in most parts of our country, was the use of a sling, which has its own drawbacks and limitations, the main one being the unsatisfactory short range it covers. Another method widely practised is to hang a dead bird or to make human figures in the field. The fact that birds are afraid of irritating noises led to the development of many bird scaring devices, which used sounds of various frequencies and a few that sounded like predatory bird voices. These have been found to be successful only for a very short period of time before birds get habituated to them. Plastic nettings stand as an alternative and reliable solution, but they are too costly for a poor country like ours. The use of plastic and paper bags is also in practice, but they too are costly and prove to be detrimental for the growth of crops. This project deals with the fabrication of some simple, but reliable, bird scaring devices.
Domestic Fire Extinguisher
by Sivappa B. Akki
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by Sivappa B. Akki
"A little fire is quickly trodden out, which rivers cannot quench when suffered." - Shakespeare.
When we examine the foregoing chapter, we find that a domestic fire extinguisher is a basic need. A design so contemplated shall fulfil those needs and, at the same time, allow itself to be easily manufactured on a mass scale and also be available at moderate prices. The percentage of accidents caused by fires in the home, as well as the resulting burns and fatalities, is much higher than the percentage caused by public fires. In the case of a public fire, there is a great loss to the property as a result of a sweeping open fire, whereas in the case of fires in homes, the great loss is more to the lives than to the property. In view of the serious loss of life and disability resulting from home accidents, there exists a pressing demand for the design of equipment to lend a helping hand in putting off the fire. The main reasons for the deaths that occur in our homes each year are the poor design or bad planning of the houses in which we live, the faulty design of the equipment we use or the careless way in which we use it, and the human element, which falls under two headings: mental and physical.
School Bag
by V. L. Bakhale
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by V. L. Bakhale
There are so many new designs of school bags on the market these days, and old designs are quickly falling out of favor. This clearly shows that a new design is really necessary for school bags, which will satisfy users' and producers' needs perfectly well.
The school bag issue did not arise until the last 50 years. In the past, the education system was different, and students were not required to carry a large number of books and, in some cases, a lunch box and water bottle too. Hence, in the past, an ordinary bag was used as a school bag, but in big cities like Bombay, the problem of a school bag becomes acute. Students in large cities travel to school from distant locations via local trains and buses. These local trains and buses are always crowded, and in such crowded places, a school bag obstructs free body movement. It has become very troublesome to travel through these vehicles.
Every student has to carry a large number of text books and exercise books. The number of books cannot be reduced because these are the minimum necessary books. The weight can be reduced only with school cooperation, i.e., by providing special lockers to students so that they can keep some of their things there. But all schools cannot do this, and so we have to think of a new system that will make students carry the books easily. We cannot reduce the weight, but we can make it easier to carry. From this point of view, various school bags are introduced to the market.
But most of the bags are not convenient. Some are heavy, and some are light. The light bags are flexible and spoil the books. Some bags are not water-proof and cannot be used in the rainy season. Most of the bags are costly. Cheap bags last for six months, while costlier bags last for 2-3 years, but their size is not suitable. Thus, not even a single bag in the market satisfies customers' needs, and hence, redesigning a school bag is very essential.
Educational aids for teaching basic principles of computer
by K. N. Prakash
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by K. N. Prakash
Learning makes little sense. For a boy or a girl, learning is quite a separate experience from playing. Learning is an experience that forces students to be restrained, strained, and grave. Textbooks, exercises, and exams are all part of the learning process. It is a bleak world; on the contrary, play is enjoyable, exciting, and stimulating; it is fantastic while also being involved. So the modern method of teaching tries to combine the two, and as a result, learning becomes another game, a play. It makes learning as enjoyable as playing.
Man has always sought assistance with menial tasks. One such is in computation, where a Chinese merchant using an abacus or a merchant using a cash register are all using computational aids. Today, the computer has taken over as the main computational aid, but a computer is much more than that. Today's computer, a far cry from Charles Babbage’s analytical engine, does practically all mathematical computations and takes decisions, whether it be in launching a man to the moon or in assisting the scientist in his laboratory in breaking the genetic code.
The computer as we know it today is making the second industrial revolution take place. The effect of computers on our society is phenomenal. The development of computers is so rapid that the computer will be an inevitable tool for the management executive, the scientist, the teacher, etc.; the list is never complete. We will also see a new generation that takes computers for granted because it learned about the binary system in elementary school and boolean algebra in high school. As such, there is an immense need for this coming generation of educational aids and toys for the kids of the next generation that teach the principles of computer.
Food Carriage System
by Jai K. Bansal
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by Jai K. Bansal
Any container that is used for carrying food can be called a food carrier. There can be various types of food boxes depending on their size, compartmentalization, and mode of carrying. Under this project, the food box, which is used for carrying food for industrial and office workers, has been redesigned. A third party transports these boxes from the kitchen to the office or industry site. Since the industrial revolution, the problem of food transportation has become more serious in society. In Bombay city itself, it is more than 30 years old. More than 2 lakh luch boxes are transported daily in Bombay alone. Lunch should be available to men at their place of work during lunch hours. As many industrial sites are away from the main city, good hotels or canteens are not situated near the place of work. This necessitates that the worker arrange for his own food, thus giving rise to the evolution of the food carrier. It is difficult to prepare the food very early in the morning, and it is also inconvenient for the worker to carry the food box early in the morning. This brings about the existence of a third force that transports these boxes from the kitchen to the site.
There are numerous food box manufacturers on the market. However, the one shown in the photograph is the most commonly used. It has an outside container of G.I. sheeting, and inside it contains four compartments of aluminium. This is taken for analysis. Recently, one better food box has come on the market that has the same aluminium containers inside and an outside container made of double-walled, high-density polyethylene. There is thermocol packing inside the double wall. This box keeps food hot for 5 hours.
Design of Electric Geyser
by Bhaumik Bidyabijay
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by Bhaumik Bidyabijay
Using hot water is probably as old as human civilization itself. We get evidence of the use of hot water for baths in the "hamamas," or the public baths of old civilizations. Since then, hot water has been accepted as a "preferred luxury" for men. In the present, an electric geyser has become a "fair necessity," mainly because of the odd hours for a bath or wash, which are quite common for urban men. Also, the use of showers is so widely accepted for its function and economy that the old time consuming method of heating water first and then mixing it with cold water to a proper temperature for a bath is done away with, wherever it has become possible.
Now there are two types of geysers available, that have the possibility of shower connections. First is the storage type, which has the advantages of a proper shower connection, multiple taps, low wattage, and higher safety. But it is gradually becoming prohibitive because of its high cost, difficult maintenance, large area requirements, and difficulty in installation. The second is called the instant type electric geyser. This is getting wide acceptance primarily for its low price, small space requirement, and ease of installation. But it has the drawbacks of lesser electrical and mechanical safety and a difficult shower connection. Naturally, a product is needed that can have most of the advantages of both, mainly electrical and mechanical safety, shower connection, low price, lesser space requirement, and easy maintenance.
Design of Epidiascope
by Ramachandran Kadiru
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by Ramachandran Kadiru
We learn mostly through our eyes, and the approximate contributions of our sensory organs are given below:
- 1% through taste
- 2% through touch
- 4% through smell
- 10% through hearing
- 83% through sight
This reveals that learning through sight so much overshadows learning through any and all other senses that no adjustment for error or incidents of exception could lessen the impact of sight on the process of learning. So it is vision that is the main avenue of perception, the eyes carry the burden of learning.
How much do we retain? The figure on the left shows the retention rate of read material. The term "reinforcement" in the second figure refers to a relearning of original learning in which the student spent additional time. The result is that the student's rate of retention was raised to about 50%. But if the conceptual reinforcement was accomplished by the addition of visuals rather than by the repetition of reading, the retention rate of 50% could very well be more than coincidental. We do not think in words; our mind thinks in pictures. To communicate facts, figures, and ideas, visual presentation is more effective.
Design of Catering System in Aircrafts
by K. L. Munshi
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by K. L. Munshi
Good amount of work has already been done to improve passenger comfort in aircraft during flight. For improved passenger comfort, besides providing comfortable seats and a good environment and entertainment, the services inside aircraft have improved and should keep improving because of the newer problems creeping up daily in the air transportation of passengers. Services inside the aircraft include:
- Looking after passengers-old people, and children
- Keeping passengers informed and giving instructions from time to time audio and printed communication
- offering pillows and blankets
- Showing seats
- Various services and ensuring that there is no possibility of a complaint
- The distribution of food articles onto individual plates
- The serving of breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner, coffee, cigarettes, and drinks
- collection of these utensils back from the passengers
- storing them when they are filled or empty
- Storage of left-overs and disposable items like empty tin cans, bottles, etc.
- When the flight is long and nonstop, cleaning part or all of the cutlery for reuse during the flight is recommended.
- Heating or keeping food articles cool
Nowadays, it is clear that all international airline corporations are competing fiercely with one another and are essentially fighting for survival. With the introduction of Jumbos, the problem has become even more critical. For profitable operation of these aircraft, it is necessary that aircraft take off with a certain minimum percentage of the total capacity (breakeven point), depending on operation cost, fare structure, overheads, etc. Various airlines have already taken steps to attract passengers, such as slashing round-trip air fares. But there are limitations to it.
Housing System for Electronic Instruments
by Sashidhar Ravunni Menon
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by Sashidhar Ravunni Menon
Electronics has come a long way in the last 25 years. It has helped man land on the moon, communicate over large distances in a fraction of a second, and be entertained by radio and television. Behind these visible and glamorous facades of electronics, but unknown to many, exist the drab and uninteresting laboratories where the marvels of electronics are born. And the core of these laboratories is the very vast array of electronic instruments that they possess.
Though very large amounts of money are spent to develop and perfect these instruments electronically, scant attention is paid to their construction. For example, not much effort has been put into making the fabrication of the instrument housings easier or cheaper. Then again, very little attention has been paid to the plight of the instrument repairers who have to dismantle the instruments.
Some of these difficulties have been corrected to some extent abroad, especially in the United States, England, and Germany, through standardization. This has been made possible principally because of the large size of the companies (General Radio, Hewlett-Packard, Marconi, and Siemens) and the resources at their disposal.
Design of Coffee Percolator
by V. K. Rao
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by V. K. Rao
The discovery of coffee is quite generally accredited to Africa, although the earliest cultivation is traced to southern Arabia. Coffee grew in Africa only in a wild state until fairly modern times, when it began to be developed there on a production basis. Coffee probably derives its name from the original Arabic Qahwah, indirectly through its Turkish form Kahveh, although some etymologists connect it with the name Kaffa, a town in southwest Ethiopia reputed to be the birthplace of coffee.
The origin of coffee is vague and obscure, but its history is rich in legend. One of the most accepted tales surrounding the discovery of coffee about 850 AD is that of Kaldi, an Arabian goat herder. Bewildered by the queer antics of his flocks, Kaldi is supposed to have eaten berries from the evergreen bush on which the goats were feeding and, overjoyed at the feeling of exhilaration that he experienced, has been pictured in legend as dashing off in excitement to proclaim his great find to the world. The physiological action of coffee in dissipating drowsiness was soon discovered and taken advantage of in connection with religious services of the Mohammedans, but the strictly orthodox or conservative section of the priesthood claimed that it was an intoxicating beverage and therefore prohibited by the Koran.
Design of arc resistance tester
by G. D. Vernekar
by G. D. Vernekar
There are some basic requirements that are to be fulfilled by the dielectrics used in electrical technology. For testing associated properties, there are various types of instruments and methods. The resistance test is one of them that has recently been brought into practice. To carry out this test, an arc of known current value is struck between two electrodes, resting on the material specimen to be tested. The time duration for which the material can withstand is measured, and this duration of the arc is inversely proportional to the current rating of the arc. Thus, by means of the arc duration measurement, the dielectric characteristics of the material can be tested. It should be considered that while designing the product, it is no longer a piece of equipment but is looked upon as an essential and functional furniture item for an industrial environment.
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Redesign of Portable Gas Cutting Machine
by G. S. Bhumra
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by G. S. Bhumra
In recent years, oxy-cutting has come to the fore, consuming a lion’s share of all the oxygen used by the welding and cutting industries. Among the processes for preparing plate material for welded fabrication, flame cutting takes a prominent role in almost any engineering industry, including metal making, shipbuilding, boiler making, locomotive building, building construction, etc.
Based on semi-automatic and automatic machines, it has brought with it unprecedented production rates. The basic trend in today’s flame technology is towards the ultimate in process mechanisation: the use of special-purpose equipment of high efficiency and automatic process monitoring and control. In India today, numerous types of cutting machines are available, ranging from simple hand-steered blowpipes to the most sophisticated, special-purpose profile cutting machines using photoelectric cells.
An Aid for Geometric Simulation of Mechanisms
by Mangesh P. Bhalerao
by Mangesh P. Bhalerao
Man is always trying to fully utilise the various forces of nature. To do this, various means must be designed to meet the desired results. As an example, the locomotive is given linear motion by the rotation of the wheels, which are moved by a connecting rod attached to a piston that has only reciprocatory linear movement.
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Redesign of Blister Pack Machine
by Mukesh Kothari
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by Mukesh Kothari
Packaging may be defined as a means of protecting the product to ensure the safe delivery of a product to the consumer in a sound condition at a minimum cost incurred in production. The type of packaging of the pharmaceuticals depends upon the properties of the substance and the manner and condition in which they are conveyed, stored, and used.
Containers of medicine, above all others, are important parts of a product themselves and require rigorous testing in order that containers may not be found wanting. A failure of a pharmaceutical container may mean contamination of the product, not merely dissatisfaction of the customer or economic loss, but can be a threat to his health, and thus the basic purpose of packaging is loss.
Pharmaceutical products may be roughly divided into three categories according to their physical state, i.e., liquid, solid, semisolid, or semiliquid. Moisture, heat, light, and oxygen have adverse influences on pharmaceutical products, and packaging is expected to prevent these influences.
Exploration of Potentials of Corrugated Board
by S. S. Katrekar
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by S. S. Katrekar
The title exploration of potentials of corrugated board can be defined as the ways of building up its properties that the variety of end uses might demand. The property of the ultimate product is the combined result of the basic property of the material itself and the property achieved by cutting,bending,folding, taping, etc. The later area is where contributions can be made. Taking into consideration the existing limited use and the limited ways in which corrugated board is being used, it is felt that the new methods of using the material will widen the range of end uses and suggest more economic solutions to the present methods.
The aim of the project is to discover new ways in which corrugated can be used. The new way of using will in turn suggest different end uses. Existing data on corrugated board is assumed since it was not possible to make experiments to generate such data.
Design of a System of Hospital Trolleys
by Prerana Pendse
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by Prerana Pendse
There have been many new developments and changes in operation theatre methods and surgical techniques over the years. With these changes, it is necessary to develop and redesign hospital furniture and equipment. Hospital furniture is an area in which there is a lot of scope for development. The functional and user requirements in hospitals are unique. There is a need to create a particular designed environment in various hospital areas, e.g. An operation theatre requires a sterile environment. These special needs make design more complex.
A survey of the large hospitals in Bombay was taken, followed by discussions with surgeons and nurses. This threw light on their problems. The list of hospital equipment and furniture where the need for redesign is felt is endless. It was found that hospital trolleys form quite an important part of hospital furniture. The existing designs of trolleys leave a lot to be desired. It was decided to study hospital trolleys in general and take up the development and design of instrument trolleys used within the operating theatre.
Premature Baby Incubator
by A. V. Pendse
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by A. V. Pendse
There are a number of Indian and foreign incubators that are now available in India. Still, I feel that there is a need for a redesign. Initially, let us try to understand what an incubator is and why it is used in the case of a premature baby. As the name suggests, an incubator is essentially a space enclosed with the facility of maintaining the desired artificial environment inside that enclosure.
A premature baby incubator artificially maintains womb temperature and provides safety from infection to a prematurely born infant. In the last few years, manufacturers in foreign countries have produced more and more sophisticated and advanced products, but in India, the first incubator was produced about five years ago, and all other Indian manufacturers copied the same design. There is no further development that has been done, nor has a study been done on an incubator to make it most suitable for the Indian climate and situation. This incubator at present costs a lot and is beyond the reach of the majority of hospitals. Recently, Dr. S.N. Deshpande, a civil surgeon from Kolhapur, studied this problem and developed an economical incubator.
Eddy Current Testing Equipment
by Ashok P. Dongre
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by Ashok P. Dongre
Eddy current tests provide a very important testing technique for metals. The technique is based on the principle that when a coil carrying A.C. is brought near or made to surround a metallic specimen, eddy currents are induced in that component, the magnitude and distribution of which depend on the geometry of the system and the conductivity of the specimen.
The coil impedence is affected by the presence of eddy currents. The impedence change is resolvable to an inductive component, which depends on the space relationship between the coil and specimen, and a resistive component, depending on the conductivity of the specimen.
Conductivity is closely related to the metallurgical structure of the specimen and its state of heat treatment. Thus, a separation of these two effects gives a sensitive testing technique for the metals. The use of eddy currents for nondestructive testing was pioneered by F. Forster and his associates in Germany, and further development was made in Britain by E.G. Stanford and in the USA by R. Hoschild and others.
Redesign of pH Meter
by E. Jyothi John
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by E. Jyothi John
The dawn of modern civilization was characterised by the electronic industry. During the last few decades, electronics have made tremendous advances. Electronics did not spare to enter any of the human environments like laboratories, houses, etc. The majority of the laboratory instruments are mostly electronic in nature.
The pH metre is one such instrument among the vast array of electronic instruments. The adherence and determination of certain pH values are very important, particularly in catalytic processes. pH metres have varied applications, and the determination of the pH value of solutions is very important. Man always seeks ease and comfort and does not want to waste time and energy. Quick and accurate operation and reading of an instrument are essential for him.
Design of Electroencephalograph
by Jayanto Bose
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by Jayanto Bose
In the last couple of years, electronics in general and medical electronics in particular have made fantastic progress. Progress, which even a few years ago would have been unthinkable.
Miniaturisation has made it possible to bring under control a tremendous amount of power, computation, and highly complex controls to one’s fingertips in a package that may occupy only a portion of an ordinary desktop. A single operator can now control an atomic reactor, the production of a steel plant, and literally monitor the life of a human being in its physical aspects. The degree of complexity and compactness of medical electronic equipment has resulted in its wide use in hospitals today. An operation theatre, for example, is nowadays crammed with extremely sophisticated instruments, each of which performs a vital function.
Slide Rule for Schoolchildren
by S. R. Gursahani
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by S. R. Gursahani
The side rule is an extremely useful instrument for making various kinds of calculations, especially multiplication and division. Its use in India is, however, restricted to technical colleges and, in some cases, to science students. The speed and accuracy with which these calculations can be done should lead to a much wider range of uses.
There are two factors that have probably prevented the use of the slide rule on a large scale.
1) The complexity of the slide rule scales. The errors that a learner makes might easily discourage him from using it.
2) The prohibitive cost of the instrument reduces its potential for widespread use.
The need, then, is to design a slide rule that is simple to use, has a few but easily understandable scales, and does not cost much. Such a slide rule, it is hoped, will be adopted in schools. With new and slightly complex courses being introduced at the school level (especially in higher secondary schools), there is an increasing need to make quick calculations. As it is, in the higher classes, students use log tables, which is quite a laborious process.
Design of Slide Projector
by Vijay Bapat
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by Vijay Bapat
We learn mostly through our eyes. Every properly functioning human being transforms the visual signals that he receives from the outside into meaningful entities. Without the perceptual ordering of his sense responses into the image of things in space, man cannot orient himself, and without shaping his physical environment in accordance with these images, he cannot survive.
1% through taste
2% through touch
4% through smell
10% through hearing
83% through sight
This reveals that learning through sight overshadows learning through any and all other senses, so no adjustment for error, incidents, or exceptions could lessen the impact of sight on the process of learning.
We do not think in words or numbers, but our mind thinks in pictures or natural forms and shapes present in the surrounding environment. To communicate facts, figures, and ideas, visual presentation is the most effective medium.
Transportation System for Lame Persons (Crutches)
by Ravi Poovaiah
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by Ravi Poovaiah
A handicap is a defect representing a decrease in or loss of ability to perform various functions, particularly those of the musculoskeletal system and sense organs. An external aid or device is essential for the mobility of a lame person. This would help him acquire more personal freedom and improve his physical functions. The number of lame people exceeds 7 million in our country. This denotes the gravity of the situation. The majority of these disabled people come from severely poor economic conditions. Hence, what they can afford to invest in and maintain as an external device is also the bare minimum.
Many parts of our man-made environment were not designed for any person at all but merely engineered down through time by new materials and methods. Architects, designers, and planners have taken advantage of the apparently unlimited ability of the human being to tolerate discomfort and inconvenience. The concept of fitting the activity of the equipment to meet the needs of the human being rather than vice versa is not very much applied anywhere, particularly in India.
Design of Indicating Stem for Domestic Gas Cylinder
by M. N. Narvankar
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by M. N. Narvankar
Keeping the home fires burning these days is no simple task, specifically when the housewife is at the mercy of our cooking gas suppliers. It is hard to fathom how the time taken to deliver a fresh cylinder ranges from a few hours to even a few days. Sometimes the agents are known to tell the customer that they could get their cylinder if they could collect it themselves.
Some consumers complain that their cylinders are underfilled. This can happen if there is connivance between the consumers and the delivery boys. These boys can take a cylinder used by a conniving customer for, say, 5 days and deliver it to another unsuspecting customer as "full." Meanwhile, the conniving customer gets another full cylinder (meant for someone else) for consideration, and this can continue depending on the degree of connivance. Hence, there is a need to develop an indicating device that will:
Give an indication (warning) about the quantity of gas left in the cylinder.
Check the quantity of gas in the cylinder when it is supplied.
It is believed that the gas companies have received several samples of pressure gauges or some other devices to ascertain when the gas is getting over, but none of these are said to be accurate. Certain electronic devices are said to help in this matter but are beyond the reach of the average customer. Hence, there is a pressing need to design an accurate and cheap indicating device to ascertain the quantity of gas in the cylinder.
Design of an Instant Shelter (Instant Structure)
by Sanjay Ektate
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by Sanjay Ektate
Shelter ranks among the three basic needs of a human being. Although architects have tried to improve the living conditions in buildings and houses for the last few centuries, few attempts were made to improve the conditions of smaller houses or huts, or those of instant shelters, or rescue shelters, as they are sometimes called. Instant shelters are needed for construction workers (such as those working on big dams, telephone lines, and high-tension lines), for military purposes where they can serve as semi-permanent posts (instead of the usual tents), or for refugees fleeing flood havoc, earthquakes, etc.
The attempt therefore is to design a shelter that can be used for a period of more than one year, which can be erected very easily with better living conditions (e.g., improved ventilation) than the usual huts, or design a system for building a better shelter complex.
Design of Paper Cutting Machine
by A. A. Mahindrakar
by A. A. Mahindrakar
In the present age, paper is used extensively in every sphere of life. Paper is defined as “all kinds of matted or felted sheet of fibre formed on wire screen from water suspension." It includes all types of papers, ranging from the thinnest tissue paper to the heaviest board. The papers and paperboats coming out of the paper mills have to be further cut for everyone’s requirements. Much of the further cutting work is done in printing presses. But many times people in design offices, drawing offices, colleges, stationary marts, etc. feel the need for a paper-cutting machine to meet their individual variant requirements. The guillotine press used in printing presses is too costly and too bulky to be used in design offices. Moreover, guillotine machines are large-capacity machines suitable for mass production. At present, ordinary knives, razor blades, Stanley knives, or Kilburn cutters are being used in design offices and paper stationary marts. But these instruments are insufficient to fulfil the purpose.
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Redesign of Domestic Electrical Hardware
by Anupam Gupta
by Anupam Gupta
Redesign of Domestic Electrical Hardware- elaborating the title the first word that comes up is redesign. Redesign because a number of designs exist. Domestic implies that it is to be used exclusively at places of domicile or residency. Electrical means pertaining to electricity. Hardware originally meant “Ironmongers” products. Now they mean all products sold by a ‘Hardware’ merchant. So the problem is one of redesigning electrical equipment such as wiring equipment, plugs, sockets etc. Even a superficial examination of existing products reveals many flows which quite inexplicably exist in almost all the designs presently in the market. As the product itself exists and is extremely common place past experience reveals that the existing designs have many times failed to perform the function due to defects in design.
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Design of Vacuum Coating Plant
by C. B. Suresh Babu
by C. B. Suresh Babu
Industrial design, relatively new discipline is often misunderstood as a decorative design imparting importance only to the visual and formal qualities of a product. In fact, it is not merely a formal conception but rather the solution of a more complex problem. It does not accept the structure and mechanism as limits within which its solution must be developed. An industrial designer’s background in engineering, ergonomics, innovation, economy and aesthetics enables him to design a product which is most acceptable to the user as well as the producer. In the design of heavy machineries and scientific equipments like vaccum coating plant, the innovative and human engineering aspects of industrial design can play a very significant role. In other words, it works with an intuitive sense of materials, for structure: for the economics of product use maintenance and replacement: and for the organization of elements into significant sensory patterns.
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Design of Sugarcane Crusher
by Dilip M. Shah
by Dilip M. Shah
The sugarcane crusher being considered as it exists today is used for extracting sugarcane juice, which is a popular drink both in urban and rural areas. In rural areas, bullock-driven, engine-driven, and electric motor-driven crushers are used as the scale is much larger. There it is basically used for the manufacture of raw sugar and jiggery. The drink is not the basic aim. It is a tool that provides a very low investment mode of self-employment to people and is quite profitable, though it is limited to the uneducated class only. The problem of redesigning occurs because it is felt that the present system is chaotically complex. It presents a very complicated and mechanical impression. From the looks of it, it appears unhygienic. No ergonomical factors have been considered in the present design. It is also felt necessary to increase the aesthetic value, reduce the cost, and make its operation easier.
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Toys for Pre-school Children-Pram-cum-Stroller
by H. V. Bhasin
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by H. V. Bhasin
Children’s early years are vitally important, and in these years they need maximum comforts, attention, and plenty of things and people to play with. Some experts even go as far as to insist that a child’s essential characteristics are irrevocably formed by the time he is five. Young parents of today are well aware of these needs. In every growing family, from which ever income group, one could always find some form of equipment for the comfort of the young children and along with that some playthings too. The type of equipment or toys may differ from one income group to another. Choice is often limited by the family resources and space in or around home.
The economic condition of an average family in India, as it is today, limits the parents ability to buy what they consider most essential for them and for their children. So buying of toys is most affected as most parents tend to give more importance to the physical comfort that they or their children can get rather than to buy toys for their children, more so as children lose interest in a toy very soon. Most often, the attempt is to improvise or make toys at home.
Design of Barber’s Chair (Saloon Chair)
by Himanshu Sekhar Chouhan
by Himanshu Sekhar Chouhan
Indian society accepts barbers as a class, and their traditional profession still exists, with an exception that may be urban cities. The pattern of this profession is totally traditional in rural areas and thus differs from cities, where it becomes either self-involved or essentially business-oriented. In spite of the fact that the fashion of sporting long hairs has caught up with men, this hasn’t in any way reduced the barber’s job potential. In fact, his work has become more specialised as a hairdresser. The barber wants his livelihood and to keep up his traditional profession. Customer pays more and demands comfort. No more, he can ask his customer to sit on the roadside. He wants a decent and clean saloon with necessary gadgets—a saloon chair, mirrors, instruments, aprons, a waste box, a waiting bench, and a few magazines.
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Design of a Portable Nail Driving Machine for Packaging
by M. K. Kulkarni
by M. K. Kulkarni
In every engineering, medical, chemical, or textile industry, the goods are packed to transport them from industry to consumer. Packaging of wooden cases involves nailing. In all the industries, nailing is done manually by hammer. Generally, for the other operations and processes, some kind of machine or instrument is used to improve speed and operating convenience. The nailers in the packaging section of the industry are nailing constantly for eight hours, which causes strain to their hands. So there is a need to make the nailing operation easy by some means. There are some automatic nailing machines, but the rate of making boxes is higher, which is not needed. Secondly, its cost is high, which an average industry cannot afford just for nailing.
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Design of First Aid Kit
by Neera Adarkar
by Neera Adarkar
Today the need for first aid is greater than ever. Populations are growing throughout the world, and the increased use of mechanical and electrical appliances in everyday use at home, at work, and at play places puts more and more people at risk of injury. Aims of first aid, especially in the industries, are to ensure as rapid and complete a return of function as possible and to reduce to a minimum unavoidable period of absence from the work due to injury. First aid is emergency treatment of the casualty provided immediately after the injury. But most of the industries do not satisfy this basic requirement of the temporary, immediate, and efficient treatment. The fault lies with the inadequate training as well as with the unhygienic first aid box. Coupled with this is the mentality of the society, which is not conducive to proper hygienic treatment. It was felt that to a certain extent, a hygienic attitude could be developed and proper treatment encouraged by a well-designed first aid kit.
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Designing of Interior of Railway Coach
by P. K. Narain
by P. K. Narain
Transportation and travel are the set of activities involved with the movement of passengers and goods into, out of, and within rural and urban areas. Travelling is an essential ingredient in the functioning of our society, which has a great variety of functions with social, cultural, political, and military repercussions. India, being a vast country, has seven different zonal railways, and all of them cover a long range of distances, requiring two or more nights for travel. Basically, however, the problem is a lack of a well-equipped transit system and availability of accommodation for the common people. The present system neither functions properly nor operates at the expected level. Railways being the major source of revenue, there exists a need for regional arrangements and planning to bring innovative improvements in moving people and goods within our technological capabilities.
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Storage cum Partitioning System for Offices
by S. M. Josh
by S. M. Josh
Man is envolved in environment from the most basic expression of the family unit, a shelter, through the educational process with its structure and facility to services that have evolved for his care in times of sickness, even to the places in which he seeks entertainment. Home, school, hospital, museum, factory, and office are integral parts of man’s environment. Environment either adds or detracts from man’s dignity. The office is the most important environment in which one works because it is one of the largest expressions of the human organization. It is in the office that the acceleration of change is most dynamic. For most of us, office environment is a fact and not a matter of individual choice. Therefore, it is the responsibility of management to create the environment necessary to fulfil not only the role of the organisation but also the bio/socio needs of the individual.
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Design of Rucksack
by Sanjeev Nabar
by Sanjeev Nabar
Climbing in the Himalayas is a challenge for a mountaineer. A visit to the Indian mountains is the ultimate aim in his mountaineering career. Every year, hundreds of foreigners visit India for mountaineering. Even in India, hiking and mountaineering are very popular sports. There are three mountaineering institutes and a number of registered mountaineering clubs. In colleges, there are hiking clubs. Even then, India is still the least developed of all gear used in the mountains. Why this anomaly? First, mountaineering equipment manufacturers tend to be rather small firms with few or no research facilities. Second, there is a lack of feedback from research organisations to these firms. Third, there are little or no research organisations for these firms. Third, there is little or no research with respect to the Indian environment to suit the Indian climate, structure, and capacity of an Indian mountaineer. There is some research done by the Indian army, but the outcome of the research is not made available to common people. Carrying the load on the back, or “backpacking,” is the most important phase for a hiker or a mountaineer. The comfort, safety, and convenience of equipment are his main concerns.
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Design of Cooking Platform
by Sulakshana Oke
by Sulakshana Oke
The standing cooking platform is not very new concept in India today. Though it has become very common in upper-class people and new housing projects do plan a standing worktop, the old style of cooking is as common as before in the lower middle class. The standing cooking platform has very many advantages. The main advantage is safety. There was a survey carried out by a hospital group in Bombay a few years ago to find out the causes of accidents in the kitchen. The results showed that the majority of accidents occur where there are no cooking platforms but cooking is done on the ground. Cooking on the ground is not safe for the housewife, who has to bend and reach over the stove for shelves. On the other hand, it is not safe for young children either. Besides safety, the standing-type kitchen platform is found more convenient; the movements are faster and easier. It does not occupy large space, which is very important in a city like Bombay where the houses are far too overcrowded.
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