Prof. Kumar Vyas
An Influential Workfolio: The Design Collections of Kumar Vyas
The influential works of Kumar Vyas at NID helped in directing a new take on the ‘Bauhaus/Ulm’ approach to design. With time, the ideas and methods were invaded by the Indian manufacture and production, ranging from traditional craftsmanship to large-scale projects for the space industry.
As a practitioner and educator, Vyas believed in the power of Appropriate Technology vis-à-vis the often ignored objective of incorporating sustainable practices in those times of mass manufacturing. The method formed a solid and sustainable base of professional practice in designing products and systems at NID.
During his time at NID, he continuously pushed new boundaries, exploring, introducing, and developing new materials for design studies in the country. These became extremely consequential in expanding a national design movement that could use learning materials relevant to the Indian environment along with a load of resources from overseas. These efforts of his gave to design practice and education the needed transformations. At NID, he was among the first to introduce and practice the concepts of design apprenticeships and mentoring – giving students a direct project experience by involving them as resource partners in the act of designing. His inventory of direct experience-based methods to understand people and their needs; taught students the pragmatic approach to design as a value-based field. In the writings of Late Prof. Ranjan in his blog [11], at NID, during the evening discussions after design classes; with the Product Design students and those from Graphics and Textiles reflected upon different threads of pedagogy that were being explored at NID by the various departments and each was informed by the specific positions of the selected consultants and visiting faculty who were involved in those programmes.
H K Vyas conducting class at NID in 1967 and Exhibition at NID of basic design work done in the first Product Design programme in 1969 and GIRNAR scooter designed by H K Vyas and Sudha Nadkarni with J A Panchal in 1969 | Image Courtesy: NID Archives
These great contributions to design education and teaching earned him international recognition with the Sir Misha Black Medal (2011) [13] for his distinguishing contribution to the fields of design service and design education.
“He was an inspiration to the design fraternity and had been a regular on-campus until last year. Having been part of the institute's founding team, he continued to mentor and inspire design students and young design faculty even after he retired from active service at NID,” said Pradyumna Vyas, Former Director NID (2009 – 2019).
“Kumar’s interest in Design Education was immense. In the 70s, every time he visited IDC, he would come and ask if any new design exercise has been introduced. He was keen to know from me and Atto (prof. Uday Athavankar) how Students respond to these basic design tasks,” as expressed by Professor A.G. Rao in his tribute - Homage to Prof.Kumar Vyas (1929-2017) Father of Indian Design Education [14].