Designing Freedom

Designing Freedom
By Poonam Bir Kasturi, Bangalore INDIA

"To summarise the points made against craft –
1. Craft is an old, inefficient way of production
2. Craft is not and should not be an important item on the national agenda
3. Technology is the most important tool we have to “solve” our problems not craft.
4. Craftsmen don’t have a great image of their own work (perhaps of themselves too?) they wouldn’t want their children to work as they do.
5. The best thing to do is to turn it into a tourist attraction – nothing more.
6. Current Indian craft is mostly kitsch, non-utilitarian.
This list highlights a perception shared by a large group of people as well as the policy makers – it seems to be the current construct in India surrounding craft."


"...as Amartya Sen (1999) says, we need to include them:
“An adequate approach of development cannot really be so centered only on those in power. The reach has to be broader, and the need for popular participation is not just sanctimonious rubbish. Indeed, the idea of development cannot be dissociated from it.” "

"I started asking questions like – “Is there a different way for design to engage with craft?” “What can design contribute to craft – apart from just ‘packaged designs’ for others to thoughtlessly reproduce?” "

"Myth 1
“Craftspeople can’t be expected to design contemporary products; they need to link up with someone who has an exposure to the urban and international markets”."

"Myth 2
“Craftspeople need to be trained in skills and new technologies.” "

"Myth 3
We must gear up to increase export – it is finally the best market for Indian Craft (look at our software industry)"

"Myth 4
Craft is antiquated – needs to get in line with the 21sth century"



To read the entire paper, please visit.... http://www.playnspeak.com/finalpaper.pdf


Poonam Bir Kasturi. (Unknown). Designing Freedom. Available: http://www.playnspeak.com/finalpaper.pdf. Last accessed 18 July 2008.