Exploring Sustainability through India Centric Lens
Exploring Sustainability through India Centric Lens
The Collective - Issue 01 Vol. 01
Designing Emotionally Resonant Cities: The Balance of Sustainability & Practicality in Urban India
Cover Story
The towering skyscrapers and contemporary structures that dominate our cityscapes might impress with their sheer grandeur, but do they truly resonate with our climate, lifestyle, and cultural values? Shouldn't our cities be more than just functional spaces? Should they not inspire a sense of belonging, connection, and bonds with nature?
The sustainable building and living techniques of our ancestors, present the opportunity to create a future that honors our natural existence while embracing innovation. Who does not like the idea of having a neighborhood designed to capture cool breezes, buildings adorned with intricate latticework that filters sunlight, and green spaces that provide respite from the concrete jungle? But how sustainable is the idea of using ‘sustainable’ building techniques?
Sustainable architecture as is understood and popularised by the ‘purist’ architects has its own shortfalls and challenges which are very practical. It might look like a fancy idea to ‘experience once in a lifetime’ however it fails to catch the interest of…
Print & Play games teaching sustainable aquaculture to farmers in rural India
Case Study
In the heart of rural Assam and Odisha, where cultures and ethnicities are as diverse as the landscape itself, we've undertaken an inspiring mission: designing board games that teach sustainable aquaculture techniques to farming communities. Why? Because we firmly believe in the transformative power of games – the power to inspire, educate, and connect.
During the initial research, we soon realized that in India games serve more than just a thing to while your time away. They're a bridge that brings people together, strengthens bonds, and forms an integral part of the local culture.
However, implementing interventions in these remote regions is a logistical challenge. Our aim was simple - to make learning accessible to all, regardless of gender, location, or available resources. That's where the Print-and-Play idea came into the picture. Print-and-play means precisely what it sounds like – it's a method that allows one to print game components like a game board, pegs, dice, etc. on any A4 printer or photocopy machine. This makes it accessible for NGOs and other implementation partners to source and distribute these games within the community.
It was no small feat to envision each game artifact crafted from basic A4 paper. Our designers faced the unique challenge of ensuring that game pieces, like pegs, remain stable even in open fields. This journey has been one of creativity, resilience, and a deep commitment to empowering rural communities.
This young designer is harnessing traditional craft for community-based environmental and cultural conservation in the Eastern Himalayas.
People
Namrata Tiwari is a multi-disciplinary designer and social entrepreneur, currently with one foot in Assam and another in Arunachal Pradesh. She is also the founder of ‘Its all Folk’ a social innovation and artisanal enterprise working in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Her practice covers a wide range of paths from textile, fashion, human-centered design to social entrepreneurship. She has consciously shifted from fashion to social design over the course of her 10-year career as her understanding of intersectionality evolved.
Early in her career, Namrata realized that the fashion industry has an equity and sustainability problem! Subsequently, she left her job in fashion at the age of twenty-six and moved to work in Shillong, a city in Meghalaya in Northeast India…
Driving into the future: Unveiling challenges in adoption of electric mobility
Commentary
Thanks to advancements in technology and multiple companies rolling out e-scooters, we have a lot of options coming with higher range, nifty features and Government subsidies as well. Though, there is a burning question to ask, “how can we charge it while on the road?”
Curious, I started digging and found…
