Designing the future

The seventh edition of ‘Design x Design’ exhibition showcasing works of designers from across the country presents philosophies, methodologies and inspirations of designers and architects working on several aspects of architectural design, industrial and product design, graphic and communication design, and apparel and textile design. “There is a need to communicate with the society at large about the role of designers — as makers of cultures and indeed civilisations,” says Iftikhar-mulk Chishti, the curator of 20 under 35, Design X Design exhibition 7.

The exhibition this year is showcasing the works of 20 young designers and design houses.

A design a day
While exploring easier ways to cook and eat healthy, designer Pavithra Dikshit started designing her salads as well. “I would first make the salad, and then I would also design it as a paper salad. This project made me connect my personal life with my work. It also kept challenging me to keep the salad ingredients and ideas fresh and innovative. I experimented with almost 40 new recipes,” she shares.

The highly motivational project, A salad a day, has also been self-published by her under the title Discipline.

Visual resistance
It is not easy to market visual art that has a message behind it. There are very few takers. But in times like these, it is inescapable. Even if I turn myself off to the things that are happening around me by switching off all forms of media, they are not going to stop affecting me,” shares Deepikah R Bhardwaj who is a motion designer.

Working with typography, stop motion and illustration, she is using it as a visual commentary to talk about gender issues, environment and culture. “I started working on different projects but my own journey made me work for these issues in particular,” she adds.

Differently designed
Keeping in mind the needs of differently-abled people, design studio Gudgudee by Anjali Menon and Aditi Agarwal, innovates and experiments with play installations where children of all abilities can play together. “This idea developed when we were visiting a school in Ahmedabad. We noticed that differently-abled children were not able to play in the school ground. We developed a few concepts as a part of the design course in our college. But the principal liked it so much, it became a real project,” shares Anjali.

The duo bagged the iF concept design award in 2013 for their play space design at the Blind People’s Association, Ahmedabad. They are also working towards making public places and designs more inclusive of people with different needs.

Creative upcycling
Products by Punahveen are exploring the idea of reviving old materials. “While recycling is breaking down the material and making it into a new raw material, in upcycling you are using the discarded material to create new material,” shares Bhawna Weltulkar, who started the design company last year with Abhishek Srivastava.

They not only make their own products but also provide tailored solutions and conduct workshops in schools and colleges. For example, doodling on bottles can give them a whole new life. It can be used as a utility item in different ways as well as a decorative piece. “The problem with upcycling is that many people think of these products as second-hand or not good enough. In our workshops, we try to change this mentality and encourage people to upcycle.”

One of the items on display, an upcycled tyre made into a chair is a fine example of an upcycled yet desirable product. “The middle class and upper middle class have been practicing upcycling for a long time, it is a very old concept but people seem to have forgotten it now. We are working to bringing it back with better ideas and concepts,” she adds.