NEW DELHI, Sept 7: The Northern Regional Office of the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, organised a seminar of empanelled designers at Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan, New Delhi, to identify field-level challenges faced by artisans and explore design-led approaches to improving their incomes.
Regional Director (Handicrafts) Virendra Kumar welcomed participants and highlighted the role of designers in converting traditional skills into innovative, market-oriented products. Director (Handicrafts) Seema Mishra stressed the importance of design documentation and market surveys to ensure products developed under the Design & Technology Scheme remained commercially viable.
Designers raised concerns over the existing designer fee and sought provisions for sustainable income opportunities. Mishra encouraged them to adopt entrepreneurial approaches, build market networks and develop exclusive products in partnership with artisans.
Dr Bindoo Ranjan, Professor at the University School of Design and Innovation, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, spoke on design-led innovative models for artisan income enhancement. She introduced the seven principles of social design — Sundar, Sahaj, Sasta, Samajik, Sanskritik, Samman and Satat — emphasising aesthetics, practicality, affordability, social participation, cultural preservation, dignity and sustainability.
Nidhi, Deputy Director (Design & Documentation), National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy, stressed the need to balance contemporary designs with traditional identity. She highlighted craft fusion, artisan-led understanding and visits to craft repositories as tools for meaningful design innovation.
The seminar also featured group consultations on challenges in Design & Technical Development Workshops. Designers presented recommendations on production constraints, quality improvement, diversification, technology adoption, packaging, waste management and market access.
Nighat Sofi, designer engaged with the Handicrafts Service Centre, Srinagar, presented the Willow Wicker Craft design workshop, highlighting buyer participation during prototype development to align products with market requirements.
The recommendations emerging from the seminar will be consolidated and placed before the Head of the Department for consideration and possible incorporation into scheme guidelines and implementation procedures.
