OBJECTS FOR OBJECTS
Objects abound in the world around us - found objects, created objects, visible objects and unseen objects. In understanding these objects - their form, purpose, use, material - we sometimes need to consider the interrelation between objects. In this section, our entry point to exploration were certain objects, such as the matka, the cashbox, the matchbox, etc. However, in our research, we navigated the perspectives of the various stakeholders in these ecosystems, and eventually became makers ourselves. Each designer has sought to create a new object, which hopes to bring about a paradigm shift in these ecosystems – whether through creating an educational tool to spread awareness, recasting existing materials for a different use, or introducing equipment to aid in production.
OBJECTS
FOR
OBJECTS
Mitti Water Filter
gargi
Mitti Water Filter
The starting point of Gargi's exploration was the matka. She considered the makers of matkas, i.e. the potter community, and their relative place in today's society. Noting that the demand for mud pots has waned in today's plastic world, Gargi has attempted to recast the materials and skills of the potter community and channeled it into making a water filter. The product has three levels of filter to remove particles and pathogens to make the water safe for drinking, through an eco-friendly process.
Protective Gear for Incense Stick Makers
In the process of production, we forget to acknowledge how "safe" these processes are for the makers of these objects. With the matchbox as the initial object of inquiry, Poorvi explored the health risks for workers involved in manufacturing matchboxes, and similar products like incense sticks and fireworks. She then designed prototypes of customized protective gear for the women working in an incense stick manufacturing unit. The apron protects the skin from the chemical powder used to coat the incense sticks. A cuff of plastic is to make it easy to brush off the powder. The mask prevents the same from entering the respiratory system. The prototypes have been made using cotton but the actual gear will be made upcycling existing materials that the incense stick workers have easy access to, which also served to reduce cost of manufacture.
Protective Gear
poorvi
Bulls & Bears
Radhika
Bulls & Bears: The Stock Trading Game
Radhika's object of inquiry was the cashbox - which came to mean financial systems at large, in today's society. She was inspired by the idea of teaching through games, and her background in finance, to develop an interactive board game that teaches children about the workings of the financial system and stock markets. The game aims to introduce these relatively complex concepts to children of age 11 and above, and hopes to aid understanding through experiential learning. Bulls and Bears is a 6 player stock trading game, where each player is an investor. Players have to invest in the stock market and earn maximum returns, through smart investment strategies.
The Portable Backrest
What goes into the making of an object? The starting point of Shruti's exploration was the matchbox, one such throwaway object which does not betray the labour and conditions that go into making it. Typically, the makers are women, and they are accorded the least value in the production chain, especially in the vast unorganized sector. The Portable Backrest is Shruti's attempt to ease the discomfort of long hours of sitting on the ground during the process of hand rolling incense sticks. The endeavour was to create a cost-effective, water resistant object using scrap material to provide back support and reduce lower back pain. The backrest can also be folded up and carried from place to place – potentially usable in the home.
The Portable Backrest
Shruti