Craftsmen. (by designer) - Robin Makwana

Craft in India is existing long back, we just have a clue how it started and flourished. But the reason it is linked with the history, it is a part of us. Now the relation of the craft with the real world is very technical.

Now if we observe the process used by them is related to the one which we use now. Because it the parental process which has lead us to this stage. But the case is the some process has changed according to the situation. The process which we use now is very machine oriented, and investment in machine is different from that in human and craftsmen. People now a days prefer things which are easily available and they have an opportunity to make a choice from. So the level of satisfaction is higher then that of the product which is single and only available in the market.

I think that is the reason which makes this crafts rare. Now if in case we start replicating the product of the craft with the help of the modern process then the feel and the content of the craft will be lost, so it has to be excepted the way it. Now another case is making the craftsperson to use the latest technology will also disturb them, but this comes in consideration when there is a level of acceptances which is not their. I think that they are little rigid in what they do.

And another thing which I have observed in these crafts is that, there are very little things that you can do with it maintaining the level of work and its content, the moment you try something different from the process then it is very difficult to relate it with the craft, it is something else.

It is because of some people, community or government that this crafts are still existing or else I think they would have vanished.

Designer. (to craftsmen)
As a designer what I can do is make their place of working more favourable so that they can work for longer time and with more energy.

Another thing which I do, use some pictures to show them which are mounted at some places in their environment were they can see them easily and also which they like. This pictures will be having the content of the thing which I want to reflect in their work, then we can definitely get some effective result.

As a designer I would like to do minor changes in their tools which does not make them feel that it is new to them, but their regular one. The changes can be the ergonomics of the tools and some material.