Craft as a Post Modern Design Venture: Experiences in Bambo Craft

Craft as a Post Modern Design Venture: Experiences in

Bambo Craft

Rao, Ananthapuram G., Dr.; Industrial Design Centre/ Indian Institute of

Technology/ Bombay, India

Com formação em Engenharia Mecânica e pósgraduação em design pela National Institute of

Design de Ahmedabad, prof Rao é colaborador do Centro de Design Industrial no Indian
Institute of Technology, Bombay há quase 40 anos. É fundador do Bamboo Studio no IIT
onde desenvolve pesquisas e projetos a partir do uso do bambu, material pelo qual tem um
interesse especial por sua característica ecofriendly e pela tradição de seu uso em milhares de
famílias na Índia. Desenvolve um trabalho para “reposicionar” o bambu artesanal através do
design qualificando produtos para que cheguem a zonas urbanas e mercados de exportação.

Abstract

Industrial design was built on the foundation of Arts and Crafts, which was well integrated at
Bauhaus, giving craft a new status. The roots of craft were weakened with the advent of
Industrialization. Modern design with its emphasis on industrial production prevailed. A new
Aesthetics based on industrial processes emerged forming the base of modern industrial
design. But today in the age of Post modern era, Crafts are acquiring a new meaning for
Design. Craft as a post modern Venture offers a new scope for Designers in creative
expression. The post modern requirements of Society like decentralization of production
setup, creative participation of the worker, equal participation of Women, Sustainable eco
friendly ventures and Quality and Concern in reaching to the User offers a new opportunity
for Design. Post Modern design is trying to evolve as a practicable venture. Repositioning of
craft with appropriate blend of latest technologies provides a means for practice of
postmodern Design. Taking bamboo craft in which 10.5 million craft persons are engaged in
India alone, the paper brings out the role of design with examples of work done at bamboo
studio of Industrial design Centre at IIT Bombay in past 10years. Possibilities of developing a
new theoretical frame work for practice of postmodern design are further emulated.

8º Congresso Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Design