Templates for Craft Research and Documentation

Template for submission of document (Hard and soft copy)

General guidelines:

Objectives –
· To document the various crafts and handloom textiles of India
· To gather information regarding the traditional communities of makers and users, craft clusters and significance of the craft/
objects/ textiles
· To understand the evolution of the craft and the reasons for the same
· To provide the information regarding the crafts and textile, craftspeople and NGOs to various stakeholders

Document Format –
a. The print and soft copies of the document should follow the structure provided below.
b. Each document should be checked for plagiarism and the report should be sent separately to HO with the document.
c. All Print documents should be hard bound with cover jackets and in duplicate.
d. Each document should have between 70-100 pages and 40-60 images.
e. All images included in the document should also be sent separately in Tiff format with the same caption as in document.
f. One hard copy has to be sent to HO and one to be maintained in each campus.
g. All soft copies should be in PDF format.

Structure of the document:

S. No. Chapter Title Chapter to include Guidelines and suggested questions for
in depth research
1. Document Jacket The best image may be used along with the
 title of document
2. Title page a. Title (Given title (with sub title, if any) of
the document)
b. Student(s)/ Researcher(s) (Name(s) of
the students/ researchers)
c. Faculty Guide/Mentor (Name(s) of the
faculty with honorifics)
d. Year of submission (only year in Indo-
Arabic numerals)
e. Academic Dept. (Full name of the
academic dept.)
f. Name of the campus of NIFT
3. Copyright page a) Copyright information to be presented
(Back of the title as: (….desired statement to be included
page) here……………….)
b) Other credits for photography,
illustration, text, etc. e.g., Photography:
name of the student/researcher;
Illustrator: name of the illustrator
c) Copyright year
4 Acknowledgement 50-100 words
5. Abstract A summary of report – 100-200 words
6. Contents page a) Serial Number (optional) (s. no.
(numerals only))
b) Title (of the Section/Part/Chapter)
c) Page no. (numerals only)
7. List of Images a. Image no. or ID (numerals only)
b. Caption of the image
c. Page no. (numerals only)
8. Glossary For non-English words (in italics),
abbreviations, acronyms, codes, etc.
9. Background and Information on origin of the craft, geographic Provide historical, social and cultural data on
Provenance area and ethnographic community/ies etc. the craft including information on the cultural
(About 4000 words) lineage and tradition of the craft.

Indicate the dispersion of the craft

communities working with this craft process
on a detailed map of the region and indicate
the location on the map of India.

10. About the Craft(s) Product Describe the size, shape, colour, texture and
Raw Materials material of craft product
Tools and Equipment
Techniques of Production Pre Production Process
Pre production and post production processes · What raw materials are used? What is the
method of preparing the raw material?
· Provide a brief description for each
material.
· What are the local terms for the raw
material? Where do you buy/source these
materials?
· How much of these materials can be
collected at one time?
· What, if any, problems encountered in
collecting these materials?
· Describe the preparation for making the
product in the work area.
· What are the tools used? Record the size,
and material. Photograph the tools together
and separately.
· What is their local name?
· Have new tools been introduced? If so,
what was the old tool? How has the new
tool changed production processes?
· Who makes the tools? Can they be
purchased from the local market and what
is the present price?
· How is the tool maintained and by who?
How often?
· Describe the preparations, if any done for
the exercise
· How much time is spent in each step?
· How do they test that the material is now
ready?
· How do they store prepared material?
· Are there alternative materials?

Production Process
· Ask for a live demonstration, if possible, to
record the process step by step, describing
in detail each step of the process.
 · If the work is gender-based what is the
division of labour? What work is each one
doing? What tools are used? Record the
size, and material. Photograph the tools
and equipment.
· Have new tools been introduced? If so,
what was the old tool? How has the new
tool changed production processes?
· Who makes the tools? Can they be
purchased from the local market and what
is the present price?
· What is the primary work area?
· What is sequence in which materials are
put together?

Record the after treatment, finishing,

decoration
11. Design Motifs Characteristics of the Craft design and
Design- origin and evolution product
Colours · Are there common or repeated motifs used
in the craft? What is their symbolism?
· Are these inspired from the surroundings or
are there other influences on design or
motifs?
· Record the evolution of designs and motifs,
if any.
12. Significance Social, cultural or/and ritual significance, if any · Is the craft traditionally utilitarian, or socio-
cultural, and or religious? Has the
traditional use changed? If so, what is the
new use for the craft?

13. Product Usage, packaging · How do local people use the craft
products?
Look at the packaging for sale and for
transportation for marketing (In case of
fragile or heavy products)

14. About the makers Profile of few Craftspeople · Length of involvement with the craft.
· What is your area of specialty?
· How long have you been practicing?
· Where were you trained, with whom and
for how long?
· What are you currently producing?
· Do you teach others, and or pass on skills
within your family?
15. Product Quality Quality control and assurance · Ask the artisan to describe a good product
and note explanation.
· Ask if you can see a product that has
failed, and one that is perfect. Note
differences.
· Record the artisan’s evaluation of a failed
product.
· What could go wrong?
· Why does this happen? Note down the
processes that have led to the failure,
some examples may be poor quality
material, or poor quality production
process.

16. Markets and Traditional and existing markets Where is the main market for the sale of the
marketing product? Has it always been traded? What
channels were the traditional trading communities?
Has this changed?

17. Issues and SWOT analysis Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and

Challenges Threats- faced by the crafts, craftspeople
and the cluster
18. Database of Name, address, profession, Specify- weaver, warp maker, dyer, printer,
Artisans Numbers of years of experience, potter, carpenter etc.
Telephone or mobile no.
19. Database of NGOs Name of the contact person Nature of work- Mobilization, Design,
Associated with Address, marketing, market intelligence, health care,
craft in the region Numbers of years of existence education etc.
Telephone or mobile no.

20. References Use Harvard style (both here and in text)
To categorize alphabetically. If more than one
article from same author referred then to
categorize year wise with earliest first.
The Harvard citation style for the list of
references/reference list has multiple
institutional and stylistic variations followed
world over. 
You may follow the one given below for your
reference:

The names are arranged in alphabetical

order. You may arrange the references as:

A. Books
a) Second name, first name, Name of the
book, Publisher, Place of Publication, Year
of Publication
Example: Mehta Rustam. J, Masterpieces
of Indian Textiles, D. B. Taraporevala
Sons & Co. Pvt. Ltd., Bombay, 1984.

b)In-text citation - Author's last name, Year

of publication, page no., if reference is to a
specific page 
Example: Mehta, 1984, p123
 B. Journals & Magazines -Second name
first name, Title, Name of the Journal, page
numbers, (issue) year of publication
Example: Mehta Rustam. J, Masterpieces
of Indian Textiles, Femina , 27-29, (6)
1984. c)

C. Catalogues
Name of the Catalogue, Publisher, and year
of publication

D. Websites
URL of the exact page of website (accessed
on…… (Date))

IMPORTANT POINTS FOR STUDENTS ON CLUSTER VISIT

Copyright - All photographs, research, writing and any other aspects associated with the cluster will be the sole property of NIFT.
1. Maintain a learning diary to record daily activities (include time of visits, exact location, details of craftsmen and other people
interviewed, observations).
2. Maintain notes on images with clear designation of location, and subject, to avoid confusion later in sorting and labelling the
image.
3. Please cite the source for all content. Craftsmen full name and contact details to be provided.
4. When interviewing craftsmen, please note the local name of the weave/ print/ embroidery stitch, the process, the material
content, the dyes, the client it was made for, and the cluster.
 5. Create a glossary of vernacular terms as you go along.

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

1. Take due consent from the artisans/ craftspeople before taking photographs of their homes, children, women, costumes etc.
2. Photographs should be clear, high resolution and well lit, so that the subject matter is visible and the photograph can be
reproduced in a publication.
3. Take images of the cluster – topography, settlement patterns, architecture, local markets, infrastructure, other sources of
livelihood, costume/dress.
4. Take images of the working area and facilities.
5. Also shoot all workspaces, various tools, materials and equipment used in the craft.
6. Record images of every step of the process with details wherever relevant.