Earth Wave is currently writing content about the western ghats for their website. Also, the 'Explore' section of Earth Wave deals with adventure camps in the same region. For my explorations based on the 'nature' theme, we at Flip decided that I take inspiration from the flora and fauna of the western ghats.

I have done some research about the same, and started making sketches. Here are some of my initial sketches:







Here are some drawings that I think could be used as motifs for embroidery in plain chain stitch or running stitch:

Diploma Project Proposal

Diploma Project Proposal: Shailee Adke

Client: EarthWave, Fl!P design, Bangalore

CONTEXT:

EarthWave is an initiative by Flip Design, a Bangalore-based multi-disciplinary design studio. It is committed to promoting ideas for a more sustainable way of living leading to a green, clean Earth and endeavors to provide environment-friendly services and products that will help people gradually adopt sustainability as a lifestyle choice. The first phase is to spread this awareness among youth (ages 7-17 years). They intend to provide simple, low effort, high impact ideas that lead towards a more eco-responsible lifestyle.

DESIGN BRIEF:

EarthWave has designed a special line of products -- furniture for children belonging to the age group of 5 to 12 years. The products are eco-friendly and locally produced and are made entirely of bamboo ply. The furniture is theme based and is currently being developed at the Flip design studio. There are two themes namely ‘Nature’ and ‘Adventure.’

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” - Plato (429-347 B.C.) The themes and the furniture are based on the ‘play therapy.’

My project is about designing and developing a series of soft furniture and furnishings for children’s rooms, based on the above themes. The project includes developing prints, patterns and textures using organic fabric and dyes. I am expected to finish 2 sets of products under each theme.

I chose to take up this project as it gives me the opportunity to explore areas which I’m skilled with (texture development, dyeing, etc) as well as those that are new to me (designing for children). Hence it is an opportunity for me to explore and experiment with my own skills and it is a challenge as the target audience that I will design for is one I have not worked with before.

As a designer, I think I need to work for my target audience in an appealing way along with being responsible in terms of being sustainable and eco-friendly. This project being a part of a sustainable design organization, thus gives me the chance to do so.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

- What exactly is sustainable design?

- What kind of completely organic material is available in the market and where do I source it from?

- What kind of material will I use so as to appeal to children as well as be safe for them?

- What is the target user-group interested in?

- What do parents want for their children?

- What is FL!P design’s approach and how does my project fit into it?

- How do the products that I design fit into the market scenario?

PROCESS:

- Read up more on the ‘play therapy’

- Research existing ‘children’s furniture and furnishings’

- Research /Conduct a survey on the likes and dislikes of children today

- Talk to parents of children belonging to the target age-group, to know what they want for their children

- Study the furniture that is being developed at FL!P design so as to create furnishings for it and to design soft furniture to complement it

- Research eco-friendly and organic materials and processes that are locally available

- Work on designs for prints and textures for the soft furniture and furnishings

- Prototyping of the designs

MATERIALS/RESOURCES:

Materials: The materials that I use will be completely organic. The material will be sourced from Sarga and other local vendors.

Sarga eco-textiles, Bangalore (http://sarga.in/) creates eco-friendly fabric and furnishings made of Organic cotton, Bamboo, Lyocell, Modal & Jute. All the processes are certified and are free from chemicals and harmful substances making it completely bio-degradable.

Resources:

Books, the internet, people, etc.

Market research for various retail outlets, types of products available, price range.

Prototyping: Vocational training center at SEDS, Penukonda, Andhra Pradesh (150km from Bangalore) (http://sedsngo.org/)

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

- Working with completely organic materials as well as processes.

- Being part of a team of designers who belong to different disciplines but are working for the same project.

- Learning about the ‘play therapy’

- Exploring various textile materials and techniques.

- Working on a commercial project.

- Learning more about sustainable design.

DELIVERABLES:

I am expected to deliver two sets of furnishings under each theme (Nature and Adventure)

Each set of furnishings is categorized into three groups namely daily change, weekly change and occasional. The items in ‘daily change’ and ‘weekly change’ are essential while I can choose items from the ‘occasional’ category.

Daily change:

Bed covers

Bed sheets

Pillow covers

Napkins

Cushion covers

Weekly change: Curtains

Occasional:

Hanging shelves/bags

Soft seating

Carpets

Custom shaped bean bags

Swings/ hammocks

Toys/play accessories

Laundry bag

ROUGH TIMELINE:

Week 1 to Week 4: Research, conceptualization, sketches, iterations

Week 5 to Week 7: Market survey, material sourcing, research, testing, more iterations

Week 8 to Week 14: Prototyping

Week 15 & 16: Project submission, compilation of documentation