Ravishankar Design

Sustainability, the word, phrase, label of the century: Overused, over-talked, lifesaver of all, spoken on many podia over coffee, breakfast, lunch and slept over cocktails. The nearby pan shop/petty shop lets you light your cigarette free even if you have not bought it from there. The value of one free strike is the gratification of the first puff. It is the bonding, a symbiotic understanding between the two and the eventual friendship. You are stranded in the rain late in the evening and the auto rickshaw driver drops you home which is some 15 km away. He asks for extra money over the meter or a flat amount, you argue, negotiate, etc , finally give in and you are home, what a relief you feel when you step in and then forget everything. The auto rickshaw driver has reached you ‘home’ with maybe a little extra. The value he offers is immeasurable. He has no insurance of any sort, no medical claim, no reduction in children school fee, etc and he has to follow the Govt. stipulated str...

As a student of design when I would show my design concept to my teachers each had a view: Teacher 1 Looks at the work and says “maybe…I don’t know..yes! hmmm.. maybe possible…” and smiles. Dealing with Intangibles & Ambiguity Teacher2 “where are the lines defining the form going?”…stretching his arms spanning the view in the window says, “everything is a composition”. Design Principles Teacher3 “how will a left handed person use it!” Empathy, Usability Teacher4 Look at the work and would instantly start drawing 10 variations of a specific detail in the design (in your orientation across the table) Creativity, Exploration, Multiple Options Teacher5 With only a glance” how will it be made?” Manufacturability, Cost Teacher6 “Who and why will somebody buy this?” Customer definition, Value Perception Teacher7 “Some how it doesn’t justify…why!” Context & Need

When I talk to people about Universal Design… the questions I have encountered and the answers I had for them, sample a few: Q: It is Idealist A: It is good to be idealist in inception to achieve a solution which is close to it. Q: Will it work in India A: Everything works in India Q: You cannot bring any change in this country A: UD is about bringing Incremental Change Q: Is UD for disabled people A: UD is about inclusion and harnessing assistive technology for all Q: Isn’t UD fundamental to design thinking and practice A: Yes UD is fundamental design process which business needs to align with because design most often is driven by popular needs and audience. Q: Ok what is it then A: It’s a Practice Q: We (India) are condemned to be Universal (!) A: Let there be the syrup bottle cap that is easy to open Q: People are indifferent, undisciplined A: Design to Discipline will be an attribute of UD Q: It cannot be applied to all products A: Maybe, but 50% of users are ...

Classical Bell Metal Lamp Conceived in the environment of traditional bell metal casting master artisans of Payyanur, a small town, near Kannur, north of Kerala state, India. It was designed by me and developed during a Design Workshop conducted by me, objective being for the sustenance of traditional craft artisans of the region through product design diversification. It is made through the traditional lost wax process and cast in bell metal which is a combination of mainly tin and copper. Design of the form inspired from the traditional and ceremonial objects of India, I have attempted to create a timeless, characteristic and classical piece. The purity of its form and proportion is distinctly Indian. This product is being made by individual Bell metal master artisans on order basis and was also being retailed through various State Handicraft Exhibitions.