Re-imagining Traditional Crafts and Techniques to Create New Interior Design Aesthetics

Abstract

In today’s times when the world-over people are talking about sustainability, equity and going back to one’s roots - it is crucial to introduce people from all over the globe to the traditional crafts and materials of vernacular, traditional cultures. It is our responsibility as designers to look outside the box and breathe new life into these crafts and artisans, particularly at this time when they are rapidly vanishing. It is challenging to create a luxurious design language using traditional crafts and materials, but doing so will serve as an awareness-raising instrument to inspire more designers and artisans to let their creations stand out above the generally accepted standards of luxurious design around the globe. We as designers, need to investigate various ways to transform these locally produced materials and crafts into an unusually rich environment. Designers should be encouraged to study, understand, document and promote these crafts everywhere in the world, not just in the areas where they originate; it is important to look beyond the boundaries of religions, crafts, and nations - because the ability to create beauty should never be limited to any place or any time. In this context, this study looks at studying a few traditional crafts and hand-finishing techniques used in vernacular built environments of a particular region of India and re-interprets and adapts them in a contemporary interior design scenario to create a luxurious, sustainable, responsible and beautiful design aesthetic. This is represented here in this paper as a research study, documentation and design demonstration.