Product Design

Sanket Pai

Design For Elderly:  For Safer and Easier Cooking

Guided by Prof. G G Ray

The ageing population of the world has seen an upward trend in the tendency of independent

living. This project tries to make cooking easier and simpler for the elderly. The focus of the project was food preparation activity for Maharashtrian and Goan cuisine. The salient features of the product are as follows:

  • Adjustable height for sitting and standing operations
  • Flexible removable cutting board for easy transfer of cut vegetables
  • A multipurpose tool for cutting (vegetables, meat and fish), grating coconut and cleaning
  • Board for rolling and kneading dough
  • Collapsible assembly for space saving
  • Portable trolley providing location flexibility

Design of a Surgeon Friendly Laparoscopic Device for Electrosurgery Procedure

Guided by Prof. Vijay Bapat co guided by Prof. B Ravi

Since a typical laparoscopic surgery lasts for a couple of hours, the surgeon experiences a lot of

physical discomfort while handling existing devices. This project is an attempt to design a device for cutting and coagulating tissues during the surgery which minimises discomfort and enhances usability. The salient features of the product are as follows:

  • Flexible thumb trigger, allowing right as well as left-handed operation.
  • Thumb and middle finger retainers ensure grip while allowing surgeon to relax
  • Middle finger retainer also has a stand which ensures that the tip of the device does not touch the surgical tray when not in use.
  • Simplified mechanism for ease of manufacture, assembly and maintenance.
  • The cable goes under the device, causing less hindrance

Design Thinking: Collection & Review of Literature on Design Thinking for Students of Management Studies

Guided by Prof. Uday Athavankar

Design thinking has become a buzzword in most organisations and institutions over the past decade.

This has given rise to multiple educational institutes of various domains incorporating design thinking in their curriculum. The project involves understanding of design thinking and its elements. We have also tried to review couple of popular management courses which have a design thinking component as part of their coursework. The project then leads to generation of a tentative curriculum to teach design thinking to management students.

Gaurav Vaidya

Enhancing Livelihood Possibilities of Dokra Craftsmen through their Craft: Redesign of Dokra Door Handles

Guided by Prof. B K Chakravarthy

Dokra casting is a non-ferrous metal casting process followed by traditional metal craftsmen in eastern part of India. This project is an attempt to make aesthetically appealing objects using Dokra casting. These casted objects find use in day-to-day life rather than being just a decorative piece.Working with dokra craftsmen has been a major part of this project. While exploring the methods and techniques to make quality articles, I also thought of how making such usable metal articles would be beneficial to the craftsmen in the villages and help them earn a better livelihood. These everyday utility products will invoke sensitivity about craft, its rich background and inherited tradition, in the minds of people, seeing or using it.

Design of Cookware for Residential Rice Cooking Application Using Steam from Solar Steam Generator

Guided by Prof. B K Chakravarthy

Solar energy is clean and abundant source of energy. Currently solar power is being used for heating, lighting, cooking etc. But the penetration of solar powered products is restricted due to certain limitations such as high initial cost, solar efficiency concerns and convenience in use. This project is an attempt to make cooking quick and easy. It is also designed for cooking inside kitchen while using steam generated from solar energy for a single home usage. The affordable steam generation technology developed by the Heat Pump Lab, Mechanical Department (IITB) is adopted in design of the cooker.

Dokra Casting : A Traditional Craft of Jharkhand

Guided by Prof. Raja Mohanty

This project was undertaken as a part of summer internship. The idea was to learn the process right from the first step and use its primitive simplicity for making utensils using solid as well as hollow castings. Dokra casting is non-ferrous metal casting which uses investment casting or lost wax casting process. Metal used in this type of casting is brass (Copper + Zinc) or bronze (Copper + Tin). If Tin content is high then it is called as bell metal. It is amongst the earliest known method of casting. Dokra process is practiced in some of the eastern states of India. The project was carried out in collaboration with one of the tribal communities in Jharkhand.

Dattaram Chari

Design of Contemporary Range of Furniture inspired from Traditional Sankheda Art

Guided by Prof. Sandesh R

Woodcraft has been one of the integral part of the rich tradition of handicrafts in India. During the European regime in India every object in the house was perfectly tailored to the environment and had its local cultural aesthetics, relevance & identity. Eventually the situation has changed and there is a lesser value for the products of highly skilled artists. The respect for manufacturing, craft base, quality, and standards has been lost in the due course of time. One such craft is Sankheda wood-craft of Gujarat where their work is losing its market. As an industrial design student the area of work I have dealt in this project is to understand this particular wood-craft furniture; understand artisanal issues; explore various possibilities to reposition the craft in a higher segment of market.

Design of an User-Friendly ECG System

Guided by Prof. Vijay Bapat

Every year millions of people die due to cardiac arrest and heart related problems. ECG, (electrocardiogram) has become a routine part of any complete medical evaluation. The ECG waveform allows one to infer information about electrical activity associated with heart and thereby indicate the condition & history of the heart. After detailed design research it was observed that there were shortcomings in the existing ECG recording process as the process is unorganized and distressing for the users.

The scope of the project is to understand the problems at a system level & improve the ease of use. The project aims at intervention in areas of product usability considering user-centric approach and develop an effective system to record heart activity and make the ECG recording process less cumbersome.

 

Imagery from Buddhist thought on ceramic-ware

Guided by Prof. Raja Mohanty

We all love beautiful ceramic artefacts and a decorative surface, of course, is the first thing noticed about any piece of ceramic ware and as with all things made with hand, the right concept makes all the difference. From the history to the abstract there are endless possibilities of expressions in the virtually limitless world of ceramic art. The project involved a study of Buddhist ideas and Buddhist imagery in order to understand how these could be translated to graphic forms and visuals on ceramic-ware. With this project I have made an attempt to create movement, with the flow of shapes, lines, textures.

Bhavik Grover

Smart faucets for efficient use of water

Guided by Prof. Purba Joshi

Water wastage is one of the biggest problems of today’s world. The project addresses the upper-class segment of users, and attempts to design a faucet that prevents water wastage during daily activities such as brushing teeth, washing face etc. The project also makes the user interaction, more intuitive. To make the entire process experiential, combinations of digital and manual interactions with faucets are used to manipulate the flow, temperature, and other operations.

Transformable luminaries

Guided by Prof. Sandesh R

Lights play an important part in our daily life. They generally have a static form and shape; mostly go unnoticed or have lesser interaction with the user. The project aims at designing transformable luminaries that help in better interaction between physical products and users. The intent of the project is to create the visual experience by transforming shapes and form of luminaries. Transformation depends on user-product interaction and also incorporates user requirement and the mood of the environment.

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Grass

Guided by Prof. Venkatesh R

“Grass” is an interactive installation, which projects virtual grass on the floor and it sways in response to human movements. When people enter the projection area, the camera tracks the motion and creates visual grass patterns on the floor. The intention is to explore interactions between users and virtual reality.

Patric John

Design of Food Kiosk for Street Vending: Urban Indian Scenario

Guided by Prof. Purba Joshi[/vc_column_text]

The project to design a food cart was done to support & enhance the potential of street-food industry in urban India. The project doesn’t intend to replace the vendors at the “bottom of the pyramid” but be like a “derailleur” to “shift-up the level of vendor” status and improve their business. Aesthetics and form of the cart, ergonomics problems, workspace layout and dimensions, storage space and accessibility, were considered during the project. Provisions were made for the vendor to practice hygiene and accessories for added value which can help the vendor, the customer and the public were also included while designing the cart.

Design of Teaching-Learning Aids for Blind Children

Guided by Prof. Sandesh R

A project which started as “Design intervention for the blind”, progressed to a more specific objective of helping blind children learn basic concepts of geometry. The project was developed with the help of NAB (National Association for the Blind) and teachers. A teaching-learning kit was developed, to deliver information on basic 2-D shapes and 3-D shapes. The kit is for children with visual impairment, from age group 8-12. IT improves tactile learning skills, fine motor skills, knowledge about basic geometric shapes and figures, and basic arithmetic.

Akanksha Rathore

Origami Inspired Furniture

Guided by Prof. Purba Joshi

Origami is an art of transformation using paper. The creative use of textures, patterns, folds and the involvement of human mind and skill make it unique. This project is an attempt to understand origami. The two pieces of furniture designed, seek to extend its application. The design explored a folding stool that turns into a mat when required and a low lying chair.

URBAN COOKIE

Taking the folds of origami and applying it on felt wool, with nominal metal legs to enhance the origami derived form.

FOUR FOLD

A flat mat folded to make a one-seater stool. The concept doesn’t just validate origami in terms of form but also the action of creating volume and rigid surfaces out of a plain sheet.

Tot-Toys

Guided by Prof. Sandesh R

This set of turned wood toys that encourage tiny-tots to construct animals, comes with an illustrated book of Jataka tales and activity placards. The intent of the project is to make the art of storytelling more visual in terms of the characters- their physical form accompanied by illustrations in the book. The kit is designed to engage kids at many levels by getting them to assemble the toys, constructing/ deconstructing animals with the same or interchanged parts.   It allows them to play and set the scenario as per the narrative (playing out the story as it unfolds) or to create their own tales triggered by placards.

Poshak

Guided by Prof. Nina Sabnani

 “Poshak” is a visual ethnography project focusing on the textiles and clothing traditions of women of Rajasthan. The costumes the Rajput women adore have evolved over the years and embody many deep-rooted traditions and customs of the community. The project takes a closer look at technicalities, and attempts to understand how women over generations have taken pride in creating this culture.

Vishal Jha

Design of furniture systems for Affordable Housing – Fitting more in volume

Guided by Prof. Vijay Bapat co guided by Prof. Uday Athavankar

This project for designing furniture systems for Affordable Housing sought to fit more in a given volume. Housing shortage is a major concern in urban India and this often leads to development of unorganised temporary settlements which later develops into slums. The slums have interesting approach of creating spaces by utilising volume efficiently. Ideas derived from a study of spaces in slums are used for creating affordable housing which accommodates a family of six in a volume of 10’x10’x12.5’. The structure is floor standing, light weight and easy to assemble. The assembly happens in phases so one can buy the components and grow their house in phases as incremental housing. Also same components can be used to create three types of internal arrangements and spaces have multiple uses assigned at different time of the day.

Arsenic water filter for domestic use

Guided by Prof. B K Chakravarthy

Arsenic poisoning due to underground water is a big health concern in eastern India. The same states  that have the lowest literacy rates and high population are economically backward. The project looked into developing an arsenic water filter for domestic use. The main challenge in this project is to make a product which will filter water and will actually be used by the people of the region. Form, visual presentation, handling, usage, cleaning, economics and durability were the main factors for design. Also the product needs to be maintenance free and locally repairable.

Nature in Ceramics – Pottery exploration on wheel

Guided by Prof. Raja Mohanty

Traditional wheel pottery is one of the oldest forms of art. It has so many possibilities that in the past ten thousand years of history, infinite forms and experimentations have been done on it and even now new outcomes keep coming. This project is my attempt to create interesting fluid forms in ceramics inspired from Nature. The main goal here is to create interesting contemporary forms while maintaining the formal sophistication of wheel pottery.

Shreelekha

DIY Furniture using Bamboo

Guided by Prof. Sandesh R

The design comprises of a series of lightweight pieces that aim to change the existing perception of bamboo as craft product to a product that fits into a contemporary lifestyle and rekindle interest in the possibilities of this traditional material.. Woven baskets fuse the concept of a furniture and the miscellaneous, thereby including craftsmanship, a major aspect related to the material which would bring in the ‘Bamboo-ness’ into the product. The collection includes side table, console table and hang rack and majorly focuses on a minimalist, airy design.

Experiencing Materials – CONCRETE

Guided by Prof. P Kumaresan

Concrete is the second most used material in the earth after water, predominantly for a single application – Building Construction – for 100 years. At the outset, this project, states the importance of materials in our world and identifies the softer aspect of the materials – its character, its personality, its association, its story and continues to showcase the material and design innovations that drive us to the future. The project aims to explore the possibilities of concrete in product design scenario, identify its aesthetic versatility and re-position concrete from walls to centre-pieces showcasing what the material could also be.

Visual Ethnography – KOLAM

Guided by Prof. Nina Sabnani

The divine is invoked everywhere in India- even on the ground through drawing or painting with rice paste or vegetable and mineral based coloured powders. In Tamil-Nadu, these drawings are called kolam and bear testimony to the richness of extraordinary feminine creativity.

This project attempts to understand the Kolam, showcased and  designed in the format of a notebook, containing text, interviews, quotes, photographs, images and sketches collected as a result of a two week visual ethnography study in January 2015 in various parts of Chennai, India.

Hirom Ulemba

Kavach : Redesigning Deployable Mosquito net structure for tribal settlement

Guided by Prof. Purba Joshi

Malaria in tribal area have a dark story.It accounts for 30% of the total cases in India . Apart from poverty, poor health facilities and lack of proper education, the tribal regions are isolated from the mainstream not only geographically but also socio­culturally. Despite taking measures to prevent malaria including mosquito nets, the cultural barriers make it difficult to control the same.

The project started out with understanding multiple issues from variant perspectives such as socio­cultural challenges, economic factors and critically looking at already existing measures. This led to the design of a deployable bamboo mosquito net structure which could be easily made by themselves or with a local craftsman.

Domestic poultry incubator for micro poultry farming

Guided by Prof. P Kumaresan

Although India is one of the major countries in poultry production, it has not been able to meet the increasing demands. This has led to the use of steroid in poultry industry for faster growth. Hence people are diverting to healthier options such as organic eggs and chicken. This opens up an opportunity for rural areas to critically look at their methods of backyard poultry farming.

The project mainly aims at uplifting the socio­economic status of the villager through self­ employment. It focuses on putting relevant technology and design intervention in developing a sustainable poultry incubator which would be less dependent on electricity.

Ema Keithel: The Mothers’ Market

Guided by Prof. Nina Sabnani

Apart from activities such as buying and selling, a market stands for the relationship between people and its surrounding. It literally acts as a storyteller for the society.

Ema Keithel is a unique market situated in the northeastern state of Manipur. ‘Ema’ in manipuri means ‘mother’ and keithel means “market”, hence ‘Ema Keithal’ stands for ‘Mother’s market’. Being run only by the women, this market remains the living example of both women empowerment and women’s ability to self­sustain and survive.

The final outcomes of the project is a visual ethnographic study which summarises the daily activities of the market and the women related to it. This is done through personal interviews and photography.

Shashank

Bamboo Bicycle

Guided by Prof. Sandesh R

Vibration damping and its natural availability make it a relevant material for a bamboo bicycle. The focus of this project is not only to create its own aesthetic identity, but also attempt mass-manufacturability, by designing parts that can be easily assembled and replaced.

Climate Responsive Building Facade

Guided by Prof. B K Chakravarthy

The project investigates responsive building facade systems that adapt to the dynamic environmental conditions to regulate the internal conditions in a habitable space over different periods of time by exhibiting a state of motion and dynamism. The final design is based on the idea of heliotropism which tracks the sun path and creates a shadow on the façade without stopping the natural ventilation of the building.

Grass

Guided by Prof. Nina Sabnani

“Grass” is an interactive installation which projects virtual grass on the floor and it sways in response of human movements. When people enter the projection area, the camera tracks the motion and creates visual grass patterns on the floor. The intention is to explore interactions between users and virtual reality.

Sony

Product explorations with coconut shell

Guided by Prof. Sandesh R

The project was to explore coconut shell as the primary material – and to also match and complement it with other materials. The project aims to change the perception of coconut shell from being a material that is thrown away to something that could be used creatively.

Cutlery (ladles and spoons) were chosen as the products for form exploration. The project also looks into the utilitarian and manufacturing aspects- who would make it; how would it be made; ease of making; where would the product be positioned; would it be made by a craftsmen or would it be industrial.

Interactive methods to teach human anatomy to kids

Guided by Prof. P Kumaresan

The primary objective of the project is to provide  the means to educate small children about the human anatomy in a fun and engaging way. Understanding human anatomy and physiology constitutes a major part of learning biology. The subject gets more complex as the student goes to higher classes. Anatomy is linked with many other fields of study such as nutrition, good health, hygiene, physical education, sports etc. Understanding anatomy leads to clarity in other areas.

Idital – Digitization and revival of indigenous tribal script, Sora Sompeng

Guided by Prof. Girish Dalvi

The Sauras (alternative names and spellings include Saora, Sora, Savara and Sabara) are a tribe from Southern Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh in India. They are also inhabitants of the hills of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The “Idital” project was started to create a font for the Sora script in response to the increased use of technology by the Saura people. “Idital” is the main deity of the Sauras to whom their traditional mural paintings (“Italons”) are dedicated. The project was started with the help and support of experts of tribal language and activists with the aim of creating and popularizing a font for the Saura language.

Shridhar

Redesign of Clicker System for Schools

Guided by Prof. P Kumaresan

Clickers are an interactive technology that enables an instructor to pose questions to students and immediately collect and view the responses of the entire class. The project focuses on designing a low cost, portable and mobile system that can be mass manufactured. All the key features of the clicker system, such as real time assessment, anonymous polling for complete class participation have been retained.

Redesign of Reusable Biopsy Device(Handle) and Tissue Collection System.

Guided by Prof. Vijay Bapat

The project focuses on the redesigning of a reusable biopsy device. The final design has a profile that is sleek when compared to the existing products. The redesigned device allows for precision; has an ergonomic grip and uses the existing Bard coaxial needle. It’s other features include, variable throw length and single button actuation.

Expression of Forms

Guided by Prof. Sandesh R

Every product has its own expression, which comes from the visual details the designer includes in the product. Most of them are intentional and some are functional. Though expression is subjective, we can classify products under different expressions. One such classification is done by Prof. A G Rao at IDC, IIT Bombay. This project tries to understand expressions quantitatively using eye tracking data such as fixation points, gaze time, sequence and area of interest to find the visual details of the products that contribute to expressions.