ARTIFACTS

326

A8: Deconstructing Spaces: The thick and thin of it PRIYANKA DESAI Coral Research Services Delhi, India

We, at Coral Research, were commissioned a study where the primary objective was to understand in depth the concept of space, in order to input in to the Client’s future communication strategy. To begin with, the research team realised that as a function of the study being conducted in busy urban cities, the informants (consumers) would tend to lean towards the more obvious viz. physical aspects (constraints) of space. Therefore, it seemed imperative to supplement the ethnographic interviews (where we focussed on how the women deal and interact with space), with a cultural understanding of space. In this context, we delved in to references and associations from popular culture where consumers subconsciously deal with space. E.g. space in relationships, Zen design, a de-cluttered desk space etc. This understanding helped the team in gaining a multi-layered understanding of ‘space’. The final framework began with the functional realms of space, moving in to the emotional and connative layers before finally arriving at the fundamental truth of space.

道 A9: A parametric approach for ethnographic design research PRITI RAO In a faraway village of Orissa, India reside a group of artisans who identify themselves as the Bhulia Mehers. The Bhulia’s weave intricate floral, curvilinear and geometric patterns (known as ikat) to earn a living, but also to tell a story ~ stories of idealised forms of beauty, rituals, mythical and animal characters. The artifact in return bestows identity upon the Bhulia Meher for whom ikat is not simply a means to live, it is the way of life. This intimate and symbiotic relationship between the maker and the made forms the basis of my parametric approach for ethnographic design research. By focusing on the artifact and the journey involved in its making; the imagination, aspirations, relations and value systems of an ethnos could be made visible. The knowledge generated is intended to go beyond an illuminating description, to one that can inform enabling approaches to improve artisan livelihoods.