Silly Wheels

Abstract

India exhibits a rich history of craft. There are various toy clusters scattered among the region with each showcasing a unique skill and craftsmanship. The project aims at innovating toys for the current market needs using the skills of these craftsmen. Uplifting the craft will not only preserve the toy making culture of the region but will also promote toys that are sustainable and made locally to reflect Indian ethics, values, and pride. Play plays an important aspect in the learning and development of social, cognitive, imaginative, and creative skills in the early childhood. One such way of learning is through tinkering. Tinkering is characterized by a playful, experimental, and iterative style of engagement, in which the makers continually reassess their goal, explore new paths and imagine new possibilities through exploring and experimenting. It promotes developmental skills like creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, spatial awareness, and logical reasoning. (Resnick, 2013) Through this project, I want to innovate toys crafted using the local skills and which promote tinkering among children. The project comprises of three parts. The initial part consists of primary and secondary research to understand the state of the art, the toys that are prevalent, and the demand of future. The second part entails the documentation of Budni craft, as the available literature was outdated and the project requisite understanding of process and materials of the craft. The insights from the above knowledge defined the design direction. After iterating and analyzing concepts, the final design of the toy was detailed. The project showcases the opportunity for the craft not only in terms of incorporating new products, but also as a way forward proposes the need of marketing of these products and providing a platform for craftsmen to connect to the end user.