Category Archives: indian designers

Ecoin Is Green Too!

ecoin by Abhinav Dapke

Ecoin by Abhinav Dapke

To do big money transactions we have quite a few hassle–free devices like debit or credit card, cheque and online banking too. We need not carry large amount of cash but what about small amounts? We have to carry and worry about small amounts.

Indian designer Abhinav Dapke has come up with this amazing user-friendly concept-solution for small amounts– Ecoin. Ecoin is a digital representation of small amounts or coins. This small electronic device carries all your small amount big bulk!

If you are in India than I bet you have already experienced at least one ugly incident where you had to shout at or were shouted at for not having change. Buying at shops, paying for taxi, bus or auto, as well as eating outside etc we need in our day-to-day life exact change. We don’t realize it anymore but we all keep a box full of coins.

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A Tribute: Dashrath Patel

designs:Dashrath Patel

Designs of Dashrath Patel

I am just trying to understand work and times of design veteran and artist Padma Shri Dasharath Patel who died yesterday.

From paintings influenced by French Impressionism to geometrical and abstract styles to abstract collage works recently which had wood and tinted paper, his work showed a multiplicity of styles, techniques and mediums. He played and experimented with light and colours.

dashrathpatel-products

Products designed by Dashrath Patel

He was one of the founder faculty member of National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Self-taught, innovative and mutifaceted Dasharth patel was born in Nadiad, Gujarat in 1927.

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Happy Diwali!

floor lighting

Sanjhi Luminaries: low level floor lamp

Designer: Ankur Khare

Don’t you think floating flowers and diyas have come alive in a brand new avatar! This low level floor lamp by artist-designer Ankur Khare is brilliant on many counts. It incorporates traditional look, international style and traditional craft called Sanjhi craft.

The Sanjhi craft of Mathura is a ritualistic craft used in the worship of Lord Krishna. This craft involves cutting paper stencils to make Rangoli patterns on walls and floors and themes and motifs depicting the life of Lord Krishna.

(I promise a detailed post on Sanjhi craft very soon.)

So what better way to celebrate Diwali than with a design which encompasses Rangoli, diyas/lights and flowers and an ancient craft!

Happy Diwali!

Pass On The Chilli

chilliholder

Chilliholder

Designer: Prabhat Mahapatra @ designdaku

Beware I say because I bet you have not seen anything like this ever. It was never designed before! It is a brand new product-concept.

Beware I say because it comes in a deadly combination – first the chilli, second the nourishing green chilli eating habit via the holder and thirdly this chilliholder is conspired by a design bandit (designdaku: daku means bandit in Hindi)!

Yes, if you are the one who can hear the crunch green chilli makes between the chilli lover’s teeth; if you know at least one person who loves eating chillies in your home (if you are an Indian then there must be a person in your house who loves his chilli, says so designdaku and I wholeheartedly agree!); if you are frying chillies with pakoris or having your ganthias (gujarati snack) with chillis and raw papaya then you know where to head and how to serve chillies.

Designdaku is a team of  very talented young Indian designers who believe in catalysing paradigm shifts to bring transformative solutions and products.

And let me give you a last warning – beware: while making inquiries about their designs I had a very funny and friendly encounter with these designdakus. So go on, pay them a visit here.

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A Color Poem

krishna

Krishna

By Illustrator+Designer+Artist: Archan Nair

Indian artist, art director and illustrator Archan Nair has a very big client portfolio, won many awards and recognition and has a heavy web presence. But I would like to ignore all these.

I am a little biased towards self-taught people. Archan Nair is a self-developed artist. What else attracts me towards his art is obvious – colors. Amazing use and blending of colors make his illustrations an inspirational color-mine.

sweet content

Sweet Content

He captures moments and phases and create intricate work. Presenting here few creations from his personal and commercial work.

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Deep Stambh Table

table designDesigners: Sanjeev panjabi and Sangeeta Merchant @ Spasm Design

The design studio, Spasm Design architects operates from India and East Africa with a non-compromising attitude which says “do not theorize, do not promote a method or solution and do not think the process is any way similar in every project.”

Love this table with South India traditional brass lamps legs!

More to come of this firm’s work on DesignFlute!

* Deep Stambh means tower of light/lamp tower/lit pillar. Deep is a lamp and stambh is pillar in Sanskrit and Hindi.

Deep stambhs have architecture and history of its own. Generally erected or made near a temple with many levels for lamps.

(Still pc-less I am. So working @1/10 capacity by hijacking hubby’s laptop now and then!)