Craft and design are more than just a creator's profession. Like design, craft is not just a way of making things, but a way of thinking. Some would say that the future of craft lies in design. Tarasha’s Design Direct, a three-day showcase of artisan-designer collaborations, which is being organised at the Craft Village in Delhi from March 17 to 19, is an exuberant celebration of both craft and design.

The event, organized jointly by Titan’s Project Tarasha, Creative Dignity, and Craft Village, aims to promote equitable artisan-designer partnerships and promote craft practices and explore new, fresh possibilities within crafts. Tarasha’s Design Direct showcase will offer artisans a chance to network with crucial industry stakeholders like designers, design houses, architects, brands, craft enthusiasts, and the fraternity. The event aims to expose artisans to new market engagements and connections.

Craft and design have traditionally been intertwined in India like warp and weft, and with this same idea, Project Tarasha and Creative Dignity launched a Design Mentorship programme. This exchange has resulted in innovative craft products co-created by artisan-designer pairs over a period of three months. These include a variety of unique and innovative products such as a chessboard made with traditional leather puppetry, a temple for homes, a pop-up storybook for children, a kid’s cupboard, contemporary candle holders, kitchen utensils, tealights, Ajrakh rugs, cushion covers, and table runners.

Ritika Gandhi, Anchor, Project Tarasha says, “Our aim with Tarasha’s Design Direct is to showcase the true potential of artisan-designer collaborations and promote equitable partnerships that value the unique skills and cultural associations of craft practices. We believe that craft and design are two faces of the same coin. In fact, in the Indian context, craft and design have always been used interchangeably. However, in the last two decades or so, the dynamic has shifted, skewing towards designers and reducing artisans to mere manufacturers or suppliers. This event illustrates an equitable artisan-designer collaboration with focus on inclusive design, co-learning, co-creating, and two-way knowledge transfer.”