Sensory Padukas
A souvenir from the future
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Speculative project on breaking the stereotypes of the future to make it decentralized and local.
#speculativedesign #designfiction #indianfuture #sensoryexperience #elements #worship#criticaldesign
Team
Guide
Ashwathy Satheesan, Archana Valecha, Vibhuti Tripathi, Aashima Mathur
Paolo Cardini
Global Futures Lab / RISD Global / National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
Year
Links
2017
Critical design, speculative design and design fiction are methodological frameworks in which objects are seen as facilitators of conversations rather than goods to be bought or used.
The Global Futures Lab is a series of international workshops that aims to counteract the bias and stereotypes of so-called “Western futures” and foster different futures linked to specific geo-cultural locations.
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Global Futures Lab touched so far 5 locations involving more than 60 students from 6 different art, design and architecture Universities. One of those locations was the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
We live in post optimal object era. The objects around us mean more than its functionality and aesthetics. This is where speculative design comes into play. This project was about creating pluriverse - more localized , genuine and area-specific futures which breaks the western stereotype. The idea was to create a diegetic prototype of an Indian future scenario which will start debates and discussions, eventually leading to rethink the future.
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A unique approach was taken to reach to this diagetic prototype. The process involved building dimension to the future scenario step by step from verbal to visual narrative and then finally to narration though objects. This helped in intuitively building details into the narrative as well as leading to questioning each detail in a culture specific manner.
Words Visuals Objects
Words Visuals Objects
Words Visuals Objects
Design Prompts
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Ideas were created on the objects that can populate and interact in the scenario.
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The “souvenirs from the futures” was then selected through voting for the plausible idea.
Prototyping
Sensory Padukas
Our future is set where people begin to believe in elements, idols of worship shift from form to formless. Everyone begins to question what they do and believe. The ways of worship will change to sensory experiences. Due to the technological advancement people are likely to loose their tactile senses. This is where our Sensory Padukas will play a role.
Tag that explains what each of the icons on the Paduka symbolise. It has different modes at which the Paduka functions
Getting familiar with the product and its features. Reading the story which creates a nostalgia of what worship used to be like
The Paduka aids in giving back the sensory experience of elements during worship.
Once the feet and Paduka is immersed in the element, the mode is set by rotating the regulator on it
In a state of tranquility in connection with the inner self.
Global Futures Symposium
Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo (MAXXI), Rome, Italy | March 2018
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