Video Message from Dr. Toolika Gupta, Director, IICD Jaipur
“The Indian Institute of Crafts & Design (IICD) is a unique institute as it focuses on the understanding, promotion, design development, design intervention, marketing intervention and sustainability of Indian crafts. In today’s world where globalization and mass consumption are the buzz words, the craft sector faces a threat of extinction without proper support. India is rich in its handicraft traditions. IICD offers courses which target various crafts practiced in the country.”
These include Soft Material Design in textiles, leather and paper; Hard Material Design in wood, metal and stone; Fired Material Design in pottery, ceramics and glass, Fashion Clothing Design, Craft Communication and Jewellery Design. It presents a holistic view of Crafts and Design to the aspiring designers, in which design is focused as a balanced amalgamation of aesthetics and functionality.
Like the 19th century ‘Art and craft movement’ which shunned the mediocrity of mass production and focused on the niche qualities of the hand crafted, Indian Institute of Crafts & Design inculcates the love for quality, design and uniqueness of craftsmanship in its students. Students benefit from the various platforms that IICD has to offer. International exchange for mutual benefit, exposure to talks by skilled craftsmen and eminent experts, live projects within and outside the classroom, participation in national and international workshops and seminars, representation at prestigious events and exhibitions and an environment soaked in creativity, furnish an atmosphere conducive of an empathetic interactive learning. In November 2017, IICD had organized its first international conference on recent trends and sustainability in crafts and design, with the view of increasing the visibility of researchers in this area. Subsequently we successfully hosted the second edition of this International conference in November 2019, and a virtual one in the November of 2021, as the world was struggling with the pandemic.
Even during the tough times that the entire world faced due to COVID, IICD continued to invent and reinvent, discover and re-discover ways of a meaningful co-existence. From quickly designing masks and getting them made by artisans, to utilising the college mess facilities to provide food for the marginalised, we made our lives meaningful. Thanks to all the community members for coming forward to donate to the cause. An institute is much more than a place to ‘get’ a degree, you have to learn to ‘earn’ a degree. Right education, can mould an individual to lead the world, to make it a better place to live in. I invite all the enthusiastic aspiring designers to be a part of this ecosystem where the essence is that of responsible design, sustainable crafts and community awareness.