Master Thesis (M.Des)
'Earthsong' Wooden Toys from Baktawng, Mizoram
Client- Design Clinic Scheme, MSMEs, Govt. of India.
Project Brief
To design wooden toys to be made by Baktawng (Mizoram) wooden carpentry craft clusters for the children of age group 3-7 years for the urban market.
Aim and objective of the project
- To launch 8 to 10 product ranges of toys/children’s play accessories for a suitable urban market keeping in
mind the crafts person’s skill and infrastructure.
- To highlight and bring forth this widely unknown craft techniques to improve the status and sales of this craft
and its makers for the future.
- To design products for urban market which would be viable in the market at such a cost, which sustains the
livelihood of the craftsmen in the cluster while creating a sense of curiosity in the customers for the products
made by this technique, and for this very technique itself.
- To innovate and improve the conditions of the craftsmen.
- To give this craft a strong identity, and to create a value for customers.
The products should be
- Products should be viable in the market.
- Material properties should exploited in its most economical way.
- Easy to produce with the existing skill levels and infrastructure.
- Contemporary in style with hints of traditional roots.
Design Process
Some Snapshots of the Project
Ghumruu
The idea was to integrate the traditional with the contemporary. When the handle and the stick is pushed, the character balls up and down. It would help the child develop better hand-eye coordination, motor function, decision making without loosing its charm as a toy.
Final product ranges of toys/children’s play accessories
Bamboo Dancer
Inspired from the Mizo bamboo dance and further explored it to develop a toy that would help kids develop finger and eye coordination and finger manipulation as well. It works by pushing the sticks like a piano reed.
Hill Toy 1
Children can drive their car from the top to the bottom of the hills through the houses and buildings. It was designed to enhance ‘Role - play’. Moreover, it can be played both indoor and outdoor. It will help in developing their hand- eye coordination, imagination and decision making.
Hill Toy 2
In this concept children have to move the ball from one place to another by moving between houses and the hills. When target user group is playing with this toy, he/she will concentrate to move the ball by moving the play board and coordinate with their eyes.
It will help in developing their hand-eye coordination, imagination and decision making.
Transtoy (Transformer + Toy)
The concept was to incorporate multiple characters in a single toy.
The idea has come both from the user’s likeness of robot and construction cars. The robot can be modified and converted into a construction truck and back with little movements. User will use their creativity to play with this toy. This will also help kids to develop creativity and imagination and also enhance role play. Moreover, it can be played both indoors and outdoors with friends or alone.
