Thinking Design

Foreword - Gaston Roberge Introduction PART ONE: DESIGN, NATURE AND POWERThe Wonder that is: The Context for Designing Modern Indian Design: The Roots The Power of Representation: Semiotics for Mass Movement Fitting the Man to the Task: The Design Training Paradox PART TWO: DESIGN: HUMAN PERSPECTIVES AND CONCERNSDesign and Rule: Design Colonalisation Politics is not a Four-letter Word: The Impact of State Policies and Politics Tools for Change: Learning from the Artisans For the People, By the People: Design without Designers The Barefoot Designer: Design as Service to Rural People PART THREE: DESIGN: NEW DIMENSIONS AND THE FUTURE: QWERFreedom in Design Leave Well Enough Alone: The Need for Restraint in Designing Invisible Design: The Alternative Approaches PART FOUR: DESIGN REALISATIONS: CASE STUDIESThe Case Studies (13 Case Studies) Design Pedagogy in India: A Perspective ReferencesNotes on Select FiguresIndex

S Balaram is an industrial designer, senior faculty and former Chairman of Education at the National Institute of Design (NID) in India. He is presently Dean of D.J. Academy of Design, Coimbatore.He is recipient of the honorary fellowship of the Society of Industrial Designers of India and an invited member of the advisory board of 'Design Issues', USA. Four inventions of Balaram have been patented by NID. The institute also won the first International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID), Philips Award for its outstanding achievement in industrial design. One of the seven projects which won this award was designed by Balaram. A life-saving medical equipment which he and a colleague jointly designed for Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology was awarded India's prestigious National Meritorious Invention Award. He was recipient of Ron Mace international award for Universal Design.Born into a farmer's family in Gunnathota Valasa, a tiny Agraharam (a village gifted to a scholar by the king) in Andhra Pradesh, South India, Balaram did his post-graduation in Product Design from the NID, Ahmedabad and a research course at the Royal College of Art, London. He holds a diploma in Mechanical Engineering. He started his professional career as a sign-board painter and later became a mechanical engineer, finally settling down to design practice and teaching. His varied pursuits include short story writing, package design and film criticism. He has held senior positions such as Chairman of Extension Programmes, Co-ordinator, Foundation Programme, Associate Chairman and Industrial Design at the NID. He was Governing Council Member ofThe Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, Vice-President of The Society of Industrial Designers of India and Co-ordinator, Design Foundation Studies, NID. He founded the Craft Development Institute in Kashmir.His published writings form part of books such as The Idea of Design: Arthaya, Design and

This is a book of the author's reflections and insights, in particular about the practice, learning and teaching of industrial design for India's rural poor. The language is fluid, and the style informal. The book is thought-provoking, as any good book should be. It would serve its purpose well if it inspires greater interest in, and debate on industrial design in India.