As part of the Orientation Programme, the Institute of Design, Nirma University, organised an insightful and inspirational talk by Ms. Amala Shah, an eminent Furniture and Space Designer, on the theme “Design in India: Traditional Craft Wisdom and Handcraft Skills” for the newly joined students on 17th July, 2026.
During her session, Ms. Amala highlighted the significance of traditional crafts in shaping India’s rich design heritage. She discussed the origins and evolution of crafts, the geographical and cultural factors that influence their development, and the important role they play in preserving India’s cultural identity and traditions. She emphasied that crafts are not merely objects of utility but are powerful indicators of a community’s history, values, and way of life.
The talk also explored the relationship between traditional artisan ship and contemporary design practices also master artisan and designers, encouraging students to appreciate the knowledge embedded in indigenous craft traditions and to incorporate these into contemporary design solutions.
To illustrate these concepts, Ms. Amala showcased several examples of handcrafted furniture and explained the materials, techniques, cultural significance and the engineering behind each piece. Her presentation inspired students to recognise the value of quality, artisan ship of motivated several traditional handcraft skills as a foundation for sustainable and meaningful design innovation.
The session was highly interactive and students understand and know deeply the Indian handcraft traditions.