In undertaking this research, the aim was to reflect on how to work along with the tribals of Melghat to build narratives around essential use of technology and innovation in agriculture. The project sought to develop and explore concepts that could be applied and carried forward in my personal and collaborative design practices.
Process
About
Rather than delivering solutions to problems, the focus is on exploring what issues rural communities want to be heard and what questions policy makers should be asking. The project takes a kind of Speculative Design approach: by telling stories about alternative futures, encouraging people to think critically about the present and the decisions that would need to be taken to make such futures a reality.
In whichever way we’re choosing to practice/speculate or share our speculations, it is necessary to look into how accessible is that mode or method. The gallery model is a mode of dissemination but prior to that, is the process through which we even speculate,. This project was all about making the process accessible. A lot of times when we work with communities,
it’s difficult to translate all of those thoughts that have an extremely vested eurocentric origin to somebody who has never left their village. Therefore it’s not a limitation of their ability to understand, it’s just a different world/reality. You have to respect the reality of the people with whom you’re interacting, so the job of a designer is to make it relevant to that reality.
3
Pitch
Developing a larger reality that extends beyond a single story, creating a fictional world.
2
Probe
Diving deeper into broader social and political phenomena which would act as an playground.
1
Premise
Setting up the context getting a better view of what am I trying to do and why am I trying to do that.
5
Provocate
Telling the stories and and discussing with change-makers and decision-makers.
4
Prototype
Creating a complete and plausible imaginary world that serves as a context.
6
Proceed
Looking back and reflecting on the journey-so far. The semicolon;
