Design philosophy
Studio Firdaus stands for the preservation of the intricately handcrafted papier-mâché art form that has existed for centuries in the valley of Kashmir.
This deep-rooted respect and appreciation for the craft forms the basis of our design philosophy, that believes in building on the existing portfolio of products and designs by infusing fresh energy into it and aligning it with contemporary aspirations, without taking away from the those of the craft.
Design intervention at Studio Firdaus touches upon –
Shape – our contemporary take on the creation of new objects while deploying existing papier-mâché manufacturing techniques to mould paper pulp into various shapes
Functionality – making minor modifications to existing products to re-imagine their functionality/use-cases
Art – introducing fresh designs to the existing collection of patterns that are intricately hand painted by our teams of talented Kashmiri artists on paper moulds
The approach to design intervention is iterative and collaborative and considers both the creative as well as practical aspects of the process.
The various elements informing the design intervention process include –
Creative Thinking
Re-imagining the craft by pushing the boundaries of form, function and style
Expert Validation
Validating and refining ideas, with experts from diverse creative industries
Market Alignment
Listening to customers to seek inspiration for design innovation as well as to get feedback on prototypes
Artisan Feedback
Brainstorming with artisans to co-create design ideas, assess possibilities and explore innovations
