IGNCA–NID Collaborative Project Showcases Channapatna Craft Innovation at Red Fort

When Tradition Meets Technology: Channapatna Craft Reimagined at Red Fort

Reviving Heritage: NID–IGNCA Collaboration Breathes New Life into Channapatna Craft

Craft, Design & Innovation Collide: NID Bengaluru’s Channapatna Project Lights Up Red Fort

Bilkul Online

New Delhi, October 2025:

A unique design collaboration between the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), National Institute of Design (NID) Bengaluru, and Channapatna artisans is currently on display at the Red Fort’s L2 Barrack – Atmanirbhar Centre for Design (ABCD). The exhibition highlights the outcomes of a semester-long R&D project that reimagines the future of traditional Channapatna craft through design, sustainability, and technology.

The project, titled “ABCD – IGNCA in Collaboration with NID,” ran from December 2024 to July 2025, and was led by  Athul Dinesh and  Swapnesh Samaiya, faculty members at NID Bengaluru. Working closely with master artisans from the Channapatna craft cluster, the team explored new ways to merge time-honoured wooden craftsmanship with modern design sensibilities and interactive technologies.

• Repositioning Tradition through Design
• The initiative focuses on three product categories —
• Lifestyle & Kitchenware,
• Toys & Games, and
• Craft + Tech Objects —

Each representing an effort to revitalize the heritage craft while addressing contemporary consumer needs.

The products blend eco-friendly materials, lacquered wooden finishes, and modern aesthetics, resulting in designs that are sustainable, functional, and culturally authentic. In the “Craft + Tech” segment, artisans experimented with simple electronic elements such as light, sound, and motion to create interactive experiences without compromising the handmade charm.

 

Collaborative Teamwork

The design team from NID included:

• Athul Dinesh – Associate Faculty, Interaction Design
• Swapnesh Samaiya – Faculty, Digital Game Design
• Nipun Sreejith – M.Des, Universal Design (Graduation Project Student)
• Aparna Ravindranath – M.Des, Interaction Design (Graduation Project Student)

The artisan team from Channapatna comprised:

• Noorudhin – Master Artisan
• Imran Khan – Assistant Artisan
• Lalitha P – Assistant Artisan
• Fahim Banu – Assistant Artisan

Exhibition Invitation

The exhibition at the Red Fort’s ABCD Centre celebrates this synergy of craft, design, and innovation, showcasing how traditional techniques can evolve to meet modern aspirations.

Visitors in Delhi are warmly invited to explore the display and witness firsthand how India’s rich craft heritage continues to inspire new design frontiers through meaningful collaborations.

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