Creating Cultural Connections
Creating Cultural
Connections
Context & Insights
Context & Insights
In India, traditional art forms such as Gond, Warli, Mandana, and Lippan hold deep cultural significance. However, these art forms are often inaccessible to students with intellectual disabilities due to their complexity and the lack of inclusive educational resources. This project aimed to bridge that gap by transforming these traditional art forms into interactive, sensory-rich experiences tailored to the diverse learning needs of these students.
In India, traditional art forms such as Gond, Warli, Mandana, and Lippan hold deep cultural significance. However, these art forms are often inaccessible to students with intellectual disabilities due to their complexity and the lack of inclusive educational resources. This project aimed to bridge that gap by transforming these traditional art forms into interactive, sensory-rich experiences tailored to the diverse learning needs of these students.
Design Challenge
Design Challenge
The primary challenge was to make traditional Indian art forms accessible and engaging for students with intellectual disabilities.
This involved adapting intricate visual elements into tactile and interactive formats, ensuring the activities were educational, stimulating, and culturally enriching as well as creating a design
system that was both inclusive and respectful of cultural heritage.
The primary challenge was to make traditional Indian art forms accessible and engaging for students with intellectual disabilities. This involved adapting intricate visual elements into tactile and interactive formats, ensuring the activities were educational, stimulating, and culturally enriching as well as creating a design system that was both inclusive and respectful of cultural heritage.
The primary challenge was to make traditional Indian art forms accessible and engaging for students with intellectual disabilities. This involved adapting intricate visual elements into tactile and interactive formats, ensuring the activities were educational, stimulating, and culturally enriching as well as creating a design system that was both inclusive
and respectful of cultural heritage.
Research & Insights
Research & Insights
Interviews
Gathered insights into the specific needs and challenges faced by students with intellectual disabilities.
Interviews
Gathered insights into the specific needs and challenges faced by students with intellectual disabilities.
Observational Studies
Observed students interacting with various learning materials to understand their preferences and responses.
Observational Studies
Observed students interacting with various learning materials to understand their preferences and responses.
Cultural Immersion
Studied traditional art forms through workshops and discussions with local artisans to grasp their cultural significance and techniques.
Cultural Immersion
Studied traditional art forms through workshops and discussions with local artisans to grasp their cultural significance and techniques.
Conceptualization & Ideation
Conceptualization & Ideation
Based on the research, the project focused on transforming traditional art forms into interactive activities. Tactile puzzles using textures and shapes inspired by traditional art to engage students' sense of touch, stamp sets that allowed students to recreate patterns from traditional art forms, fostering creativity and fine motor skills, and interactive boards with movable parts and elements that students could manipulate, encouraging exploration and learning.
Based on the research, the project focused on transforming traditional art forms into interactive activities. Tactile puzzles using textures and shapes inspired by traditional art to engage students' sense of touch, stamp sets that allowed students to recreate patterns from traditional art forms, fostering creativity and fine motor skills, and interactive boards with movable parts and elements that students could manipulate, encouraging exploration and learning.
Design Execution
Design Execution
The design execution involved developing prototypes of each activity and conducting iterative testing sessions with students to observe interactions and gather feedback. Insights from these sessions informed refinements to improve usability, engagement, and cultural fidelity. High-fidelity versions were then created, designed to be durable, safe, and visually appealing, ensuring that each activity was both accessible and immersive. The process integrated user-centered design principles with cultural authenticity, resulting in a cohesive system of activities that supported learning while celebrating traditional art forms.
The design execution involved developing prototypes of each activity and conducting iterative testing sessions with students to observe interactions and gather feedback. Insights from these sessions informed refinements to improve usability, engagement, and cultural fidelity. High-fidelity versions were then created, designed to be durable, safe, and visually appealing, ensuring that each activity was both accessible and immersive. The process integrated user-centered design principles with cultural authenticity, resulting in a cohesive system of activities that supported learning while celebrating traditional art forms.
Outcome & Learnings
Outcome & Learnings
The project successfully created a series of inclusive, engaging activities that allowed students to experience and learn about traditional Indian art forms. Feedback from educators and students indicated increased engagement, improved motor skills, and a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage. The experience underscored the importance of empathy, iterative testing, and cultural sensitivity in design, highlighting the value of inclusive, user-centered solutions. It also demonstrated that thoughtfully designed interactions can make complex cultural knowledge accessible, memorable, and meaningful for diverse audiences. The project has strong potential for adaptation and
scaling, promoting cultural inclusivity and awareness across
educational contexts.
The project successfully created a series of inclusive, engaging activities that allowed students to experience and learn about traditional Indian art forms. Feedback from educators and students indicated increased engagement, improved motor skills, and a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage. The experience underscored the importance of empathy, iterative testing, and cultural sensitivity in design, highlighting the value of inclusive, user-centered solutions. It also demonstrated that thoughtfully designed interactions can make complex cultural knowledge accessible, memorable, and meaningful for diverse audiences. The project has strong potential for adaptation and scaling, promoting cultural inclusivity and awareness across educational contexts.
The project successfully created a series of inclusive, engaging activities that allowed students to experience and learn about traditional Indian art forms. Feedback from educators and students indicated increased engagement, improved motor skills, and a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage. The experience underscored the importance of empathy, iterative testing, and cultural sensitivity
in design, highlighting the value of inclusive,
user-centered solutions. It also demonstrated
that thoughtfully designed interactions can make complex cultural knowledge accessible, memorable, and meaningful for diverse audiences. The project has strong potential for adaptation and scaling, promoting cultural inclusivity and awareness across educational contexts.
