Systemic Inquiry for
Inclusive Economies
How can design research equip marginalised maker groups with tools of socio-economic resilience?
Summary
A mixed-methods design research study on structural barriers, skill inequities, and economic exclusions faced by SC/ST women artisans in Arunachal Pradesh. The research generates actionable insights for the government and stakeholders towards policy, market access, to create sustainable craft economies.
Role :
Design Research I Visual Communication Design
Team :
Sanskruti Shukla, Astha Malu, Neelima Hasija ( 3 researchers + 1 Project Head)
Client :
National Institute of Design Ahmedabad &
Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department Arunachal Pradesh
Project funded by World Bank SANKALP
Overview
India’s craft sector generates ₹45,000 crore annually, with women artisans playing a significant role. In Arunachal Pradesh, over 73,000 women are employed in handloom and handicrafts (PIB). However, women artisans in remote regions face challenges like limited access to markets, training, and resources.
In 2024, a research initiative, funded by the World Bank SANKALP and led by the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department ( SDE) of Government of Arunachal Pradesh in collaboration with NID Ahmedabad, sought to map the skills and resources of women artisans across 28 districts divided into 4 zones.
PROGRESS
6 Districts
4 Bodies
10 Skill sets
500+ Key Stakeholders
now identified and engaged.
POTENTIAL
Suggestive measures from this report could impact over 500+ craftswomen, aged 16 to 70, through -
+ Improved resource access,
+ Financial literacy,
+ Per annum income,
+ Skill development, and
+ Market Connectivity,
thereby boosting their economic independence and strengthening Arunachal Pradesh’s craft sector for future generations.
Project Journey
The research was conducted in three phases:
I. Primary Research,
II. On-Field Research
III. Analysis.
The methodology was designed in alignment with stakeholder needs, ensuring
a comprehensive understanding of the craft ecosystem.
It involved targeted data collection methods to map skills, identify resource gaps, and examine socio-economic factors,
Stakeholders
The implementation of this project requires across multiple levels of the craft ecosystem.
Stakeholders ranged from state-level leadership to on-ground facilitators and beneficiaries. Each group contributed significantly to the planning, execution, and refinement of the study. Their roles, while varied, were all critical to the overall functioning and understanding of the craft sector in Arunachal Pradesh.
Meeting People where they are.
6 Districts
8 Tribes
50+ Workspaces
500+ Stakeholders
Click and Drag the location pins to navigate through the map.
Meeting the Maker
Understanding The User
Rather than anchoring user personas to fixed demographic categories, this study traces the shared challenges that shape the lived experiences of diverse groups. Identifying pain points and proposing solutions forms only one part of the process; equally important is understanding the aspirations and future pathways that craftswomen imagine for themselves.
Spanning different age groups, the craftswomen engage with similar tools and practices, participating at various stages of making. Their experiences reflect a range of challenges — from access to resources and intergenerational knowledge transfer, to sustaining their crafts within changing social and economic landscapes.
Where Challenges lie,
Opportunities exist.
The following map particularly showcases the nature of challenges identified on field that hinder with the craftswoman's practice.Each challenge differs in intensity in each district. This map aims to provide a subjective outline of problems persisting in the districts that have been observed during the project study.
Subsequent maps showcase -
I. Challenges and Intensity Map
II. Resource Map
III. Institutional Su
DOSSIER OF FUTURE WAYFORWARD
PROJECT REPORT
THIS PROJECT IS PROTECTED BY NDA.
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