Shakti Design Residency
The Shakti Design Residency is an ambitious initiative I have envisioned for quite some time. The timing feels particularly important now as we witness a global shift towards valuing craftsmanship and innovation in design. One of the unique aspects of this residency is our focus not just on artisanship, but also on entrepreneurship. India is increasingly recognised for its technology expertise and a willingness to embrace the role of design in creation of a better future. Likewise, partnering with Basic. Space was a natural choice, and all our jury members truly appreciate the importance of fostering a new vision of design. Our aim is to bring all these elements together to create a transformative and enriching experience for the participants.
The 2024 edition of the Shakti Design Residency brought together a diverse cohort of international designers whose practices reflect a deep engagement with craft and material. New York–based industrial designer Kickie Chudikova is known for joyful, sculptural forms that balance raw materiality with technical precision. German designer and artist Luca Gruber creates objects that honour artisanal labour and explore the tactile possibilities of noble materials. Interdisciplinary textile designer Helena Bajaj Larsen, working between France, India, and Dubai, collaborates closely with craft communities across the global south. Japanese designer Aya Kawabata draws on traditional iconography to reimagine cultural narratives through textile and graphic design. Based in China, Duyi Han crafts immersive aesthetic experiences shaped by philosophy, neuroscience, and speculative form.
At its core, the Shakti Design Residency is a living lab, an evolving experiment in the future of craft. Designers and artisans collaborate with mutual respect to push what traditional craftsmanship can become. Each year, Shakti pairs emerging and established designers with India’s leading craft ateliers, including the Chanakya School of Craft, Klove Studio, Jaipur Rugs, and Vikram Goyal Studio. Together, they create original, limited-edition works launched on Curio for a global audience. Every collaboration reinforces one truth: handmade objects carry beauty, history, culture, and creative transformation.
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