india : innovation from necessity : january 4-19

		INDIA boasts one of the oldest, most complex and most fascinating civilizations in the world. Her crafts, colors, flavors and philosophies have fascinated the world centuries. Now the fourth fastest growing economy in the world with 70% of the population under 35, India is an emerging market full of vitality. As globalization forces designers to rethink their role in developing Asian economies, India's economic potential is attracting major international corporations. Recently, attention has shifted to include a greater focus on the large population of ambitious enterprising youth and the immense spending power of India's rural sector. As global economic partnerships continue to expand, design has become the driving force behind innovation. The potential for businesses and designers to successfully partner with India is unmistakable. For designers especially, India offers a wealth of inspiration. Few cultures have as developed an aesthetic and manufacturing system so unattached to European and American ideas of correctness and beauty. This wealth of craft and tradition amidst scarce resources awakens new approaches to design, both practically and theoretically. The idsaNYC announces "Innovation from Necessity" an exploration for designers, organized by Greenmatter. This is a two-week design-focused tour of India through rural villages and urban centers. Participants will meet with designers, educators and entrepreneurs who are engaged in preserving India's cultural identity while embracing the opportunities that globalization provides. This tour gives participants a unique first-hand look at creative problem solving from a deeper more resource-driven perspective, an experience of India's ingenuity 'off the beaten path", and the opportunity to form relationships with socially-conscious designers and manufacturers in this rising player in the global marketplace.
For information and registration, contact: DEBERA JOHNSON VICTORIA KIRK January 4-19, 2007 COST: $3,500 includes program fees, accomodation and travel within India DEPOSIT: $1,500 non-refundable. due by December 12, 2006		BANGALORE We will start our tour in Bangalore at Fireflies Ashram, a secular ashram concerned with environmental responsibility, peace studies, and the deepening of democracy and civil society in India. Pipal Tree, the citizen's organization located in Fireflies, conducts local workshops for cultural revitalization of religion, myth, folk traditions, dance, art, and crafts as well as conflict resolution, water and agricultural sustainability. Presentations, behind the scenes tours and open dialogue with leading furniture, product, multimedia designers and design strategists in Bangalore City will illuminate how Indian designers address social, economic and environmental challenges. We will visit the Design Lab for Community and Self at the Srishti school of Art, Design and Technology, Idiom Design Consultancy a multi-disciplinary design firm encompassing Furniture, Interior, Product, Multimedia design and Design Strategy and IndusTree a home accessories using sustainable materials and local artisans for the domestic and export markets. AHMEDABAD From Bangalore, we will fly north to Ahmedabad, a vibrant mixture of 15th century Indian architecture and and contemporary buildings by Louis Kahn, Le Corbusier and India's Charles Correa. The city is also home to some of India's finest institutions, including the National Institute of Design and the Calico Museum of textiles where we will receive personal tours and engaging question and answer sessions. RAJASTHAN From Ahmedabad, we will travel to the Ajmer district of Rajasthan, where we will visit the Barefoot College in the rural village of Tilonia. The College encourages practical knowledge and skills, training the poorest of the poor to become self-sufficient. We will meet with village residents, and educators finding innovative solutions to provide drinking water, girl education, health & sanitation, income generation, and solar power. Following the trip, participants are invited to serve on a discussion panel at the "Design with India" conference on February 5, sponsored by the idsaNYC and the Asia Society. International airfare not included.

.