SanketA
Feb 2, 2023
Graduate / Statement of Purpose - Parsons The New School - Strategic Design and Management - MS [2]
My fascination grew towards the modular furniture industry in the early stages of my career. Since the 2nd term in B. Design, I have worked in the industry as a professional modular kitchen and wardrobe designer and salesperson. My curiosity and passion towards this field have always led me to develop new concepts.
M. Design opened my perspective towards research-based design. During the last semester of my Masters in 2021, I opted to work in the industry again and practice my freshly learned skillset in a more professional approach. Apart from my daily objectives and dealing with clients as a senior designer, I thoroughly researched, planned, designed and executed a premium modular furniture experience centre along with my colleagues and directors. The project witnessed some astonishing features and innovative concepts which were likely appreciated in the local market after execution and then I realised the importance and benefits of research-based designing. I also created a 116-page documentation of the same project which was presented as my final thesis project for the degree. We, as a team always had this exciting feeling to create, innovate and give something new to the modular furniture industry. Along the way, I picked up a lot of insights from my clients and directors and also my personal observations stating the introduction of arts in the kitchen space and its importance.
I also studied, 'Crafts in Interior Architecture' during my M. Design. It was one of my most acknowledged subjects and I was genuinely curious to explore it. This course cast upon me a light of knowledge about the Indian handicraft industry and a project report was prepared to discuss the conceptual development of any selected craft. I studied that there are many indigenous and tribal crafts communities in India and the rest of the world who required support to face the adverse effects of the pandemic, industrialization and technology-driven markets today. Although, we only prepared a design concept and a report for the course requirements so we couldn't cast any further support to the handicraft sector. The idea of not actually helping the sector struck hard and made a stepping stone for the topic to brainstorm about.
Soon, both the passionate urges; innovation in modular furniture and the uplifting of any handicraft sector, began their fusion in my mind and came up to create a bright and creative business concept. All this happened inside my thoughts and imagination at first. I later started researching the topics and creating a record of the findings. I observed that there are various fashion designers and kitchen manufacturers out there who are experimenting and collaborating to create stunning kitchen design ideas. Dolce & Gabbana X Smeg, Valcucine & Gucci are a few examples. I made up my purpose strong and decided upon my contribution to the industry. The main aim of this project is to amalgamate Indigenous craft practice - with luxury modular furniture - under a fashion brand value. I believe I have the passion and confidence to take this idea to a business level. I can design a strategy to generate a line of hand-crafted products and market them into the premium modular furniture segment without losing their cultural ethnicity and value.
I realised that this project holds the potential to be a business start-up whilst creating support and funding for craft communities, creating new trade and adding up a contribution to the economy, satisfying university requirements for research and contributing to the luxury modular interior design industry altogether.
Although, I require a professional approach to create a bridge between 3 different industries. Strategic Design and Management at The New School is perfectly sound to suit my purpose to strategically carve out a global innovation and support a social challenge and help me build this entrepreneurship altogether. I discovered more about the course details only to find the cherry on my cheesecake!
Rhea Alexander, Assistant Professor and faculty of Strategic Design and Management has more than 25 years of experience working with NGOs, SMEs and artisans across 16 countries to help develop and curate to bring a transition in designs. Her research interests suggest that she could be the perfect mentor for my research and start-up goals. Services like ELAB and real-world relevance feature another step toward my success. Being at Parsons - The New School will be like a blessed opportunity to develop this idea into a global business along with support and funding opportunities provided for graduate research and successfully blooming in the heart of NYC.
Statement of Purpose
My fascination grew towards the modular furniture industry in the early stages of my career. Since the 2nd term in B. Design, I have worked in the industry as a professional modular kitchen and wardrobe designer and salesperson. My curiosity and passion towards this field have always led me to develop new concepts.
M. Design opened my perspective towards research-based design. During the last semester of my Masters in 2021, I opted to work in the industry again and practice my freshly learned skillset in a more professional approach. Apart from my daily objectives and dealing with clients as a senior designer, I thoroughly researched, planned, designed and executed a premium modular furniture experience centre along with my colleagues and directors. The project witnessed some astonishing features and innovative concepts which were likely appreciated in the local market after execution and then I realised the importance and benefits of research-based designing. I also created a 116-page documentation of the same project which was presented as my final thesis project for the degree. We, as a team always had this exciting feeling to create, innovate and give something new to the modular furniture industry. Along the way, I picked up a lot of insights from my clients and directors and also my personal observations stating the introduction of arts in the kitchen space and its importance.
I also studied, 'Crafts in Interior Architecture' during my M. Design. It was one of my most acknowledged subjects and I was genuinely curious to explore it. This course cast upon me a light of knowledge about the Indian handicraft industry and a project report was prepared to discuss the conceptual development of any selected craft. I studied that there are many indigenous and tribal crafts communities in India and the rest of the world who required support to face the adverse effects of the pandemic, industrialization and technology-driven markets today. Although, we only prepared a design concept and a report for the course requirements so we couldn't cast any further support to the handicraft sector. The idea of not actually helping the sector struck hard and made a stepping stone for the topic to brainstorm about.
Soon, both the passionate urges; innovation in modular furniture and the uplifting of any handicraft sector, began their fusion in my mind and came up to create a bright and creative business concept. All this happened inside my thoughts and imagination at first. I later started researching the topics and creating a record of the findings. I observed that there are various fashion designers and kitchen manufacturers out there who are experimenting and collaborating to create stunning kitchen design ideas. Dolce & Gabbana X Smeg, Valcucine & Gucci are a few examples. I made up my purpose strong and decided upon my contribution to the industry. The main aim of this project is to amalgamate Indigenous craft practice - with luxury modular furniture - under a fashion brand value. I believe I have the passion and confidence to take this idea to a business level. I can design a strategy to generate a line of hand-crafted products and market them into the premium modular furniture segment without losing their cultural ethnicity and value.
I realised that this project holds the potential to be a business start-up whilst creating support and funding for craft communities, creating new trade and adding up a contribution to the economy, satisfying university requirements for research and contributing to the luxury modular interior design industry altogether.
Although, I require a professional approach to create a bridge between 3 different industries. Strategic Design and Management at The New School is perfectly sound to suit my purpose to strategically carve out a global innovation and support a social challenge and help me build this entrepreneurship altogether. I discovered more about the course details only to find the cherry on my cheesecake!
Rhea Alexander, Assistant Professor and faculty of Strategic Design and Management has more than 25 years of experience working with NGOs, SMEs and artisans across 16 countries to help develop and curate to bring a transition in designs. Her research interests suggest that she could be the perfect mentor for my research and start-up goals. Services like ELAB and real-world relevance feature another step toward my success. Being at Parsons - The New School will be like a blessed opportunity to develop this idea into a global business along with support and funding opportunities provided for graduate research and successfully blooming in the heart of NYC.
