AHIMSA. 

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Client 
Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project
J. B. Petit High School for Girls

Timeline 
01– 8 week (Sept-Nov ‘16) 02– 8 weeks (Sept-Nov ‘17)

Tools 
Handmade Papers bound in Khadi Fabric, Sustainable Inks, Handmade Jute Pouches
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Procreate

Skills  Illustration, Graphic Design, Colorway Development, Digital Prototyping, Concept DevelopmentFundraising, Marketing

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THE PROJECT  

The two-fold project aimed at instigating consumers to live mindfully through constant visual reminders.

The project was rooted in its committement to fundraise for the education of girls through the production of sustainable, eco-friendly products that increased employement and promoted craft in local communities. 

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THE APPROACH  

Both the products were developed through a process of constant iteration and care to hand-crafting special, mindful objects that could guide consumers in their daily lives. The prodcut development phases included, but were not limited to: 

• Concept Development
  
• Visual Identity Creation 
  
• Graphic Design Layout  
  
• Illustration with Digital Manipulations 
  
• Prototyping & Sampling 
  
• Final Print & Manufacturing 
  
• Marketing, Advertizing & Product Lobbying for Fundraising
  
• Negotiating Deals and Orders with Corporates 
  
• Packaging, Shipping & Delivering Product Requests

 

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THE COLLABORATORS

This project was conducted by 'Handmaking Hope' to raise funds for the ‘J.B. Petit High School for Girls’ and the ‘Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project’


     
HANDMAKING HOPE 
'Handmaking Hope' is the Non-Governmental Organization I started in 2016, focused on raising funds for the education of the girl child in India: a country where girls are denied education and seen merely as objects of the patriarchy. We ‘Handmake Hope’ through our philosophy of sustainability where we ensure that each woman, and each girl child can sustain themselves through a practice of craft.  



J. B. PETIT HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
The ‘J.B. Petit High School for Girls’ was founded in 1860 with the aim of providing an education to Indian girls who were restricted from attending British schools in Bombay. With their motto: ‘Ever Forward,’ the school has educated thousands of girls when they were denied their basic right to education.

SHANTI BHAVAN CHILDREN’S PROJECT
The ‘Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project’ empowers children from impoverished backgrounds to bring positive change to their families and communities. Each child receives 17 years of educational intervention, from their first day of school to their first day of work.

THE IMPACT

450 copies sold to fundraise for the primary education of underprivileged girl children through the Right to Education Act by the Government of India

2000 copies sold to fundraise to sponsor the education, room, and board of girl children from the age of four, till the first day of their jobs after graduating college through the Shanti Bhavan Children's Project

PHASE 1– AVANT-GARDE AHIMSA

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Rooted in Indian philosophy, the concept referenced the ‘Ahimsa Movement’ from the ‘Independence Movement’ in India and applied it to all aspects of life

VISUAL IDENTITY

Developing a visual identity for the product and the concept, focused on the idea of hand creating and cultivating light and love.

The motto for the product was: ‘STOP STRUGGLING. START BLOSSOMING.’

GRAPHIC DESIGN LAYOUT

The calendar was designed with a minimal color pallete and aesthetic.

SUSTAINABILITY and ETHICAL PRODUCTION were integral in designing the calendar.

Each page has a perforation to convert the pages into useable postcards to minimize waste. 

ILLUSTRATION

Each illustration was created on paper, and cleaned up using digital platforms.

There was a conceptual basis to each illustration. 

PRINTING & MANUFACTURING

The manufacturing process was conducted out of a small print shop in Fort, Mumbai.

The process employed 8 local craftsmen who hand-bound and assembled each piece.

The paper and inks used were bio-degradable and sustainable.

PHASE 2– YOG ASANAS

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

The concept is instilled in Indian and Buddhist phiilosophy, while contextualizing it in the modern-day of technological advancements.  

︎ VISUAL IDENTITY

The visual identity was created using the colors of the galaxy, to signify one-ness with the universe, while using the iconic image of peace and serenity: a woman in a cross-legged yoga asana. 

 ILLUSTRATION & GRAPHIC DESIGN LAYOUT

The diary was designed with a bold, yet soothing color pallete and aesthetic.

The illustrations had a conceptual basis and followed the same color pallete.

Each illustration was created on paper, and cleaned up using digital platforms. 

PRINTING & MANUFACTURING

The manufacturing process was conducted out of a small print shop in Fort, Mumbai.

The process employed 8 local craftsmen who hand-bound and assembled each piece.

The paper and inks used were bio-degradable and sustainable.