The project works on an innovative strategy by integrating the student’s curriculum and activities to cluster activities. This helps in tapping the inherent talents and capabilities of Rural poor through young change agents.

Students apart from academic benefit get a chance to connect to the craft legacy and hands on experience at the grassroot level.

Various activities undertaken by students at clusters are as follows :

1. Diagnostic study

A key tool for the Cluster Development Initiative, which gathers previously dispersed and fragmented knowledge about economic and social conditions of the Cluster its development potentials, inter-relationships of the stakeholders and existing institutional support mechanisms. The Diagnostic also facilitates in understanding the beneficiary and spreading awareness amongst the beneficiaries and community mobilization . The Diagnostic study ends with preparation of a board action plan for the identified cluster. This in turn helps in strategy development for ,each of the focussed craft areas which is characteristically different from the other in terms of respective skill levels, product development, material based requirements, infrastructural needs and prevailing market network.

2. Skill mapping and mobilization :

Students visit the clusters regularly and help in mapping the skill levels of the artisans through interactions at various levels. Questionnaires are developed in consultation to the Cluster Initiative coordinators and Project consultants . Sampling of the same is done and based on results skil mapping survey are carried out. This helps in focusing the efforts to the needs of the artisans and preparing customized packages of training and development.


3. New product development through design intervention workshops:

Developing design extension of the present product line into greater variety and wider range based on the existing skills and new market niches.
Design and product development is a critical component of craft development . this function of the students through the design studio brings in fresh opportunities in the constantly changing market environment . This in turn will help in specific range development for higher value realization for various retailers Exporters. This is taken up at regular intervals and the products developed through various such workshops will be promoted as a collective brand. As part of formulating Design brief students take following points into consideration :

• Core competence of the Craft Cluster
• Possible opportunities for product differentiation.
• Styles characterization
• Consumer & market segments
• Added value realization.
• Trends and Forecast
• New product applications
• Concept development
• Product realization & Trade feedback

4. Technology upgradation :

Through this activity students help in Improving overall quality of the existing products through refinement of the processes. Imparting alternative manufacturing techniques & process knowledge for possible expansion & new directions also forms a part of there cluster activities.


5. Marketing and brand building :

students from communication department based on there field study and interaction with the artisans, help in promotional activities related to the clusters. They help in developing identities of the clusters and crafts through logos, promotional materials like posters , marketing tools like broachers and catalogues. Students even help in communication and packaging related areas.


6. Projects :

Students also work on Diploma projects and Design collections based on the craft clusters. Such activities are sponsored through the project and lead to long term benefit of the artisans and clusters.