Publications
Problem-based learning for craftspeople
Explores problem-based learning methodologies tailored for traditional artisans and craftspeople, focusing on collaborative skill development and practical design interventions.
Understanding the Sustainability of the Indian Craft Sector
Examines systemic sustainability challenges across traditional Indian craft clusters through a distributed economy lens and community-driven resource frameworks.
Revitalizing craftsmanship in the digital age: a study on skill enhancement and sustainable development of Northeast India’s craft sector
Investigates digital tool integration and skill enhancement strategies to foster sustainable economic growth and cultural preservation across Northeast India's craft sector.
Balance: A Gamified Toolkit for Sustainability-oriented Design Thinking
Introduces a gamified design thinking framework and interactive toolkit to teach sustainability principles, cost analysis, and circular economy practices.
Challenge-Based Mobile Application to Teach Artisans How to Use Instagram for Their Business
Presents a mobile application design using challenge-based learning to train traditional handloom artisans in social media marketing and online brand promotion.
Adapting Traditions for Tomorrow: Empowering Handloom Artisans Through Design
Details collaborative design interventions and capacity-building frameworks empowering handloom weaving communities with market-aligned product innovations.
Design for Financial Independence in the Rural Sector for the Sustainable Development of Crafts and Craftsperson
Analyzes financial literacy models and decentralized enterprise structures designed to secure sustainable livelihoods and economic autonomy for rural artisans.
Weaving Sustainably: Feminine Design Principles in Action
Explores feminine design principles and sustainable handloom weaving practices to foster community well-being and caring design frameworks.
Review of Craft Revival Techniques
Provides a systematic review of craft revival strategies, technological interventions, and sustainable development models for artisan ecosystems.
Process parameters optimizing in injection moulding process on polypropylene
Analyzes optimization parameters for polypropylene injection moulding processes to minimize defect rates and improve structural integrity.
Projects & Collaborations
26 - 28th Nov 2025 - Train the trainer workshop
We launched our book Sutra: A Principle of Craft training at the 3-day Train the Trainer workshop organised by Sustainability & Social Innovation (SSI) Lab, Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, in collaboration with NEHHDC and DC Handicraft, funded by DIC, IIT Guwahati, Ministry of Education, Government of India. The book offers a structured approach to developing craft training programs. The book is an outcome of Shivram Kumar’s doctoral research.
7 Craft Cluster Diagnosis and Craft Pedagogy Design
Diagnostic assessment and craft pedagogy design across seven traditional craft clusters, developed for Vijayvahini Charitable Foundation (Supported by Tata Trusts) to strengthen artisan training systems and sustainable regional economic growth.
24th Sep 2025 - Gamified entrepreneurship teaching program for Humana People to People India trainers
We trained 30 trainers of Humana People to People India who are engaged in training handloom artisans of Kamrup, Dhubri and Chirang in Finloom and Loom Inv, the two games developed at SSI Lab for entrepreneurship education.
University of Eastern Finland (Erasmus+ Project)
Joint international academic collaboration and research initiative under the Erasmus+ Program focusing on sustainable design education, cross-cultural craft pedagogy, and knowledge exchange.
8th May 2025 - IIT Guwahati signed an MoU with NEHHDC
IIT Guwahati signed an MoU with NEHHDC (Ministry of DoNER, Govt of India) to conduct capacity-building training programs for craft trainers across Northeast India using our structured 5P Sutra Training Program framework.
Products
MOR XAJ
A client consultation app that helps customers and artisans to communicate customization more effectively with an idea of cost implications.
KALA PATH
This course develops advanced economic decision-making capabilities through comprehensive cost analysis, break-even calculations, ROI evaluation, and strategic pricing methodologies essential for sustainable business operations. Students will master customer relationship management, seasonal demand planning, product diversification strategies, and emergency financial planning to optimize profitability while managing market risks and operational challenges.
CLICK & SOCIAL
Click & Social addresses the challenges Indian handloom artisans face in showcasing their products online. It offers a smartphone-based photography support system with guided templates, lighting instructions, real-time camera prompts, and video tutorials to help artisans take high-quality images with minimal resources.
FINLOOM
This course provides foundational financial literacy skills including cash flow management, bookkeeping, banking products, loan types, and digital payment systems essential for personal and small business financial operations. Students will develop analytical decision-making capabilities to navigate financial scenarios including emergency planning, risk assessment, and strategic financial choices under varying economic and personal circumstances.
LOOM INV
This course covers comprehensive inventory and supply chain management from raw material procurement to final product delivery, emphasizing profitability optimization, strategic outsourcing decisions, and demand forecasting techniques. Students will master advanced financial concepts including banking, collateral, and auction mechanisms while developing crisis management and strategic decision-making skills to navigate diverse operational challenges such as market volatility, natural disasters, and resource constraints.
XILPOKOTHA
Xilpokotha introduced a structured three-step learning framework Rekha (line), Aakar (shape), Aakriti (motif) – which breaks down the process of motif creation into intuitive, memorable stages. Together, these elements created a multisensory experience where artisans could trace, construct, and practice motifs in a step-by-step manner, making design both accessible and empowering.
KRITI
A gamified motif creation learning system consisting of a board game, 5-level training booklet and an app.
ASSAM KALA
A gamified motif creation learning system consisting of a board game, 5-level training booklet and an app.
IPR
Modular Tactile-Feedback Educational Board System and Method for Professional Motif Design Training
Board Game System for Inventory Management Training of Artisans and Others with Low Literacy Levels
Board Game Design for Financial Literacy Education of Artisans and Others with Low Literacy Levels
Research
ABOUT ME
Designer, Researcher & Systems Thinker dedicated to empowering rural artisan communities.
Dr. Shivram Kumar is a design researcher and practitioner with expertise in Social Innovation, Craft Revival, and Problem-Based Learning. His work bridges traditional craft ecosystems with contemporary market frameworks through human-centered design, gamified educational toolkits, and distributed economic models.
Having completed his doctoral research at the Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Dr. Kumar has collaborated with premier institutions, international organizations (Erasmus+), government bodies (Ministry of DoNER, NEHHDC), and non-profits (Tata Trusts, Humana People to People India) to transform artisan training and financial literacy across India.
He is the founder of Sutra and author of "Sutra: A Principle of Craft Training", creator of patented educational board systems, mobile learning applications, and gamified business frameworks tailored for traditional craftspeople.
CORE FOCUS AREAS
Professional Experience & Appointments
Complete chronological record of research associate roles, teaching appointments, founding initiatives, and internships.
| Period | Role / Position | Organization & Location | Key Focus & Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| JULY 2026 — PRESENT | Research Associate | IIT Guwahati | Research and development of curriculum for Antaran’s craft clusters in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland and Odisha. |
| MAY 2026 — PRESENT | Founder & Director | Sutra The Craft Training Solutions Private Limited | Founder and director developing craft pedagogy frameworks and structured training toolkits for artisan communities. |
| MAR — APR 2026 | Visiting Faculty | NIFT Shillong | Taught Creative thinking skills for 2 different student batches. |
| OCT 2025 | Visiting Faculty | NIFT Shillong | Took Self and Society course for 2 different student batches. |
| JULY — NOV 2025 (2022–2025) | Teaching Assistant | NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) | Worked as Teaching assistant for the course System Design for Sustainability across terms (July-Nov 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022). |
| JULY 2021 — PRESENT | Teaching Assistant | Department of Design, IIT Guwahati | User Research Methods, System design for Sustainability, Design analytics. |
| 2024 — 2025 | Placement Representative | Centre for Career Development, IIT Guwahati | Departmental Placement Representative for the Department of Design. |
| SEP 2020 — PRESENT | Founder & Designer | Bagaichaa | Ceramic studio works in collaboration with designers and local artisans. Involved in new product development, product marketing and interacting with local artisans. |
| JAN — JUNE 2021 | Ceramic Craft Apprentice | Upendra Maharathi Shilpa Anusandhan Sansthan | Learnt industrial and non-industrial manufacturing techniques of ceramic. Developed a range of products for their craft emporium. |
| DEC 2019 | Design Intern | Shilpa Sadan, Visva-Bharati University | Developed range of leather products with the type of leathers available and techniques used in Bolpur i.e., Batik, emboss and pattern making. |
| MAY — JULY 2019 | Design Intern | Industrial Design Centre (IDC), IIT Bombay | Design and development of Lamp system using Bamboo; and Field study for Design Opportunity Assessment for Odisha Govt. |
| DEC 2018 | Design Intern | Grau Bar Design | Wood working, Material understanding, Advanced form studies, Sculpting, Bamboo treatment methods. |
Research Associate
IIT Guwahati •
Research and development of curriculum for Antaran’s craft clusters in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland and Odisha.
Founder & Director
Sutra The Craft Training Solutions Private Limited •
Founder and director developing craft pedagogy frameworks and structured training toolkits for artisan communities.
Visiting Faculty
NIFT Shillong •
Taught Creative thinking skills for 2 different student batches.
Visiting Faculty
NIFT Shillong •
Took Self and Society course for 2 different student batches.
Teaching Assistant
NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) •
Worked as Teaching assistant for the course System Design for Sustainability across terms (July-Nov 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022).
Teaching Assistant
Department of Design, IIT Guwahati •
User Research Methods, System design for Sustainability, Design analytics.
Placement Representative
Centre for Career Development, IIT Guwahati •
Departmental Placement Representative for the Department of Design.
Founder & Designer
Bagaichaa •
Ceramic studio works in collaboration with designers and local artisans. Involved in new product development, product marketing and interacting with local artisans.
Ceramic Craft Apprentice
Upendra Maharathi Shilpa Anusandhan Sansthan •
Learnt industrial and non-industrial manufacturing techniques of ceramic. Developed a range of products for their craft emporium.
Design Intern
Shilpa Sadan, Visva-Bharati University •
Developed range of leather products with the type of leathers available and techniques used in Bolpur i.e., Batik, emboss and pattern making.
Design Intern
Industrial Design Centre (IDC), IIT Bombay •
Design and development of Lamp system using Bamboo; and Field study for Design Opportunity Assessment for Odisha Govt.
Design Intern
Grau Bar Design •
Wood working, Material understanding, Advanced form studies, Sculpting, Bamboo treatment methods.
Get in Touch
Interested in partnering on a social innovation initiative, UX research study, or systems design project? Let's talk.