They say it takes 3 weeks to form a habit. Continue this for another 3 months and this habit becomes a part of your lifestyle.

### ***The world stood still. It's now three months into the lockdown. Is this stillness going to remain?*** 

It all started during my time at *Think Design* as a design research intern. It was three months since the lockdown began, and the world slowly seemed to be getting acquainted with being remote.

The internship lasted from June to July 2020 and was split into two modules. During the first module, we were exposed to the various design research methods to get an understanding of when and how to use them in an everyday context.

> **[`Check out my interpretation of some design research methods in the Pokémon universe.`](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6699550915738775552/)**

### 

### **Research Area**

During the second module, multiple groups of interns chose the problem area they wanted to focus on and we were paired with a mentor. I was mentored by Mr. Alipta Ballav, Experience Design Head at Cerner India, where we explored the area “Relationships 2.0 - A New Normal of Relationships”.   I chose to explore the impact the pandemic has had on everyday relationships, and consequently how technology and virtual spaces post-pandemic are shaping these.

> **[`Read "A New Normal of Relationships" here`](https://think.design/internships-2020/reports/show-pdf/?f=MzM4OQ==)**

**Serendipity and Collaboration** ✨

My teammate, Khushboo Agarwal, during her time at Think Design, created a similar research report surrounding the theme - Entertainment 2.0.

> ## What started as a casual conversation surrounding the conclusion of our individual internships, quickly turned to discussing our insights and thinking about the question “What can we do with this information?”

\
We found that both the research topics were closely linked, specifically in the area of wanting to look for meaning and connection. But how does one navigate this desire in times of uncertainty and lack of safety to step out?

## Introducing

## Pigeon - A platform to connect, create and collaborate

\
Being physically distant during quarantine, people have resorted to the digital world to facilitate connections. Increased screen time, and being away from one's friends and peers have led to an increased feeling of loneliness and anxiety among people who cannot interact with their social circles in the way they used to.

### Pigeon aims to explore ways of facilitating social interactions between people through DIY activities safely during quarantine and while fostering social connections.

### The users can:

* Connect with pen pals based on shared interests

* After connecting, are provided an array of activity kits through which they can start their journey of expression, or choose to opt for these kits to re-connect with themselves.

* Minimize screen time while maintaining social connection.

* Share their creations, and letters back to their pals and keep this exchange going while garnering more rewards.

### **Methodologies**

Brainstorming, In-depth interviews, Document Research, Survey, Audio analysis, Trend Analysis, Affinity Mapping, Empathy Mapping, Persona, User Journey, IA, Workflows and Visual Design

### **Tools Used**

PGoogle Survey, Google Trends, Meet, Jamboard, Miro, Adobe Illustrator, Figma

### **Timeline**

June-Dec 2020

> ## This is an ongoing project. Reach out to us for more details regarding the next phases.

Pigeon - Design Research and Product Design Concept

\
\
As a part of my final graduation project, I was working at Aubergine Solutions, a UX design, and development agency, as a UX intern and later transitioned to a full-time role.

🏆 *I was awarded the **Most Innovative Project** in my department by the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Batch of 2021 for the work carried out here.*

`The Brief`

### **To identify gaps in the UX design process at Aubergine Solutions and improve workflow efficiency by the creation of Figma Plugins.**

> \
> To check the overview and working of the plugins, [check out my Google Slides Presentation here](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qHitz0TWKfGIELFli7NtwfWsCy_9GgiNyccLkFTD7D8/edit?usp=sharing) **🔗** \
> \
> Once you're done with the presentation, you could [check the detailed documentation of the process here ](https://issuu.com/abhijeeta/docs/figma_plugins_graduation_project_-_issu)**[🔗](https://issuu.com/abhijeeta/docs/figma_plugins_graduation_project_-_issu)**
>
> ```cv
> tweet
> https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qHitz0TWKfGIELFli7NtwfWsCy_9GgiNyccLkFTD7D8/edit?usp=sharing
> ```

\
`Company Profile`

**My Role:** UX Intern\
**Duration**: 16 weeks (January-May)\
**Company Size:** 80-100

\
**Project Team:**\
2 Mentors (Jui Pandya and Jinisha Gajjar)\
2 Developers (Jaimish Trivedi and Vishnu Kantliwala)\
1 Designer (me)

DesignOps: Creating Figma Plugins for workflow efficiency

The Ministry of Textiles in India started managing and developing craft practices in different regions of India that are otherwise based on oral traditions. Such craft practices which are sustained through oral traditions need to be documented so as to provide a concrete point of reference for future generations looking at carrying forward these traditional crafts.

**Team**\
Ajay Chauhan, Jasleen Ashta, Khushboo Agrawal, M. Abhijeeta Tejasi, Pranjal Jain, Ravi Shankar

## The Need

## Craft practices in India are versatile and need the support of various organizations to organize themselves and maintain relevance with time.

"Uncovering Jamdani: A Weaver's Narrative" is a design research project done under the Craft Cluster Initiative of NIFT for the Ministry of Textiles of India to understand the ecology of craft clusters.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FOajT2p8K1wZpTUTxmOjQzoP9I5B3%2Fjamdani%2F05f06075-27d9-47e6-b197-ef875bb916dd.png?alt=media&token=b8748718-2c70-432c-8cac-d1e9fa19efba","id":"05f06075-27d9-47e6-b197-ef875bb916dd","width":896,"height":623,"filename":"image 11.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FOajT2p8K1wZpTUTxmOjQzoP9I5B3%2Fjamdani%2Fd7f421cd-a1cf-4a0c-b2c6-e6ee7f8397b9.png?alt=media&token=e2e1f0db-1bf5-4d7c-a1ef-87771103b15e","id":"d7f421cd-a1cf-4a0c-b2c6-e6ee7f8397b9","width":1107,"height":1133,"filename":"image 4.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

## Deliverables

> Research Report

**A document** consisting of an understanding of the ecology of the Kalna cluster (West Bengal, India).  It explores a multitude of areas, with a focus on the history and the politics of the economy of handloom weavers against the onslaught of power looms variations, sustainability of the craft, SWOT and data analysis, and artisan profiling. Along with this, a focus on understanding the government schemes was founded to facilitate the sustainability and relevancy of the craft through time via training, and education programs.

The document also consists of future prospects and concept developments for the craft.

## *| Here is the link to the:* [`research report`](https://www.behance.net/gallery/94016117/Uncovering-Jamdani-A-Weavers-Narrative)`.`

This has been shared with the Ministry of Textiles and added to a shared repository maintained by them to aid and develop future programs.

> **A documentary video** was also developed as seen below:

```cv
vimeo
{"url":"https://vimeo.com/883435159?share=copy","width":426,"height":240,"thumbnail":"https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1751946120-e2b114a5fac43f213a7bee165b69f4f6f207f8a58515f0d4c3da786540f709f0-d_295x166"}
```

### `The research not only focuses on learning about Jamdani as a craft but also digs deeper into understanding a more personal narrative created by the artisans who are involved with the craft.`

## Duration

## **May 2019- November 2019**

> *7 days of immersion*

## Research Methods

The research at hand uses ***ethnography*** as a methodology and uses socio-cultural practices related to Jamdani. The research also uses ***field notes*** as a strategy to ***conduct a narrative inquiry*** into how we are looking at these practices. Insight on the craft of Jamdani has also been gained through intuitive knowledge of what we perceived of the surroundings and the people involved in the craft.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FOajT2p8K1wZpTUTxmOjQzoP9I5B3%2Fjamdani%2Fc5dcdc62-d499-4297-84bd-d4831c1b62cb.png?alt=media&token=1c902660-eb02-4dd1-9d73-9da464ada6d3","id":"c5dcdc62-d499-4297-84bd-d4831c1b62cb","width":1363,"height":909,"filename":"image 6.png","type":"image/png","caption":"the team filming the yarn dying process and understanding montu bosak's story","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FOajT2p8K1wZpTUTxmOjQzoP9I5B3%2Fjamdani%2F5c198fb9-a87c-4561-9953-273470ee6569.png?alt=media&token=0d3ab6fd-6a16-4963-bd3e-60a8120c2715","id":"5c198fb9-a87c-4561-9953-273470ee6569","width":871,"height":623,"filename":"image 13.png","type":"image/png","caption":"yarn drying after gettied dyed ","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FOajT2p8K1wZpTUTxmOjQzoP9I5B3%2Fjamdani%2F5e7dd3f3-594e-468b-89f9-13f1a354a7b6.png?alt=media&token=161021e9-6cda-4c9e-9eab-c1ddf24a5213","id":"5e7dd3f3-594e-468b-89f9-13f1a354a7b6","width":1363,"height":909,"filename":"image 7.png","type":"image/png","caption":"foreground: pranjal and me, background: jasleen, interviweing the artisans in their local language, bengali","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FOajT2p8K1wZpTUTxmOjQzoP9I5B3%2Fjamdani%2F3c92b163-4592-4330-adc0-7566419f9d65.png?alt=media&token=404a7252-a680-4518-84e9-ca131f0cd1ae","id":"3c92b163-4592-4330-adc0-7566419f9d65","width":1363,"height":767,"filename":"image 8.png","type":"image/png","caption":"ecology analysis","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FOajT2p8K1wZpTUTxmOjQzoP9I5B3%2Fjamdani%2F4dcc3f31-e4fb-4b4e-abd8-e832f30518db.png?alt=media&token=6c391422-8745-4e5f-8679-0e7560118c5b","id":"4dcc3f31-e4fb-4b4e-abd8-e832f30518db","width":1363,"height":909,"filename":"image 1.png","type":"image/png","caption":"immersifying in the surroundings of the artisans","border":false}]}
```

There appear to be many problems associated with the ecology of sustaining Jamdani as a craft that this research intends to explore. Deep emphasis has been laid on the sustainable practices related to this craft, starting from the first point of sourcing raw material in the process until it reaches the end consumer to threats of continuity of the craft to future generations. \
\
Some snippets of the findings are as follows:

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FOajT2p8K1wZpTUTxmOjQzoP9I5B3%2Fjamdani%2F11d86808-0666-4322-8d98-00bc8b315076.png?alt=media&token=d6cd5686-bd98-49e5-8e32-e41f80d66f9e","id":"11d86808-0666-4322-8d98-00bc8b315076","width":1526,"height":790,"filename":"image 19.png","type":"image/png","caption":"threat: more artisan families that do not want to continue passing on the craft","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FOajT2p8K1wZpTUTxmOjQzoP9I5B3%2Fjamdani%2Fcc3e54ff-795d-4491-bc8a-86d1d5235ae9.png?alt=media&token=a0426ae3-2699-4094-a0d4-6ceaa2943f41","id":"cc3e54ff-795d-4491-bc8a-86d1d5235ae9","width":1526,"height":790,"filename":"Frame 1.png","type":"image/png","caption":"craft sustenence is linked to being part of communities or organisations","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FOajT2p8K1wZpTUTxmOjQzoP9I5B3%2Fjamdani%2F973ba985-66e2-4f13-a18c-71f2d549a5d5.png?alt=media&token=2eb73b9a-7c8e-42b4-94c5-f0297b5d02be","id":"973ba985-66e2-4f13-a18c-71f2d549a5d5","width":1526,"height":790,"filename":"image 18.png","type":"image/png","caption":"health hazards ","border":false}]}
```

Other areas that are highlighted in the document include the proposed solutions to the problems along with the material and design interventions by the indigenous artisans.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FOajT2p8K1wZpTUTxmOjQzoP9I5B3%2FkMx5FEEIi1sPJtIT5GpZ%2F835876fe-7109-4e31-9eea-47efbdb0d7cb.png?alt=media&token=0a205863-8430-4876-b690-80b8d15e7a01","id":"835876fe-7109-4e31-9eea-47efbdb0d7cb","width":591,"height":584,"filename":"Screenshot 2021-04-29 at 12.54.55 AM.png","type":"image/png","caption":"A white jamdani in weaving process, a bobbin wrapped in white thread lays on the surface","border":false}]}
```

Uncovering Jamdani: A Weaver's Narrative

experience design & research

Most Innovative Project

My project focused on DesignOps and creating Figma Plugins used by the internal team to improve workflow efficiency by making the developer hand-off process easier.

Discontinued after the first year as interests lied elsewhere

Major in Fashion Communication
Minor in Fashion Technology

My course subjects included: Design Strategy, Interface Design, UX Design, Design Research, System Thinking, Introduction to AI, Photography, Videography

National Institute of Fashion Technology

pigeon

Graduation Project: Creating a set of figma plugins used internally at Aubergine Solutions to improve workflow efficiency

Figma Plugins

• Performed ethnographic research to accurately identify and understand the ecology of handloom craft clusters in West Bengal. • Produced a video that resonated with audiences and promoted engagement and sensitivity toward craft clusters as a part of the documentation process. • Utilized data visualization and data management techniques to effectively mine unstructured artisan data.

Uncovering Jamdani

Uncovering Jamdani: Ethnographic Study

a video exploration of the mind during the onset of the pandemic, and the play between our external and internal worlds.

Ipseity: Discovering Selfhood

Sales and management volunteer for various labels and designers including Suneet Varma, Khanijo & Amrita Thakur

Sales and Management

Created company specific research reports with illustrations to enhance social media engagement.

Also collaborated with founders and designers to develop ideas for ongoing product development process.

Design Research Intern

Worked on a mentor-led research project aiming to define Relationships 2.0; how the pandemic has shaped relationships, which included in-depth interviews, surveys, trend analysis, focus groups and secondary research methods. Deduced key-insights and findings and made a research report that was later published to a shared knowledge base.

Think Design

⦿ My work included creating usability reviews, primary and user research, creating user journeys, concept sketches, wireframes & visual designs across various b2b and b2c clients. Started off as an internship that later transitioned to a full-time role.

Aubergine Solutions

UX Designer

Collaborated with the UX team to test and ship features for an employee engagement mobile app, created task flows and wireframes.

I also handled the research for 17dnorth's website redesign which included secondary research, brainstorming, insight documentation, competitive analysis, UX Analysis and journey mapping.

17dnorth- LifeCykul

UX Design Intern

⦿ Designed, scaled and supported consumer finance experiences across LATAM, Indonesia, and Turkey markets to enable and make second-hand car financing accessible, keeping in mind the cultural constraints each country offered. In addition to delivering UX concepts, created pitch decks to get buy-in from leadership and facilitated workshops with business and product units

⦿ Led the content strategies for the design conference D’Light taking charge of aspects such as social media, community engagement initiatives, mailings, speaker coordination, and Q/A moderation. Owned and curated the event "Sentipensar: Spaces for Soulful Systemic Change", overseeing all aspects of its planning and execution.

⦿ Developed concepts for crafting the vision for OLX Autos using videos as an aid that helped facilitate a multi-day workshop with key stakeholders.

OLX Autos: A Joy Ride for Everyone - Designing Consumer Finance Experiences

⦿ Spearheaded new growth initiatives by designing and developing onboarding strategies for upcoming categories and bundled experiences within Tata Neu. This involved managing stakeholders for a super-app and identifying business opportunities through qualitative interviews, secondary research, and trend analysis.

⦿ Translated these insights into new design concepts, workshops, trend reports, and pitch decks, ensuring alignment with internal and external stakeholders.

⦿ Designed and delivered experiences for the Tata Neu Rewards League during IPL 2023, boosting app downloads and engagement, while continuously moderating user testing groups, swiftly documenting and implementing feedback.

abhijeeta tejasi

2021