Sustainability and Social Innovation Lab

The SSI Lab, at the Department of Design, IIT Guwahati, aims to foray into research and product deve Thus DfS stands on the pillars of innovation.

Design for Sustainability (DfS) is an emerging and significant domain. It is also one of the prime needs of the hour considering the burden of human consumption and production. In order to create sustainable human consumption and production, a complete revamp of the consumption structure os needed. Through the Sustainability and Social Innovation Lab, the Department of Design at IIT Guwahati, aims

to foray into this domain. The R&D at the lab focusses on three structural components:

1. Knowledge Innovation
2. Product and Service Innovation
3. Social Innovation

Different approaches to sustainability, suited to different contexts, have been developed. Our group is more focused towards the needs of the Indian context. The Indian context is very unique as it is a combination of both marginalized and industrialized sectors. Thus we need to develop solutions for both these sectors. Also we need to equip our students to become sensitive and equipped with tackling this broad spectrum of challenge. We also need to explore aspects of sustainability so well integrated in some of our traditional customs and ways of living and explore the avenues of extrapolating them to today’s context. Based on the current scenario, we have identified the following gap areas for further research and development in our lab.

1. Gaps in measurement of sustainability

1.1 No tools and methods exist for capturing degree of sustainability in traditional practices in rural and urban areas
1.2 No tools and methods exist for capturing degree of sustainability of the rural way of life

2. Gaps in application of sustainability

2.1 No tools and methodologies exist for product development for grassroots
2.2 No systematic design process tailored for sustainable frugal product design exists

3. Gaps in education for sustainability

3.1 Participatory design methods not well explored in design for sustainability curriculum

Thus the objective of SSi lab are as follows:

1. To provide infrastructure and guidance to student projects related to DfS.
2. Conduct training sessions for interested local institutions and bodies in the application of DfS.
3. Research into DfS, Sustainable Frugal Design and developing case studies in DfS through execution of projects.
4. Development of course material related to DfS.
5. Developing tools and methodologies for the implementation of DfS in the emerging, marginalized and industrialized contexts.

04/09/2023

Join our 5-day workshop on Design for Sustainability at IIT Guwahati.
Special offer for - registration fees only INR 5000/-. Limited number of seats. Register fast!

For working professionals - INR 20,000/-
Visit - http://www.sustainability-and-social-innovation.com

A Bibliometric Analysis of Research in VR and Haptics

25/07/2023

New publication from our lab.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Research in VR and Haptics The applications and uses of virtual reality (VR) and haptics are expanding at an accelerating rate. Several use cases have already emerged beyond providing entertainment and passive experiences. With the increased importance of haptics in VR, research in this area...

Senior Citizens and Smartphones: Identifying User Segments in Urban Middle-Class India

25/07/2023

New publication from our lab.

Senior Citizens and Smartphones: Identifying User Segments in Urban Middle-Class India Despite rapidly growing smartphone ubiquity, technology has not been designed and developed accounting for the abilities, perceptions, and preferences of an ageing population. The effects of ageing include cognitive and physiological decline; this, along with habits...

11/04/2023

We are looking for PhD candidates (CDMR, IIT Guwahati) who are passionate about the broader field of Disaster Management and Risk Reduction, specifically in the area of Product Design for Disaster Resilience.

13/03/2023

In this blog post, we will explore the concept of 'designerly ways' for sustainable livelihoods. http://www.sustainability-and-social-innovation.com/blog/designerly-ways-for-sustainable-livelihoods

‘Designerly Ways’ for Sustainable Livelihoods In this blog post, we will explore the concept of 'designerly ways' for sustainable livelihoods. The sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA) is centered around developing people by building their...

09/03/2023

Distributed Economies: A Promising Model for Local Sustainability
https://lnkd.in/g47REDbi

Distributed Economies: A Promising Model for Local Sustainability The current economic paradigm, characterized by a continuous pursuit of economic efficiency in resource exploitation, is unsustainable and unfair. There is an urgent need to reframe the economy...

Photos from Sustainability and Social Innovation Lab's post

16/02/2023

Our field visit to Sualkuchi is an integral part of the System Design for Sustainability course.
A collaboration between , , SBMS College and local experts, the visit aims to gain insight into the production process, market dynamics, and the impact of technology and innovation. This interdisciplinary collaboration will help shape the future of the silk handloom industry, promoting sustainable growth and preservation of this important cultural and economic asset. Join us as we delve into the socio-economic ecosystem of the silk handloom industry in Sualkuchi, Assam. .

16/02/2023

An enriching experience for students and faculty of IIT Guwahati and Aalto University at SBMS College, Sualkuchi, where we gained comprehensive insights into the silk handloom industry and its socio-economic ecosystem. The visit helped us understand the importance of preserving traditional knowledge, promoting sustainability and innovation, and strengthening local communities. We're excited to apply this knowledge to shape a sustainable future for the silk handloom industry.

26/08/2022

For candidates looking for a Postdoctoral position

Title: Artificial Intelligence to aid Design for Sustainability

Concept Note Description: Design for Sustainability (DfS) is a challenging task for designers, particularly in the early stages of problem identification and conceptualisation, due to the multitude of factors to be considered. Understanding the lifecycle to better identify problems, poor knowledge of the potential impact of proposed solutions and the combinations of design decisions, the weightage of the three dimensions of Sustainability (social, economic, environmental) are but a few factors needed for making the best possible trade-offs. Add to it, designers seldom have the training or time to make evidence-based decisions from existing research and cases, due to tedious methods and tools available for DfS. Through this IPDF, we will explore how Artificial Intelligence can aid in creating Design for Sustainability supports, with a focus on those based on methods, guidelines and heuristics. The design support will target the problem identification and design conceptualisation stages and build on available databases developed by the Mentors. The applicants should have expertise in development of applications using Artificial Intelligence.

Applicable for both Indian and International candidates.

To apply: https://iitg.ac.in/rnd/ipdf/loginCandidate.php

Candidate Login Steps to be followed for filling up the Application of Institute Post Doctoral Fellowship IPDF-Both National (N-IPDF) & Foreign (F-IPDF)-2022-23

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Location

Guwahati

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Telephone

+913612582469

Website

http://Sustainability-and-social-innovation.com/

Address

3rd Floor, Department Of Design, IIT Guwahati
Guwahati
781039