The Rural Study Program in the Department of Design at Nirma University is called
RURAL EXPOSURE AND DOCUMENTATION.
In Design, the Context is a significant parameter encompassing geographic, economic and cultural factors of any given space in time. The week long experiential exposure aims at introducing students to developmental initiatives guided by ‘design’ and socially equitable and; ‘sustainable practices’ by organisations working at the grass roots. The social organisations are selected such that they have designers as key members of the team on the ground, working with social entrepreneurs, scientists, social workers, communicators and artisans.
A detailed and intensive program is worked out between the Resource persons of the organisation and the Institute of Design. Students are oriented to issues in the region, the analysis and methodologies used to address and solve the needs of the rural stakeholders. The students are required to observe, absorb, immerse and document the processes and place together their learning in the form of a journal/book/ document, including photographs, sketches and text.
