Recently Jan Chipcase left Nokia design and joined Frog. here is the report from Frog design website about his role in the team and his experience that is a valuable contribution to Frog. I am not criticizing or analysing Jan’s or Frog design, but something that has stayed with me from that report is where they talk about a Western designer’s understanding of Asian market. I am sure we all have seen many reports describing certain western designer spending a month living in a village in India, China or Africa. A western designer visiting or performing user studies in developing markets gets a huge praise but there isn’t the same deal on the opposite way i.e., if an asian designer has experience of western markets and lived in these markets. read more…
I am not going to state or make statements about reality of real estate in India on which you can plan your investments. This is just a viewpoint, my viewpoint. I see the current state as a big bubble that needs a pressure check from Government or regulatory bodies. For the same of comparison, lets compare the cost of house in two growing economies. read more…
There are certain questions on my mind. Speculative answers, real answers or further questions are welcome.
- We all talk about expanding time, ‘only if i could get a 5 minutes extra, i could have finished writing the answer for that final question’, ‘if only i had time….’. But look at high speed racing like Formula 1 or Fighter pilots. These guys manage a lot of tasks during the same second that we all do not even count in our regular works. does the time expand for them? does this affect design criteria for them? read more…
I am writing this post after a long time because of my various trips across the globe during this period that have been keeping me busy, not to mention the work of arranging the wedding ceremonies was also the spoiler. But I am finally writing here, while on a train ride through the white snow laden landscape of Finland, especially the thoughts that I have been accumulating for the past 2-3 months, starting from the journey in Germany, one of those ideal democratic countries. Why did I bring this remark of democracy is because of the architectural rules that bog the citizens of Germany or overall Europe. A person saves a lot of money to build his own house and then he can’t even build it according to his own wish design. This is due to various bye-laws stating the type of architecture that has to be followed in a certain region and the kind of elements that can be used, extra fees to be paid to maintain certain type of old structures, etc. How is that democratic? I do understand that this is not at all the harmful breach of human rights (as it happens in the developing world and many developed countries) but it is still the whole life savings of a person we are talking about. I did try to understand about the restrictions but no law should be above the human heart, especially if it concerns an individual’s own legal investments. read more…
A few days back I again cooked the spinach soup in curry style, yes, it is almost like the Indian spinach veggie but far easier done and for a healthy lifestyle. Considering that we do we live in the nomadic times, here is my recipe if you want to give a shot. read more…
Living alone teaches one thing for sure, cooking or survival tactics without the restaurant food. As i have been experimenting with spices and ingredients from India, China and Europe for past 3 years, I am adding a new Parent Category of ‘Spice Experiment’.
Disclaimer : Although, nobody has had to visit hospital with my cooking, Try these kitchen experiments at your own risk ! 
Recently, during a casual meeting with designers in Helsinki, one of the discussion subjects was the value of design and innovation in India. The major question of all was why design isn’t yet important in Indian society. Although, the other designers pointed towards the Indian ‘question less’ educational system, I was looking at the degree of necessity of design in still nascent Indian society. Do we really need design? Do we need innovation in everything i.e., something like a toilet paper holder also has variety of designs available? read more…
Everything that belongs to Indian government surprises and amuses me to the core. The additional feeling with surprise is Frustration. Look at the Air-India venture of our government. An airline with a long history, big fleet, best food in air, the present conditions are of a dilapidated and ugly looking air cabins. It seems as if air-india doesn’t want to give away their history and move to the next level of hospitality experience, thus imparting further trust in customer’s mind.
The first shocker was the flight from HongKong to Delhi. The aircraft being used was an old A310, so old that the toilets were equipped with the water flush rather than the vacuum flush ? . Seats breaking off, handle cushions broken and hanging, irregularities of luggage cabinets, bad workmanship of paintwork on the inner walls of aircraft. It felt like walking into an non-renovated old English-era building that could fall apart any time. read more…
Green practices in India aren’t a new age thing; this ideology has been there since centuries with a different format and with a bigger meaning than just being advertising buff-word! Every time that I have discussed the theory of west pushing India to follow green technologies and reduce the carbon footprint, it has always pushed me to think on one line. The lines where, west is trying to sell their green technologies to east on high prices in order to earn huge profits. The last big thing that was invented was Computer and before that, it was car engine. It has been so many decades since its invention that copyrights aren’t valid anymore. Every other giant corporate house has own car brand. It was time that west had an upper edge in technology and to make developing world buy more from them. read more…
Web 2.0 is liberation of people ! I am sure you would have heard these thoughts since the web 2.0 came in our lives, the way people have started using internet to spread information. Obama used web to spread awareness regarding his election campaign, Iranians used all the ways and means to reach internet and the world through it, even the political leaders in India used web to a small limit. Internet is giving a platform to everyone to voice their views, start a movement, bring attention to the concerns people have. Look at a few campaigns that were initiated by normal people i.e., Pink Chaddi campaign in India, Social reporters reporting on CNN.com and other news websites, etc. A lot of these campaigns are also to bring awareness about the corruption in government departments and related officials.
Angels vs Demons, Venue : Flat Playing field
All said and done, we forgot that if internet platforms are available freely for us then it is same case for the evil side of society. A series of campaigns can be started against an anti-corruption campaign, confusing layman all the more. With all these conflicting information available on the net, it is all the more confusing for us to decide which one to believe in. Even the photos or videos can be modified these days with all the effects’ software available freely and right on your desktop PC.
Who is the owner of this information and who takes the responsibility for errors? Look at wikipedia, how much of the information on that website can be really relied upon? Look at the laymen reporting on news websites, can all that news be really believed upon unless someone checks and verifies it?