Since time immemorial, ‘swings’ have adorned Indian households. At Design ni Dukaan, we have been rethinking and reimagining, shaping the evolution of this cherished tradition.
Project Name: Debunk Collection
Studio Name: Design ni Dukaan
DEBUNK
“Debunk” is an exploration of reinterpreting these swings as sculptural pieces, transcending the traditional concept of functional furniture. The challenge posed by our studio was to elevate swings beyond their commonplace presence in Indian
households, transforming them into artistic expressions.
In the spirit of the collection’s name, “Debunk” challenges the designers’ ego and envisions a process where a skin or a canvas becomes a platform for endless reinterpretation while
preserving the soul of the furniture.
ALTERED REALITY
“Altered Reality,” is a swing in collaboration with Debangshu, an artist from Pune. The genesis of this piece traces back to our voluptuous sofa series designed a few years back, evolved into a comfortable swing to lounge on. Our collaborative journey unfolded within the creative confines of our Ahmedabad studio. Debangshu, armed with an open canvas, drew inspiration from the vibrant tapestry of Ahmedabad’s surroundings. The result is a whimsical world on the swing, adorned with playful cats to soaring kites, blooming champa trees to bustling people, each element animated in such a way that it paints a vivid portrait of an alternate reality.
Debangshu’s vision transforms our swing into more than just furniture; it becomes a portal to a whimsical world of his imagination.
KALIEDOCHAOS
“KALIEDOCHAOS,” is a swing in collaboration with House of Berserk. The snap swing is designed with its armrests and backrests being modular in nature thus allowing the user to choose how they would want to configure it while swinging. One can snap the backrest in a manner to face any desired direction and similarly move the armrests also. It also enables various seating positions while avoiding visual barriers as required. This piece also becomes a human-interactive furniture piece where the user can alter the piece as desired.
This swing thus becomes an experiment to understand how one can extend the longevity of a furniture piece by creating modular elements which can be replaced in case of wear and tear over time.
CLAIR DE LUNE
“Clair de lune,” takes inspiration from the organic beauty found in nature’s myriad forms.
Crafted through a meticulous study of foundational materials and an inventive exploration of various wood stains, its essence lies in the freedom granted to the artisan.
Each piece, initially outlined yet ultimately shaped by the skilled hands of the craftsman, transforms into a miniature sculpture. Birch ply layers are delicately sculpted, with the craftsman emerging as the true artist in this process. The dark stain adorning the swing, coupled with the fluid arrangement of modules, evokes the serene stillness of a moonlit night, where silence reigns supreme and the moon’s phases symbolize the essence of the soul. This instantly drew us to “Clair de lune” (meaning: moonlight) a famous piano piece by Debussy, third movement of his Suite bergamasque, L. 75 (1905), inspired by a poem by Paul Verlaine published in the 1869 collection Fêtes galantes, it embodies the essence of moonlit beauty and poetic serenity.
Sea of Poppies
After working on two products with Anuj Sharma of Button Masala, a partition screen and a lounge chair, we decided to take this collaboration ahead. We saw the swing as a perfect canvas for Anuj, offering a new dimension for his art and techniques.
The swing is Crafted from a sturdy MS structure with intricate handwoven cane infill. The grid of the cane work forms a pixelated surface, adorned with over 10,000 fabric buttons in a myriad of colors and patterns, meticulously arranged over 120 meters of fabric and 80-90 hours of dedicated craftsmanship.
What makes this swing truly remarkable is its inherent versatility; each button acts as a pixel, allowing for endless customization and interaction. Users can rearrange the buttons at will, creating new patterns and modulations, akin to playful experimentation with Legos.
NEBULA
Our journey with terrazzo has been one of extensive experimentation, fueled by a close collaboration with Rohan Shroff.
Wanting to explore outdoor swings, we found ourselves drawing from our ongoing terrazzo explorations,pushing the material’s boundaries even further. Terrazzo, with its unique amalgamation of varied stone, sizes and shapes, presents endless possibilities for creative expression.
Our design exercise started with creating abstract shapes, eventually crystallizing into the vision of two hand-cut slabs placed on a sturdy metal structure. In these last two years, with Rohan and his dedicated exploration, we’ve delved deep into the potential of terrazzo. The utilization of terrazzo and metal in crafting the swing ensures its resilience to various weather conditions, making it ideal for outdoor settings.
FIRE BALL
In our ongoing material exploration journey, we’ve delved into micro concrete along with several form experiments in base materials like ply and metal.
We have been making double sided reversible swings but wanted to explore an idea that we have worked on earlier; of a swing that rotates 360 degrees. We designed a comfortable shell for compact and cozy corners, capable of seamless rotation on its axis.
Dubbed “Fireball,” this innovative swing embodies the hues of terracotta, both in its micro concrete and metal components, like the changing sky from sunrise to sunset.
