Craftizen Innovation Challenge
Reimagining Traditional Indian Crafts for Built Spaces
The Craftizen Innovation Challenge (CIC) is a national craft innovation platform bringing traditional artisan communities, designers and industry together to develop contemporary, commercially viable products rooted in Indian craft traditions.
Each challenge begins with a real business requirement and a committed buyer, taking craft-led ideas from design and prototyping into production while creating new demand and market opportunities for artisan communities.
The Challenge
India has an extraordinary artisan base with deep material knowledge and making expertise. Yet many craft communities have limited access to new design perspectives, digital tools and contemporary markets.
At the same time, many design interventions stop at the prototype stage, with no committed buyer or clear pathway to production. Industry may be interested in working with Indian craft but often lacks access to the right clusters, design support and production systems. This leaves promising ideas without sustained demand and artisan expertise without enough opportunities to enter contemporary products, spaces and markets.
CIC was created to bridge this gap by connecting craft innovation directly to real industry demand.
What Makes CIC Different?
CIC begins with the market and not the prototype.
Before a challenge opens, an Innovation Partner defines a real business requirement and commits to a minimum purchase order. Designers and creative professionals then respond to the brief with craft-led concepts.
Shortlisted teams work directly with artisan clusters to develop and refine physical prototypes. The winning designs move into production through committed industry orders turning promising ideas into real demand and livelihood opportunities for artisans.
Artisans work alongside designers from the prototype stage, with their knowledge of materials and techniques shaping how each idea develops.
With an industry partner committed to the outcome, selected products have a clear route from prototype to order and production, generating paid work for participating craft clusters.
Project Impact
Our Three-Year Ambition
- 5*Craft Clusters
- 5*Innovation Partners
- 10*Craft Clusters
- 10*Innovation Partners
- 15*Craft Clusters
- 15*Innovation Partners
- OVER 3 YEARSSep 2026 to Aug 2029
- 30Craft Clusters
- 30Innovation Partners
- ₹3 croreIn Purchase Orders
- 500Artisans
How it Works
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01
Industry Identifies a Need
An Innovation Partner shares a real product requirement and commits to a minimum purchase order.
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02
Designers Respond to the Brief
Designers and creative professionals submit craft-led concepts for evaluation.
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03
Ideas Are Shortlisted
The Innovation Partner and CIC jury select the strongest concepts for development.
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04
Designers & Artisans Prototype Together
Shortlisted teams collaborate directly with craft clusters to refine materials, techniques and production feasibility.
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05
Winning Designs Move into Production
Selected products are made by artisan communities and supplied to Innovation Partners through committed purchase orders.
Year One: Indian Craft for Architecture and Interiors
The inaugural edition focuses on real estate, architecture and interiors industries with the potential to create repeat demand for craft at scale. Every residential, commercial and hospitality project requires functional elements across hardware, surfaces, lighting, furniture, fittings and décor.
CIC opens up new possibilities for these everyday components to be thoughtfully designed and made using Indian craft skills. The first cohort will work with craft clusters across Karnataka, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, spanning wood, metal, stone and ceramics.
Through committed purchase orders from Innovation Partners, Year One will take craft-led ideas beyond prototypes and into production creating real market demand and stronger livelihood opportunities for artisan communities.
Imagine What Your Next Project Could Include
CIC invites industry to look beyond craft as decoration and explore what it can become when traditional skills meet contemporary design and real-world applications.
Craft-Led Products for Architecture and Interiors
- Architecture: Door hardware, screens, surfaces and architectural details
- Furniture: Components, inlays, table tops and accessories
- Lighting: Pendant lights, wall lights and decorative lighting
- Interiors: Wall panels, mirrors, storage and décor
- Lifestyle: Workspace, residential and hospitality products
- Materials: Craft-led finishes, composites and surface applications
Who Can Participate?
Industry and Innovation Partners
Bring us a real product need from an upcoming project and work with designers, artisans and the CIC jury to develop a distinctive craft-led solution.
Designers and Creative Professionals
Respond to real industry briefs and collaborate directly with artisan communities to create products designed for contemporary use and production.
Design and Architecture Schools
Partner with CIC to involve students and faculty in live industry briefs, field-based learning, research, design development and mentorship, bringing new perspectives to traditional craft applications.
Craft and Ecosystem Partners
Support the challenge through craft knowledge, design mentoring, research, technical expertise, market connections and access to artisan clusters.
Could a product from your next project become a CIC challenge?
We invite real estate developers, architects, interior designers and hospitality businesses to bring us a real product requirement that can be reimagined through Indian craft. Together, we can create something distinctive for your project while opening new markets and livelihood opportunities for artisan communities.
Our Partners
Supporting the Challenge across funding, industry demand and the craft ecosystem.
Bajaj Finserv
Anchor Partner
Simchah Estates
Innovation Partner
200 Million Artisans
Ecosystem Partner
Creative Dignity
Ecosystem Partner
The Jury
Leading voices in design, craft heritage and contemporary art.
Devika Krishnan
Director Good Earth Heritage Foundation
Karl Antao
Sculptor Ahmedabad
Michael Foley
Industrial Designer Founder, Foley Designs
Let’s Reimagine What Indian Craft Can Become.
Whether you are an industry leader, real estate developer, architect, designer, institution or ecosystem partner, collaborate with CIC to turn real business needs into contemporary craft-led products and create stronger market opportunities for artisan communities.