Challenge –

I am a student of Interior and spatial design at University of the Free State, India and as the course suggests I  decided to challenge myself in the field of space. Recently, I was working on a project of Adaptive  reuse in Jaipur. The project was held for two months with the final designs still awaiting submission. It  was an individual project focussing on re utilising the building in a way that speaks of Jaipur itself.  In  the same, my inspiration was the local sustainable transport of the area. I wanted people to have a  better experience of hiring a ride, away from all the congestion one generally notices in the city. Thus,  one of my major aims became the experience of the transport itself, through which I wanted to  establish a connect along with making people understand the transport itself.

Hence, I took the experience required as a challenge to address through the tool of storytelling.

Selection -

Staying in India, from everyday conversations to the speeches or formal addresses, I tend to find loads  of stories. Thus, in a space that speaks of India itself, I decided to establish the connect through  storytelling. Storytelling is a design tool that aims to convey a message along with establishing a  connect.

Application –

In the design, I started with formulating a specific path that each visitor has to follow while entering  the space. This helped to ensure that no one missed any step in the journey or story. The space  started with the entrance that guided one to the meet and greet area. The entrance symbolises  standing on the pavement in wait for the transport. The meet and greet area symbolise the time  when the wait is over and the process of hiring starts with a greeting. This area then leads to the  information area that is representative of the time spent with the transport owner talking about the  destination and other details. The information space leads into a transition space that aims to  represent the sway motion that one creates while getting into an auto or a rickshaw. This is  represented through an installation on the wall. This area guides one to the open area where one  spends their waiting time. This space represents the time spent in a local transport which is full of  excitement. Reading, music, food etc are some of the services provided to replicate the activities one  generally indulges in, throughout their journey in a local transport. Leaving the space through an exit  marked the end of the journey.

After designing the idea, at the time of presentation, I applied storytelling again to enhance the  already set connect to the everyday lives of the jurors. For e.g. – one such story being how waiting for  a hire on the pavement is a hassle. While waiting in all that noise and congestion you are forced to  change locations continuously. Sometimes a cleaner and at others people who bump into you  because they are in a hurry. Such stories along with the journey helped me make people see local  transport in different light and also made the conversation more engaging.

Insights -

So, in the project I decided to apply the tool of storytelling not only in the explanation of my idea but  also in the idea itself to make people feel a bit more connected to the space. Creating a beginning and

an end helped me align my story with the space. I was able to achieve my goal of providing a better  experience along with an emotional connect to the space itself. The tool also made it easier for  everyone else to understand my idea. It also helped making the space more engaging for the visitors.  Thus, I can say that the tool of storytelling not only helped me design an idea but also helped me in  explaining the same effectively.

Using the tool made me realise the power of storytelling itself i.e. how effective it can be when used  at the right time and place. The tool not only helps in engaging people but also makes things easier to  convey and understand. Seeing stories being so commonly used in India, I finally was able to  understand the latent power of it as a tool in design thinking. Now I can analyse the opportunities and  execute them a bit more effectively. This course made me see a lot of things in the new but at the  same time it categorised all the terms and processes I have been using into a coherent and logical set,  making the process a little more understandable and easier to execute.

Approach –

I think that after using the tool, I have come to realise that all design tools have latent possibilities. In  this case, I was able to use storytelling in two ways, but if seen and studied in more depth I think more  opportunities await. For e.g. as an alternative approach - to enhance the experience visualisation  could be another tool at hand. Also design tools can be used in combination to enhance the effect  even more. E.g. In this case storytelling could be combined with visualisation.

Thus, personally I would like to explore the tools more in the opportunities that lie ahead.


Challenge – I am a student of Interior and spatial design at University of the Free State , India and as the course suggests I decided to challenge myself in the field of space . Recently , I was working on a project of Adaptive reuse in Jaipur . The project was held for two months with the final designs still awaiting submission . It was an individual project focussing on re utilising the building in a way that speaks of Jaipur itself . In the same , my inspiration was the local sustainable transport of the area . I wanted people to have a better experience of hiring a ride , away from all the congestion one generally notices in the city . Thus , one of my major aims became the experience of the transport itself , through which I wanted to establish a connect along with making people understand the transport itself . Hence , I took the experience required as a challenge to address through the tool of storytelling . Selection - Staying in India , from everyday conversations to the speeches or formal addresses , I tend to find loads of stories . Thus , in a space that speaks of India itself , I decided to establish the connect through storytelling . Storytelling is a design tool that aims to convey a message along with establishing a connect . Application – In the design , I started with formulating a specific path that each visitor has to follow while entering the space . This helped to ensure that no one missed any step in the journey or story . The space started with the entrance that guided one to the meet and greet area . The entrance symbolises standing on the pavement in wait for the transport . The meet and greet area symbolise the time when the wait is over and the process of hiring starts with a greeting . This area then leads to the information area that is representative of the time spent with the transport owner talking about the destination and other details . The information space leads into a transition space that aims to represent the sway motion that one creates while getting into an auto or a rickshaw . This is represented through an installation on the wall . This area guides one to the open area where one spends their waiting time . This space represents the time spent in a local transport which is full of excitement . Reading , music , food etc are some of the services provided to replicate the activities one generally indulges in , throughout their journey in a local transport . Leaving the space through an exit marked the end of the journey . After designing the idea , at the time of presentation , I applied storytelling again to enhance the already set connect to the everyday lives of the jurors . For e.g. – one such story being how waiting for a hire on the pavement is a hassle . While waiting in all that noise and congestion you are forced to change locations continuously . Sometimes a cleaner and at others people who bump into you because they are in a hurry . Such stories along with the journey helped me make people see local transport in different light and also made the conversation more engaging . Insights - So , in the project I decided to apply the tool of storytelling not only in the explanation of my idea but also in the idea itself to make people feel a bit more connected to the space . Creating a beginning and an end helped me align my story with the space . I was able to achieve my goal of providing a better experience along with an emotional connect to the space itself . The tool also made it easier for everyone else to understand my idea . It also helped making the space more engaging for the visitors . Thus , I can say that the tool of storytelling not only helped me design an idea but also helped me in explaining the same effectively . Using the tool made me realise the power of storytelling itself i.e. how effective it can be when used at the right time and place . The tool not only helps in engaging people but also makes things easier to convey and understand . Seeing stories being so commonly used in India , I finally was able to understand the latent power of it as a tool in design thinking . Now I can analyse the opportunities and execute them a bit more effectively . This course made me see a lot of things in the new but at the same time it categorised all the terms and processes I have been using into a coherent and logical set , making the process a little more understandable and easier to execute . Approach – I think that after using the tool , I have come to realise that all design tools have latent possibilities . In this case , I was able to use storytelling in two ways , but if seen and studied in more depth I think more opportunities await . For e.g. as an alternative approach - to enhance the experience visualisation could be another tool at hand . Also design tools can be used in combination to enhance the effect even more . E.g. In this case storytelling could be combined with visualisation . Thus , personally I would like to explore the tools more in the opportunities that lie ahead .