The Lab

2019 - Present

Congratulations on being among the select few to make it to the Lab. These works are part of Shashwath’s daily comitment to work on one design project a day. He says this is what keeps his imagination in top shape, but you be the judge of that.

All these projects are completed within 24 hours and tries to solve problems that really do not matter. Some days the projects turn out better than others obviously. These are some of his favorites.

Eyewear with Kitchen Utensils:

Eyewear that is non-reactive to food. Lenses are made using corrosion-free stainless steel. Durable and easy to maintain, highly suitable for day-to-day use. All models are one-size-fits-all.

Embrace the Stain:

Once upon a time, it was a highly valued member of your wardrobe. Despite several warnings from your mother about purchasing ‘white’ clothes, you thought you were ready for it. You overestimated your ability to keep clean. That being said, you’ve had some good times with it. That one time when a passerby complimented you for your style. That was out of the world wasn’t it? You gave it the most decorated place in your wardrobe. A position that most clothes can only dream of. The hanger. While most of your clothes were folded in shame, this one hung above them all.

But as the saying goes, ‘Good things don’t last forever’. It was a cloudy evening. You are normally conscious of what you are wearing and eat carefully. But that dark evening, when your mom made a delicious sambar. You slipped. You caved in. When you noticed the stain on your t-shirt, it was already too late. You knew it was over. A sambar stain like that on a white cloth no surfel excel could clean. You mom was right. You weren’t ready for this. The t-shirt quickly fell the ranks of your wardrobe. No wearing it out. No hangers. Folded with the other clothes. Only worn at home.

Never did you realize that with every stain, the t-shirt only became more valuable as a symbol of comfort and home.

Product: Matte Grande Chain Bag quilted in transparent Plastic Dabbas with screw-top Lids

Description: An ode to toxic gender-roles that once shaped Soceital structure, classic elements from the Kitchen are reintroduced. Distinguished by its tubular shape, this grande shoulder bag is further defined by its Screw-Top lid closure. The Dabbas boast a composite blend injection molded into a strong and pliable material. Paired with a matte metal chain, the heritage hardware creates a refined design with venemous conservative appeal. The Lids come in several colours that can accentuate your fashion.

Year: 5th March 1982

Cardboard Containers for My Smoothie Jar:

Exploring anti-ergonomic means of transporting plastic cups for my Nutribullet blender. Short ideation prototyping to study the relation to the human body.

Air Force 1 Chappals

The Air Force Chappals are a type of medium sandal, typically worn as a form of casual footwear. Their soles use Air Max technology held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap known as a toe thong. It is designed to maintain their form with elasticity, increased flexibility and keep the chappal snug and lightweight - perfect to play cricket in your colony. Most importantly, the energy absorption design of the chappal maximizes impact and reduces recoil, allowing you to deliver a very comfortable desi slap. 

Analogue Virtual Reality (with Periscopes):

Tracing the history of virtual reality technology in tandem with non-digital means of embodying the ‘not here’. Periscopes were designed to give the user the perception of an alternate reality.  

Sonic Zones of a Sink:

A comprehensive study exploring the different levels of audible sound waves produced when water molecules of high velocity hit the surface of a ceramic sink. This is witnessed when water is forcibly ejected from the mouth to remove unwanted or foul-tasting substances onto a sink.

A common application of this phenomenon is witnessed when water is used to gargle one’s mouth after eating. The diagram above presents coloured zones with respect to the decibels produced during the collision. In the red zone, the water is discharged from the mouth with a velocity perpendicular to the sink (flat surface). Therefore, the energy involved in the collision is much higher, producing a high-decibel sound wave with a large splash radius.

In areas of the sink further from the center, the concave curvature of the sink breaks the right angle allowing the water molecules to retain their velocity but at a decreasing rate. This ‘cushioning effect’ reduces the overall sound and splash.

Ice Skate Chappals

The Ice Skate Chappals are a type of medium sandal with metal blades attached underfoot that are used to propel the bearer across a sheet of ice. The first Ice Skate Chappals were made when human incompetency accelerated climate change causing immense snowfall in Ooty.

Ever since, these comfortable chappals have been a popular way to navigate the snow among the population of the Western Ghats during winter. The traditional Y-shaped strap paired with several layers of cushioning provides a comfortable fit without the hassle of wearing a ‘shoe’. The blades boast an aluminum finish with a saw-toothed front creating two edges that are useful for jumping.

The easy-to-wear and easy-to-remove concept is ideal for residents who want to make a quick trip to a store nearby.

Light Machine:

It has been three years since the citizens of Earth have achieved world peace. No more quarrels, no battles, and no wars, one can only wish to be a part of Earth during these euphoric times. But not all faces don a smile. Multi-billion dollar companies that once excelled in creating and selling military-grade armaments and equipment are running out of business with no wars to profit from. Some players in the military-industrial complex have found exciting ways to keep their businesses afloat. Several naval shipbuilding companies that once created the most advanced battleships and armored warships are now getting into the business of entertainment and amusement parks.

In order to celebrate the happy times, these companies have produced massive floating bouncy castles and other inflatable structures adding layers of fun to sunny beach vacations. These bouncy castles even use weapons technologies to enable activities such as high diving after being shot into the air using a cannon or underwater ocean tours by latching yourself to diffused torpedos. Most sections of these parks are for adults only but they also feature a well-designed children’s area. The ship’s design is completely family-friendly (accommodation available) taking inspiration from the popular houseboats in the backwaters of Kerala.

The first one of its kind will be officially open to the public at the Nattika Beach in Thrissur, Kerala. Go online to prebook your tickets now.

Reinvent the Broom

This project is a design exploration into adhesiveness as a means of cleansing the floor. The broom sweeps. The bristles on a traditional broom serve to nudge matter directionally. But the primary function remains to get cosmic particles off a calculated part of the floor. The broom evolved to harness electricity and became the vacuum cleaner. Instead of sweeping, it began swallowing the cosmic dust particles.

What else could the broom evolve into? Sweeping, swallowing, wet wiping have been mastered by the broom family already. What about stickiness as a cleaning trait? If a broom were to champion adhesiveness, what would it want to look like and how would it want to operate?

Using found objects and the sticky side of duct tape, here is a series of Rolling Brooms that Wax the Floor.

Public Library of Usables:

(Coming Soon)

The Lab

2019 - Present

Congratulations on being among the select few to make it to the end of the Lab. These works are part of Shashwath’s daily commitment to work on one design project a day. He says this is what keeps his imagination in top shape, but you be the judge of that.

All these projects are completed within 24 hours and tries to solve problems that really do not matter. Some days the projects turn out better than others obviously. These are some of his favorites.

Surprisingly, these daily experiments have gone viral on social media, earning Shashwath press and gallery recognition.

Lokayata Gallery, Delhi
Kaalpadukal, Dubai
Zee Studios, Mumbai
Designed Realities Lab, New York

Coeval Magazine, Milan
The New Indian Express, Kochi
Homegrown Voices, Mumbai
Homegrown, Delhi

Parsons Design Feature, New York