A wooden stool with four legs painted in bright colours and patterns, placed on a tiled pavement against a weathered wall.
Close-up of colourful, patterned lacquer finished turned wooden legs, made by craft workers in India
A man wearing a plaid turban and white clothes is sitting cross-legged on the ground, working on a small craft project with a hammer. Surrounding him are tools, stones, a box of colourful small objects, and several tall, painted, cylindrical objects.
Craft worker reviews Matt Kavanagh's design for a foot stool as part of the Translocated Making research project, prior to him attempting to make it.
Details of turned lacquer work as part of the Translocated Making craft research project in India
Craftsman Bhavik Bhavchaya is sitting on the ground, working on a lacquer craft, surrounded by spectators from the Royal College of Art with cameras. The setting is an outdoor workshop in india.
Craftsman Yunas Bhai is sitting on the ground, working on a craft project using tools and materials on a small workspace outside a building. Various tools and crafting supplies are nearby.
The back of a colorful bus with advertisements for Sydney Design, an exhibition at Powerhouse Museum featuring a picture of the Nironi stool by Matt Kavanagh
Sketch and colour drawing of a wooden stool used as a prompt for the Translocated Making craft research project

Translocated making - Nirona

Translocated Making is a design research project conducted by Diplomat designers Ashley Hall with Matt Kavanagh in the Rann of Kutch and Ahmedabad in India. The focus of the research was on studying cultural transfer between different socio-spatial groups. The study looked at how designers identify and use cultural influences and how craftsmen interpret and decode designs from different cultures.

Nirona was designed by Matt Kavanagh in London and taken by Ashley Hall in a sealed envelope to Nirona where Bhavik Bhavchaya used his wooden lacquer and turning skills to interpret the design. Bhavik is a member of the Wadi Kohlis, a semi nomadic clan of Meghwals and Meghirs living on the edge of the white Rann of Katchchh salt desert. The family originated from Pakistan over the nearby border and have practised their lacquer and wood turning craft for at least seven generations having lived around Nirona for over half a century.

Research Design Ashely Hall / Product design Matt Kavanagh / Craftsman Bhavik Bhavchaya and Yunas Bhai

Location Nirona and Bhuj, Rann of Katchchh, Gujarat, India