Furniture Designer — Etikoppaka
Contract · In office · 3–4 months · Travel to craft cluster · Conception to completion
About Nolwa:
Nolwa works at the intersection of Indian craft traditions and contemporary design, producing limited-edition objects that carry the precision of a studio practice and the knowledge of a living craft community.
This engagement is focused on Etikoppaka craft: a centuries-old lacquerware tradition from Andhra Pradesh, worked in softwood and natural lac. We are inviting a designer to spend 3–4 months in sustained inquiry with this craft, exploring what it holds, what it can carry, and where it might go.
The scope spans - form, colour, scale, and material nuance. The work begins at conception and ends with a built object. Nothing in between is handed off.
What the engagement involves :
Deep, hands-on immersion in the Etikoppaka craft - its materials, process, and possibilities
Travel to the craft cluster to work directly with the artisan community
Design development across form, colour, scale, and surface language
Iteration from concept through prototype to finished object
Guidance from internationally recognised award-winning designers throughout the project
Who are we looking for:
Someone with genuine curiosity about Indian craft, not as subject matter, but as a design language with its own logic and rigour. You should be comfortable working with your hands, sitting with uncertainty, and making decisions that are grounded rather than decorative.
Background in design, with strong fundamentals in form and material thinking
Ability to work independently and adapt within a making environment
Graduates or postgraduates from NID or NIFT are preferred
Prior exposure to craft context.
Terms:
Paid, full-time engagement for the duration of the project
In office at Nolwa's studio in Hyderabad, with travel to the Etikoppaka cluster
Contract basis, 3–4 months
Experience of 2+ years is preferred.
To apply : send your CV, portfolio to careers@nolwas