Job DescriptionFurniture Designer — Etikoppaka
NContract · In office · 3–4 months · Travel to craft cluster · Conception to completion
NAbout Nolwa:
NNolwa 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.
NThis 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.
NThe 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.
NWhat the engagement involves :
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- Deep, hands-on immersion in the Etikoppaka craft - its materials, process, and possibilities N
- Travel to the craft cluster to work directly with the artisan community N
- Design development across form, colour, scale,
and surface language N
- Iteration from concept through prototype to finished object N
- Guidance from internationally recognised award-winning designers throughout the project N
nWho are we lookingfor:
NSomeone 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.
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- Background in design, with strong fundamentals in form and material thinking N
- Ability to work independently and adapt within a making environment N
- Graduates or postgraduates from NID or NIFT are preferred N
- Prior exposure to craftcontext. N
nTerms:
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- Paid, full-time engagement for the duration of the project N
- On-site at Nolwa's studio in Hyderabad, with travel to the Etikoppaka cluster N
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