An empirical study on product design improvement for selected handicrfts of Orissa

Orissa's unique topography and the gracious nature bestowed their choicest blessings on the artisans of Orissa Handicrafts items are acknowledged to be among the best in the country and also abroad due to their beauty, elegance and exquisite designs. The old, traditional designs, patterns and styles have to be discarded and new designs are to be evolved. The product design of handicraft items needs to be improved in several aspects. The design of a product should be in accordance with the tastes and preferences of customers. Handicraft is such a product that when a buyer likes it, he is prepared to pay a price, which may be far in excess of the standard price of the product. The prime consideration is his liking of the product. So outdated repetitive designs do not attract buyers. A little touch of modernity with the traditional style will add flavour to the art without killing its originality. So it is necessary for institutions to come together to provide the strategic direction and action plans to evolve systems, procedures and norms related to design, market, technology, innovation and quality.