A firsthand account of the development of Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya—the first design school for traditional artisans in India—and its evolution to present-day Somaiya Kala Vidya, with personal stories of its students, their work and the school's effect on their lives and India's cultural and economic development. Somaiya Kala Vidya was conceived as a place where textile artisans in the Kutch District—a rugged arid region of western India known for its rich craft traditions—could learn design, business, and management in hands-on ways that strengthened their traditional knowledge, explore ecological methods of creating, and discover ways to connect to contemporary markets while sustaining their cultural heritage. Artisans by Design presents intimate stories of more than 20 artisans (intertwined with the author's story), detailing how their education brought them personal fulfillment, increased social and economic status, and an understanding of sustainability. Readers will learn: • How
