Vivek Kant
The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, established in 1959, is one of the top higher education institutions established by the Government of India. This year, RSD14 received nine maps from students, the highest number of independently submitted maps from a single course.
Maps are taught out of the Department of Design, Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems (HFSS) Studio to meet the challenges in sociotechnical systems of integrating the human as a part of the overarching system, without making it mechanistic in nature.
Vivek Kant is the associate professor who leads the HFSS studio. He discusses how maps fit the founding principle of the HFSS Studio, which is to incorporate human factors in complex sociotechnical systems from a holistic viewpoint, sustaining the lived experience of the human as well as the designed dimension of the system.
In this session, Vivek references three maps and invites the designers into a discussion about their maps, thoughts on their experiences developing the maps, and how it might affect their approaches to working with complexity and shifting systems.
- Empowering Indian Farmers Through Direct Sales In Organic Markets Using a WhatsApp-Based Market Model
- Mapping the Oyster Mushroom Markets In India
- Millets: The Grain of Future India
Designers: Aditi Sharma, Saili Mandavkar, Samruddhi Khemkar, Imandi Avinash, Nabajit Bora, Rahul Kumar Mishra, Parnavi Dinkar, Rahul Raj Singh, and Tina Soni
Other HFSS Studio maps in the RSD14 series (see below):
- Aftershock of Choices: Mapping the role of ethics during earthquake relief in India
- Comprehending the possibilities for micro-organism, degradation of plastics using small-scale incubators
- Concept Design of next-generation endurance-enhancing textiles for athletes
- Enhancing Dog Human Relationships
- Safe handling of oxygen tanks
Profile
Vivek Kant
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
Vivek Kant is an associate professor in the Department of Design at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, where he leads the Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems Studio. His research focuses on human factors, ecological interface design, and sociotechnical systems, exploring how people make sense of and act within complex environments. He has published on topics ranging from cybersecurity asset management to the design of sustainable agricultural practices with marginal farmers. His work brings together participatory design, systemic approaches, and questions of engineering epistemology, with a strong emphasis on aligning technological knowledge with human understanding.
HFSS Studio Maps
Safe Handling of Oxygen Tanks
Rashmita Paleya, Arunima Singh, Rakesh Choudhary, Aabha, Kandhare, and Vivek Kant
Comprehending the Possibilities for Microorganisms in the Degradation of Plastics Using Small-Scale Incubators
Puspendu Adhikari, Ishita Srivastava, Rishabh Pandey, and Vivek Kant
Aftershock of Choices: Mapping the role of ethics during earthquake relief in India
Kashika Chawla, Tanishka Chavan, and Vivek Kant
Mapping the Oyster Mushroom Markets in India
Aditi Sharma, Saili Mandavkar, Samruddhi Khemkar, and Vivek Kant
Empowering Indian Farmers Through Direct Sales in Organic, Markets Using a WhatsApp-Based Market Model
Imandi Avinash, Nabajit Bora, Rahul Kumar Mishra, and Vivek Kant
Millets: The Grain of Future India
Parnavi Dinkar, Rahul Raj Singh, Tina Soni, and Vivek Kant
Concept Design of Next-Generation Endurance-Enhancing Textiles for Athletes
Ayantika Roy, Muskan Agrawal, Vivek Pal, and Vivek Kant
Enhancing Dog Human Relationships
Sayali Junagade, Sripriya Ganta, Leela Krishna Chawan, and Vivek Kant
