Designer Luxury craft segment

Designer — Etikoppaka

Contract · On-site · 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
• On-site 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, and a cover letter to [Confidential Information]. The cover letter should speak to your interest in this specific role and in Etikoppaka as a craft form. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.