View Source | May 9, 2013
Tejas Dhadphale is receiving his doctoral degree in Design, Environment and the Arts from Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and did his dissertation in India studying local retailers. While many businesses are focusing on sustainable product development and looking into the economic, environmental, and social aspects of a product, Dhadphale says many overlook the cultural aspect.
"Modern retailers fail to resonate with the cultural practices of daily shopping, specifically among Indian women," says Dhadphale. "India consumers equally value personal relationships, trust, and informal communication with retailers."
Dhadphale's goal is to create a toolkit that will allow product developers to create culturally appropriate businesses and services. To make the toolkit, Dhadphale drew on his education on sustainability, anthropology, and design.