User Research, Product Design, 3D Modelling
Dr. Sharmishtha Banerjee, Guide
Semester Thesis Project
IIT Guwahati
Jan 2021 - May 2021
In India, carpenters have a very unique role in construction. The technology hasn’t trickled down to the everyday carpenter who takes up small jobs. It has a direct impact on their health and wellness since the toolkits are outdated and sometimes makeshift. The aim of this project was to create a product to support their physical health and help manage the tools better.
The final concept integrated bits and pieces of different ideas and ergonomically sound concepts to create a backpack for carpenters.
The carpenter community, particularly in India, plays a crucial yet often overlooked role in society. Predominantly originating from Udaipur, Rajasthan, this skilled workforce consists largely of families where craftsmanship is passed down through generations. Limited education and opportunities in other regions have made this profession heavily dominated by Rajasthani natives. Despite efforts by institutions like ITI and St. Joseph Industrial Training Centre to formalize carpentry education, poor coordination has hindered their impact. Consequently, this dispersed community faces marginalization, lacking representation in governance and access to resources for meaningful change.
Carpenters endure challenging living and working conditions, with health, sanitation, and financial stability often compromised to maximize productivity. This project sought to understand their challenges, dismantle misconceptions, and identify opportunities for improvement. Ultimately, the focus turned to developing a tools management system to enhance their work experience and promote healthier practices.
The research involved interviews with carpenters, a contractor, and an architect, along with site visits and observations. Most carpenters, primarily from Rajasthan, enter the trade young, leaving formal education early, and learn skills through traditional apprenticeships. Educated individuals often avoid the profession, leading to labor shortages and increased workload for existing workers.
Carpenters face financial stagnation, earning up to ₹30,000 per month after decades of experience, and endure challenging living conditions, with men working far from home and women rarely involved. To address their challenges, the study focused on improving tools management, specifically the design of their tool bags.
Carpenters commonly use canvas or tarpaulin bags from Ramesh Dyeing, Pune, costing ₹400–₹700 and holding 5 to 25 kg, but these bags have significant drawbacks. They are hard to carry on bikes or upstairs, lack organization, making small tools difficult to find, and have a short lifespan of about six months under heavy use. Additionally, sharp tools often pierce the fabric, causing injuries, and the disorganized design creates a mess every time equipment is accessed.
Tarpaulin Bag
Cost(w/o tools): Rs. 700
Can contain upto 15 kgs of load, but is generic bag
BOSCH Drill kit
Cost: Rs. 6.800
Snap fit, organized but very heavy
WORKPRO kit
Cost: Rs. 9,000
Easy to carry, organized but has redundant equipment
Tarpaulin Bag
Ashok Mistry
Education: Completed 9th standard
Height: 5’7 Weight: 60-65kg
Work experience of 10 years in various cities before settling in one. Living with three other people in a rented one room kitchen.
Salary: Roughly Rs.20,000 per month
The primary research conducted is based on a very small group of individuals, and the insights maybe biased. A research involving people at various stages of their careers, and living in varied conditions throughout the city might get better and unbiased results.
1. The bag should last for over two years.
2. Accessing tools should be made easy.
3. Poking objects should be minimized, to reduce injuries.
4. The product should be cheap.
5. It needs to be able to fit all the tools in one bag.
1. The bag must be durable.
2. Clear organization of the tools.
3. Padding and straps must be provided for sharp objects.
4. Product should be financially viable.
5. Should be modular with it's space allocation.
There are two modes of carrying tools: compact and distributed. The distributed mode is ideal when the center of mass of the carriage aligns with the body’s center of mass, shifting the weight to the hips for better balance. In other cases, the compact mode is preferred, keeping the backpack close to the body for improved stability and comfort. Since the usage of the backpack is intermittent, the upper limit of the recommended weight is 25-30% of the user's body weight.
Using my brother as a guinea pig, we experimented with rope attachments. The rope system is attached to the bottom of the bag, wrapping around it and extending over the shoulders. This design brings the bag closer to the user’s center of mass, improving balance and reducing strain.
The ideation process involved combining multiple concepts to address the challenges faced by carpenters. Drawing from the principles of compact and distributed modes of carriage, I designed a solution that adapts to the user’s needs by optimizing weight distribution. I tried to integrate insights from ergonomic weight placement and practical carry mechanisms, resulting in a design that balances functionality, comfort, and durability.
The final concept was a combination of the rope attachments, a telescopic stand and modular compartments to house various tools. Due to limited access due to Covid, I put together a mockup using the items available at home to get a better understanding of the proportions.
