The India Report

Charles Eames, American industrial designer and his wife and colleague Ray Eames, visited India for three months at the invitation of the Government, with the sponsorship of the Ford Foundation, to explore the problems of design and to make recommendations for a training programme.

[1] The Eameses toured throughout India, making a careful study of the many centres of design, handicrafts and general manufacture.

They talked with many persons, official and non-official, in the field of small and large industry, in design and architecture, and in education.

It also emphasized India's advantages in facing the rapid changes taking place, including its familiarity with the concept of creative destruction, the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others, and the well-defined immediate problems of food, shelter, distribution, and population.

These actionable items provide a roadmap for addressing the problems of design and quality in India and establishing an institute that can contribute to the improvement of consumer goods and the overall standard of living in the country.