Ushering In A New Swaraj

Shekhar Badve is mashing design, technology and consumer behaviour to build athenaeums that are experiential centres rather than just staid monoliths…

- Vinay Agrawal

A known name as a creator of design experiences, Shekhar Badve’s newest work is an experience design space, Swaraj. Located in the city of Pune, Swaraj is his tribute to the early heroes of India’s strugglefor Independence. Its objective is to narrate the struggles of Indian freedom fighters, thereby motivating visitors to reflect on the aforesaid concept. Shekhar firmly believes in creating an immersive experience for the visitor, and for every project he has been mandated with, a content strategy has to be first developed keeping in mind the target visitor. His team then models an Experiential Graph that simulates what the visitor should feel. The space is then designed to elicit the required stimuli and response to create a totally immersive and unique seven-sensory experience. We chat with the man to find out his definition of Swaraj, and on how he manages to create such immersive experiences. Excerpts from the chat…

How do you interpret ‘Swaraj’?

The meaning and importance of Swaraj has changed over several years. Its meaning in the times of Shivaji, and till late 18th century, was freedom from foreign rulers and to unify the whole country and the masses for a specific purpose. Then, it changed from being singularly freedom to social, political and cultural change. Today, it means freedom and unification on so many more fronts. Times have changed, and I feel we need another sweeping movement of Swaraj.

How do you create ‘experiences’ for the visitor? Can you share the flowchart? 

1: Content 

It has to be relooked at from the museum objective, visitor’s band width and interest, and how it will be delivered and communicated.

2: Narrative