ARkari

Inspiration

Embroidery has been deeply rooted in Indian artistry for generations, passed down lovingly by grandparents to keep the tradition alive. However, as technology evolves and modern life becomes increasingly demanding, we find ourselves drifting away from these cultural roots. Imagine if hobbies like embroidery could be revived at home through immersive technology—helping individuals to not only reconnect with tradition but also foster skill-building and creativity in a modern, convenient way.

Our team wanted to address this challenge and foster a connection between artisans and the younger generation, who are increasingly disconnected from these age-old crafts using Augmented Reality. We were motivated to create a solution that not only supports artisans but also inspires a sense of cultural appreciation and creativity in younger audiences.

What it does

ARkari bridges the gap between artisans and art enthusiasts by providing a platform where artisans can showcase and sell their handcrafted design motifs while sharing their unique stories. The app features engaging AR experiences that allow users to learn embroidery techniques provided by artisans, experiment with digital designs. This builds a connection between the artisans who have polished these age-old techniques with the younger generation who may not have access to these resources or know about them, and build a hobby/skill they can cherish.

How we built it

We sat together and ideated on the concept during the initial 2 weeks of the hackathon. We finalized on this concept and refined it further in the upcoming weeks. We decided to go with AR since it is accessible to a wider audience, especially in India, where the primary users of the app will be. We created a prototype using Figma as our final deliverable.

Challenges we ran into

Building ARkari was a journey filled with learning curves and unexpected hurdles. One of the major challenges was integrating AR technology to provide an intuitive and immersive experience for users unfamiliar with embroidery. We also faced difficulties in designing a platform that was equally appealing to artisans and younger users with little prior exposure to traditional crafts - We’ve introduced a gamified experience with engaging "levels" to keep users motivated and immersed as they progress on their embroidery journey. Balancing functionality and aesthetics while ensuring the app was user-friendly was a tough nut to crack. Additionally, it was challenging to curate content that effectively represented diverse embroidery styles while maintaining authenticity and accessibility.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We managed to complete the hackathon despite three team members working full-time and the busy holiday season.

What we learned

While designing this app, we learned and helped building it in such a way that it could meet the user demand, accessibility and flexibility for both - urban and rural. We realized the significance of gamification and intuitive design in keeping users engaged, particularly when introducing a skill that might initially seem complex or unfamiliar.

What's next for ARkari

Future scope for ARkari includes introducing meaningful incentives for artisans, ensuring their craftsmanship is valued and rewarded, while also providing comprehensive educational resources to empower learners in mastering the art of embroidery.