Page 152 - Design Thinking C11

In earliest cities like Mohenjodaro, streets were planned on a rectangular grid to create
orderly urban spaces—one of the earliest examples of urban design using grids!

21 st #Critical Thinking
Century
Skills #Creativity
To explore hierarchy further, analyse a rangoli design. Identify how symmetry, colour contrast, and
central motifs (e.g., a lotus) create focal points. Compare it to a modern poster—both use similar
principles to direct attention!
T Next, create a rangoli using a square grid of dots and shapes.
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Detailing the Form: Fractals and Ornamentation
After creating the basic form of a design, the next step in the Indian design process is detailing. This step
adds depth, beauty, and uniqueness to the design. Even when different temples or artworks follow the same
structure or idea, the detailing makes each one look different and special.
This stage includes adding patterns, shapes, decorations, and small changes to the design. Indian designers
used two powerful techniques to do this:

Fractals Parametrization

Fractals – Repeating Patterns That Grow
A fractal is a pattern that repeats itself in smaller and smaller versions. These repeating shapes can be found
in nature (like the branches of a tree, the petals of a flower, or the edges of a coastline) and in Indian art and
architecture. Fractals help make the design look complex and rich, even if it started from a simple shape.
In Hindu temples, the shikhara (tower) often looks like it has miniature versions of itself stacked along its sides.
These small towers are created by repeating the same basic shape again and again, but each time they get
smaller. This is a fractal pattern.
Look closely at temples like the Kandariya Mahadev Temple—you will see small temple-like shapes growing
from larger ones, creating a sense of upward movement and complexity.

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