---
title: "Artisan Collaboration in Hospitality Design | MAIA Design Studio"
description: "Discover how we integrate Indian crafts like Channapatna lacquer and Kutch terracotta into modern restaurant designs. We partner with master artisans to create authentic, narrative-driven hospitality spaces across India."
canonical: https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/hospitality-restaurant-design/our-process-collaborating-with-master-artisans
last_updated: 2025-09-06
---

# Our Process: Collaborating with Master Artisans

Tribe Verified · Authentic craft collaborations from Kutch to Kerala

By [Maia Design Studio](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio) · Based in Sadashiva Nagar; Projects across Bengaluru & India · ₹250 ₹ per sq. ft. (estimate)

Part of [Hospitality & Restaurant Design](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/hospitality-restaurant-design). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/hospitality-restaurant-design/gallery)

We believe luxury is the mark of a human hand. We bridge the gap between contemporary hospitality design and India's heritage craft, ensuring every installation carries a story from the community that created it.

## Photos and videos

- [Video: A glimpse of the massive handwoven cane light fixture for Biergarten during its creation. We worked closely with the weavers in Kerala, designing the framework and weave density to achieve a beautiful pattern when illuminated.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b5558b23-c4d6-4a8c-9bda-e34ab05b1662)
- ![The initial stages of weaving the Biergarten light fixture. We designed the metal framework and then collaborated with artisans to test different weave densities, ensuring the final piece would cast the perfect ambient light.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d23a6d0a-fb21-4dc1-a9b5-198832f0b493)
- ![An artisan carefully works on the intricate cane structure of the Biergarten light. This collaborative process, combining our design with their traditional techniques, is central to how we bring soul into our projects.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c5619958-ab7d-4353-b0de-9517433c8e4b)
- ![The bare metal skeleton of the oversized light fixture before the weaving process began. This image reveals the structural engineering required to support such a large, handcrafted installation within a commercial space.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a2ecacdc-d97d-4114-98c1-a4a06a0c20d3)
- ![Meet Ramzu Bhai and his son Ahmed, Kumbhar potters from Kutch. Here they are, standing proudly with a sample of the white terracotta tiles we co-created for the Brassa restaurant project, a collaboration managed entirely over Zoom during the lockdown.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f648e201-60e3-4b57-a2c8-b9659b32b489)
- ![Meet Ramzu Bhai and his son Ahmed, Kumbhar potters from Kutch. Here they are, standing proudly with a sample of the white terracotta tiles we co-created for the Brassa restaurant project, a collaboration managed entirely over Zoom during the lockdown.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/06ed3f5e-5cdf-43ce-9bf0-73da76add689)
- ![The artisan's courtyard in Kutch, where the handmade tiles for Brassa were laid out to dry. Choosing to work with local communities is a conscious decision to make our work more meaningful and memorable.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/27e64ddb-e3f2-4aea-ab5a-ac4e1af58afd)
- ![The artisan's courtyard in Kutch, where the handmade tiles for Brassa were laid out to dry. Choosing to work with local communities is a conscious decision to make our work more meaningful and memorable.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e6114019-5b01-4c1d-9dde-98070dd56bc7)
- ![Assembling the Channapatna modules for the Lucky Chan ceiling installation. Each piece is handcrafted from wood and colored with 100% natural, organic dyes, a traditional technique passed down since the 1700s.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9f8f2bf9-d2bd-4521-880c-583da6bda11e)
- ![Assembling the Channapatna modules for the Lucky Chan ceiling installation. Each piece is handcrafted from wood and colored with 100% natural, organic dyes, a traditional technique passed down since the 1700s.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/03277ab3-d376-4cb7-9081-60c31a6fd3f3)
- ![A closer look at the vibrant, natural colors of the Channapatna craft. The red comes from the Manjista root, yellow from turmeric, and green from indigo, showcasing the beauty of organic materials.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/272fa90e-4e3b-4238-a574-43ab4eebc801)
- ![An artisan turns wood on a hand lathe, shaping a component for the Lucky Chan installation. It was a fascinating experience to visit the Channapatna township and witness this incredible skill firsthand.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/88910b8d-5ffb-4a1d-b3b0-74a174b1ca88)
- ![An artisan turns wood on a hand lathe, shaping a component for the Lucky Chan installation. It was a fascinating experience to visit the Channapatna township and witness this incredible skill firsthand.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f7ae2641-4694-498a-8516-71436c0fb113)
- ![The artisan's workshop is filled with colorful wooden components in various stages of completion. This scene captures the vibrant energy and meticulous labor that goes into creating each piece for our custom installations.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/99e3495c-9d6c-4f80-9bf8-f43b05e46249)
- ![The artisan's workshop is filled with colorful wooden components in various stages of completion. This scene captures the vibrant energy and meticulous labor that goes into creating each piece for our custom installations.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3f5fe72c-8895-45ed-b90f-b2171d9636c3)
- ![Natural lacquers, derived from organic sources, are prepared for application. Unlike synthetic colors, these traditional dyes create beautiful, varying tonalities in the finished woodcraft.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7e7b2c8b-facf-4469-b418-713134dfbf14)
- ![Natural lacquers, derived from organic sources, are prepared for application. Unlike synthetic colors, these traditional dyes create beautiful, varying tonalities in the finished woodcraft.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b9a6a29a-26ec-444c-9066-4ea678ccbcc7)
- ![From sketch to reality. Our design drawings lie on the workshop floor next to the first physical prototypes of the Channapatna modules, illustrating the journey from a concept to a tangible, handcrafted object.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/31f0988f-fac2-40dc-b8f0-9f32f6528a22)
- ![From sketch to reality. Our design drawings lie on the workshop floor next to the first physical prototypes of the Channapatna modules, illustrating the journey from a concept to a tangible, handcrafted object.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/136848e7-0c72-4927-93bb-2603cf8e55a2)
- ![A collection of finished Channapatna modules, showcasing the playful forms and rich, natural colors. Each component was designed to come together as part of a larger, dynamic installation.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b8d67720-837f-48a0-9a3e-3396ea08c6b4)
- ![A collection of finished Channapatna modules, showcasing the playful forms and rich, natural colors. Each component was designed to come together as part of a larger, dynamic installation.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/15ef6ad2-5feb-4b61-b555-cdb69e628591)
- ![Our design schematics show the deconstruction of each Channapatna module. We carefully planned every part to ensure the final assembled pieces would create a cohesive and visually striking ceiling feature.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3a032510-3507-4ed6-a66f-50900f2d3bf8)
- ![Our design schematics show the deconstruction of each Channapatna module. We carefully planned every part to ensure the final assembled pieces would create a cohesive and visually striking ceiling feature.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ca7f4ab0-a1c2-4360-9fda-d40acc4a3ca8)
- ![The finished Thikri panel, with hundreds of hand-cut pieces of convex glass set into plaster. This 400-year-old Rajasthani craft creates a stunning, reflective surface that plays with light.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/344c157f-2825-456a-9be4-c4b79b85ff96)
- ![The finished Thikri panel, with hundreds of hand-cut pieces of convex glass set into plaster. This 400-year-old Rajasthani craft creates a stunning, reflective surface that plays with light.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/33135e22-5b45-4323-977f-6f3522c8800c)
- ![This custom back panel was made by Thikri artisans in Udaipur. We first met the lead artisan in 2014 and were thrilled to finally collaborate on a piece that brings this ancient glasswork technique into a contemporary space.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/cc502efa-081c-4b6b-9345-a37324de4a4c)
- ![This custom back panel was made by Thikri artisans in Udaipur. We first met the lead artisan in 2014 and were thrilled to finally collaborate on a piece that brings this ancient glasswork technique into a contemporary space.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8e5080e5-8a36-4c43-bbbd-53a61934bd38)
- ![The process of creating Thikri involves sketching the design and then carefully arranging tiny, hand-cut pieces of mirrored glass. Here, the glass pieces are ready to be set.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d9b0b390-8cce-4200-8835-aca4790a2a1e)
- ![The process of creating Thikri involves sketching the design and then carefully arranging tiny, hand-cut pieces of mirrored glass. Here, the glass pieces are ready to be set.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/54bac161-9c54-4d9e-811f-f9d9d6a528fa)
- ![The artisan's workbench in Udaipur, covered with design templates and piles of cut glass. This image offers a behind-the-scenes look at the intricate and patient work required for Thikri craft.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/dde30e34-44ae-425e-9786-247625bea522)
- ![The artisan's workbench in Udaipur, covered with design templates and piles of cut glass. This image offers a behind-the-scenes look at the intricate and patient work required for Thikri craft.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c7ce94e7-149d-49ed-a53d-07a7c5f823fe)

## About Our Process: Collaborating with Master Artisans

When we designed the massive light fixture for Biergarten, it was not just about the aesthetics. We spent weeks in dialogue with our weavers in Kerala, running iterative tests on weave densities. We needed to ensure that the framework we engineered would cast a specific, warm, ambient shadow pattern once illuminated. It is this level of technical collaboration that transforms a standard interior into a living space.

We do not just buy local products. We co-create. Whether it is white terracotta tiles for Brassa or Channapatna wooden modules for Lucky Chan, our studio acts as a translator between the architect’s drawing board and the artisan's workshop.

### The Reality of Craft
It is rarely the easy path. Working with the Kumbhar community in Kutch or wood turners in Channapatna requires immense patience. During lockdown, we managed the Brassa tile project entirely over Zoom, refining samples until the scale and texture matched our design vision. This approach is labor-intensive, requiring multiple site visits and constant technical communication.

### Why It Matters
These are not perfect factory replications. Natural dyes from Manjista root or turmeric may have slight variations, and hand-lathed wood will have its own character. We specify these materials because they ground our projects in reality. When a guest walks into a space we have designed, they are not just seeing a restaurant. They are interacting with history, skill, and a narrative that belongs to the artisan as much as it does to the venue owner.

## About Maia Design Studio

At MAIA, we believe spaces should speak. Our studio brings together a team of curious minds who prefer chasing stories over following trends, working directly with master craftspeople to inject soul into commercial interiors.

[See all of Maia Design Studio's services](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio)

## More from Hospitality & Restaurant Design by Maia Design Studio

- [Featured](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/hospitality-restaurant-design/featured)
- [Project Spotlight: ZLB23 Speakeasy](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/hospitality-restaurant-design/project-spotlight-zlb23-speakeasy)
- [Project Spotlight: Biergarten Microbrewery](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/hospitality-restaurant-design/project-spotlight-biergarten-microbrewery)
- [Project Spotlight: Brassa Resto-Bar](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/hospitality-restaurant-design/project-spotlight-brassa-resto-bar)
- [Project Spotlight: Lucky Chan Sushi Parlour](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/hospitality-restaurant-design/project-spotlight-lucky-chan-sushi-parlour)
- [Awards & Recognition](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/hospitality-restaurant-design/awards-recognition)
- [Design Details & Inspiration](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/hospitality-restaurant-design/design-details-inspiration)

## More services by Maia Design Studio

- [Luxury Residential Interior Design](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/luxury-residential-interior-design)

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## Book

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