Client's profile

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is an agency of the Government of India. It has a network of 52 laboratories which are deeply engaged in developing defence technologies covering diverse fields of aeronautics, armaments, electronics and computer sciences and others. More than 5,000 scientists and around 25,000 scientific and technical professionals are working under this organisation.

Initial steps

DRDO, Pune pioneered the idea of an Innovation Centre in its campus where engineers and innovators could explore ideas and give them shape in the form of concept sketches, models and basic working prototypes. To encourage this informal exploration of innovative ideas, various workshops have been developed for painting, clay modeling, metal fabrication, CAD centers, etc. The center provides an informal interaction room to debate, discuss and forge new ideas.

Graphic elements

Cluster One, Pune-based design consultancy, is the main architect involved in the project to provide solutions for 'environmental graphics' to dress up the Innovation Center. It had to be different from the usual government office environment. So, designers at Cluster One decided to provide the center with different thematic posters, celebrating groundbreaking innovations in various fields of art and science.

Each workshop at the Innovation Centre was given a poster themed on the respective tools and process. And the informal interaction center got seven feet high posters depicting various forms of art. In general, the idea was to provide a large splash of colour throughout the center and highlight pioneering works in the field of modern day science. The materials and methodologies used for the process comprised vinyl prints churned out on eco-solvent printers and mounted on foam-sheets.

Innovations at Robotics Department

The Robotics Department was moved into a new building that housed various other departments. As with any research organisation, the nature of work involved creativity and innovations. The department decided to involve with designers of Cluster One to develop a signage scheme that would create a cheerful environment to foster creative spirits in its team. The Cluster One design team responded by deploying a kit of environmental signage that showcased their achievements in the form of a lattice wall collage and a thematic glass screen wall at the entrance.

Unique aspects

Each studio at Robotics Department, working on different aspects of robotics engineering, got a thematic door side sign. Similarly, the conference room and other main offices got signage with artworks celebrating the nature of work in a light-hearted manner.

The materials used in creating the stunning artworks at the department included glass, vinyl cut artwork and acrylic cut letters. The lattice wall was built out of stainless steel cables, tensioners and other fixtures specially developed for the purpose and the artwork was mounted on aluminium composite panels.

About Cluster One Cluster One's creative team: (LtoR) Parag Ainchwar and Parag Sen Cluster One is a design consultancy firm based in Pune which has been practicing industrial designs, architecture and landscape architecture. They are known for producing strategic master plans, product prototypes and designed spaces. The name 'Cluster One' is a tribute to the English rock band Pink Floyd that was formed when the group's front-man Syd Barrett joined The Tea Set, a group that consisted of architecture students like Nick Mason, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Bob Klose. For further details on Cluster One, log on to: www.cluster-one.net