Subject of Basic Design is as such a fairly difficult subject to teach, especially to First Year Architectural students. Nevertheless, this is also a very essential subject. In my opinion there are few good teachers for this subject. In several colleges all over India, this subject is generally dealt and taught in an arbitrary manner. There are no textbooks or guides available for this subject as this subject primarily deals with the aspects of visual design and aesthetics. Shirish Sukhatme, Professor of Basic Design has developed the website and also documented the work of passed students. Certainly, I feel that the contents of this website and four theoretical chapters therein, will be of great help to Architectural students as well as teachers.

Satish Tungare
(Ex-Principal of Sir J.J. College of Architecture)

Prof. Shirish Sukhatme has struck an eloquent chord in the Education & Appraisal of architecture with, 'Art-in-Architecture', a comprehensive, significant & pioneering presentation "said well" and "said well with eloquence!" I have known Prof. Sukhatme for the past two decades as a passionate teacher of 'Basic Design' in Design schools; and having seen his electronic presentation on the subject, a lifetime of good teaching, organization, academic work of design, studentship and assimilative growth lay honestly bare in front of me in a semantic capsule of information that startled with sheer quality.

Prof. Sukhatme's presentation is a must-see for Architects, Architect-educators and Design professionals. It has come at a time that is apt to receive positive changes of 'far-reaching' consequences in Architectural Academics & dynamics of professional Architecture in India. His work is respectful in the backdrop of sparse and sedentary contributions of academics in Independent India, and the challenges dedicated and novel academic projects face in our country. Technically slick with well-designed interface, 'Art-in-Architecture' will go a long way in educating our sensibilities and inspiring our potentials!

Vijay Sohoni
Principal, CANS, Nasik, Vice-President, COA, New Delhi

Shirish Sukhatme's CD version of Basic Design carefully categorized into theory, work, style and application is a work of experience and labour of many years of teaching and I am sure it would be very useful not only to students but also to other instructors of design. I am glad it is there and available in this form.

Design is an open-ended subject; it is not definitive: there are new things happening to design all the time, and there are more things to unlearn. This is the first step in this direction.

Sarayu Ahuja

Basic Design is a tricky aspect of Architecture (not just Architectural Studies), which deals with defining and evaluating ‘creativity’, as it relates to architecture. To most of us, consciously or subconsciously, the subject of Basic Design/Visual Studied has marked the beginning of a realization, to reflect on ‘Design’ in (its) entirety. For some, who see this subject as an opportunity to develop philosophies/principles for seeking eventual design solutions, it’s a beginning of a lifelong learning process.

 Prof. Sukhatme supports a mode of teaching that concentrates on developing the individual approach and style of a student, which is reflected here. The site introduces us to various aspects of architectural creativity and invites us to ponder on them. To the beginners in architecture, it offers direction not destination and to pros, it offers food for thought.

As rightly pointed out, this will probably be the first informal guideline on Basic Design, made available to students and instructors and coming from architect and professor Shirish Sukhatme, it cannot be less than perfect!  To us, who were fortunate enough to have him as a teacher, his name is synonymous to the subject.

 Also, I particularly appreciate its availability in the most modern medium of communication. I see the website constantly growing and developing as a source of information and inspiration and serving as an active forum for thought-provokers and idea-hunters.

Seema Sawhney (Malhotra)
Sr. Comp. Systems Specialist-Web Development Unit
University of Michigan Business School
[Architect and Ex visiting faculty for Basic Design]