KULKARNI MANALI ARVIND
Mr. Amresh Panigrahi
manali_k@nid.edu
Rail of Connections is a graduation project collaboratively developed with the Railway Design Centre, the National Institute of Design, and the Ministry of Railways. The project explores the cultural and emotional richness of train travel in India through functional, narrative-driven accessories inspired by the Konkan Railway journey. Moving beyond conventional souvenirs, the objective was to create culturally authentic products that foster emotional connections between travelers and place. The process combined secondary research on souvenirs and cultural diversity with primary field research in the Konkan region, including ethnographic observations and traveler interviews. Market trend analysis, museum studies, and storytelling tools informed ideation and prototyping. Four themes emerged: Linguistic Medley, Threads and Rhythms, Culinary Crossroads, and Colours of the Konkan Track. Through iterative prototyping, the project demonstrates how railways can act as cultural connectors via usable, manufacturable, and emotionally resonant design.