About Amygdala Bamboo

Amygdala Bamboo is a collective of designers and researchers applying an emphatic approach and helping craftsmen making expressive marketable products, producing modern bamboo products – such as home décor and wearable/fashion accessories – through community development in the bamboo craft village in Garut, West Java, Indonesia. View their instagram page here: ig: amygdala_bamboo

Vision

To become the leader of bamboo-based craft products and provide a business platform for bamboo craft villages.

Story

Sela Awi, Indonesia is well known as the bamboo birdcage village. The majority of people in the village are hereditary craftsmen,  creating birdcages was their main income for many decades. Thousands of birdcages demand fulfilled by around 150 craftsmen. But for the last 5 years, the uncertain economic situation in Indonesia affected demand and income and lead to big urbanization, forcing them to leave the village and go to big cities for work with minimum pay.

Using the “Emphatic Design Method”, we deconstructed the techniques used for creating birdcages to find techniques that can be developed without forcing craftsmen having to master new techniques. The techniques that we found are coiling and lattice, and from those techniques, we started developing various products such as furniture, lamp shades, tableware, and even fashion products.

For the last 1,5 years, we have gradually helped the craftsmen improving their workshops and prosperity through the amygdala brand.

There is an intention hidden in selecting this name: As we want our product to reflect our big goals regarding fair trade for the craftsmen and life balance, the name of our brand is taken from the brain part that controls balance and empathy; and  by picking bamboo as our main material, our brand represents sustainability and green living .

The wide range of products that are made implies that it can actively reach out to anybody, anywhere, and anytime. Because we want the bamboo to become a part of your everyday life.

Requirements

Student’s portfolio and CV.

Proficient with:
• Hand sketch
• Vector Illustration
• 3D Software
• Hand Modelling

Intern Duties

Participating in the design and production of bamboo products.

Work Hours

9.00 am – 17.00 pm.

Office Attire

Casual (e.g. Polo/t-shirt, jeans, cargo shorts, sports shoes or sandals)

Location

Amygdala Bamboo
Jl. Sariasih IV No.16,
Sarijadi, Sukasari, Bandung,
Indonesia

Student Profiles

Felicia Grant was a participant in the 2019 Creative Arts and Design Professional Practicum from RMIT University.

Felicia is studying an Associate Degree in Interior Decoration and Design.

She received a $3,000 New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant to support her participation in this program. Read more here.