Identification of functionality and usability aspects of traditional paathraya’ in sri lanka

Abstract

Functionality and usability can be identified as main key factors under the field of Product design. Traditional products have survived for many years in the history of a particular region or culture. In the perspective of product design, traditional products have gone through stages of designing and tested continuously with actual context. Therefore, those traditional products can be identified as well-designed products even though there is no any particular person to identify as a designer for them. Sri Lankan culture is believed to be more connected with the nature and sustainable concept according to social scientists, historians, archaeologists and folklore explorers. `Paathraya` is a traditional identical product that used by Buddhist monks not only in Sri Lanka but in other countries also. Therefore, it has a psychological platform combined with its physical characters. Paathraya is known as alms bowl in English, Patra in Sanskrit, Patta in Pali and Hatsu or Hachi in Japanese. As Product Designer, researching about traditional Paatraya of Sri Lanka gives exposure to the design principles and elements, material identification, product functionality and usability. The Research is carried out as an ethnographic research. Empirical Data is gathered by observing Museum collections and Paathra, which are currently used, interviewing archaeologists, Buddhist monks, artisans, potters, designers, scientists, sociologists by experimentation and analysing chronological development of Paathraya. Secondary data are collected through books and journals to enhance the functions, interpretation and design theories. Research will be based on lay Paathraya to explore the importance of material ,design and its usability. Research Findings are behaviour of the product in tradition and in practise, character, norms and the message it conveys. It was found that Paathraya provides knowledge to define functionality and usability with its physical and psychological character.