10 months of Design for India: Google Analytics view

Ten months of visitors on the Design for India blog: Google Analytics view

It is interesting to be able to look back and see how the blog has been used, something that is difficult if not impossible to do with print based publications. We write papers and books with the hope that someone would read them but we would never really know. However with the blog space the scene is quite different, we get instant feedback, and in many cases actual contact with the readers.

So looking back over the past 10 months of blog activity using the Google Analytics tool has shown an interesting pattern of visits, visitors and interest areas which is useful feedback for the author.

In the past ten months the activity to the blog has been steady with a few peaks but otherwise a steady stream each day. Globally we now have had over 17,000 visits from 12,000 visitors from 116 countries and 1800 cities and from India we have had 9900 visits from 76 cities, with the metros leading the pack. It is gratifying to see as many as 30,000 page views over this period. This still makes me wonder why the penetration of design ideas in India still very low indeed and we will certainly need to devellop strategies to reach a wider audience here in India. The National Design Policy should perhaps focus on broadening the base for design use in India and not just restrict its reach to the metros and a few big cities. The real impact will be seen only when the use of design reaches the masses across India and in as many as 230 sectors of our economy

The Mission Statement posted on 14th July 2007 is quoted below

"Design is a powerful force that shapes culture and it is a professional activity that is beneficial for both community and business alike. This blog is for all those who are interested in exploring these wider manifestations of design as a critical human activity and would like to shape its application across all human cultural and economic activities. Design uses all of human knowledge and is informed by the deep sensibilities developed through skillful and playful exploration of nature and the human spirit. It is a responsible activity that is driven by value systems of culture and society which are beneficial for sustainable and equitable existance of the planet earth and its inhabitants. Design is an intentional activity that generates value and in its processes it uses the creative potential of the actors to build a better future for all. This blog primarily focuses on issues and concerns in India but would be open to cooperate and engage with all other like minded groups in achieving the larger objectives of the blog."

While the focus is on the Indian dimension we are eager to discuss all other global development perspectives that may have a bearing on the promotion, support and use of design in the Indian context. Both this blog and the discussion list will be coordinated to facilitate easy archiving and dissemination of the posts as we go forward with our efforts to meet the objectives of this blog.