Communication Design
Digital Design

Sandooka: The Living Museum of Kodava Culture
Brand: Sandooka Museum
Client: India Foundation for the Arts
Entrant: Roy Studio

The First List

Entry Title:	Sandooka: The Living Museum of Kodava Culture
Brand:	Sandooka Museum
Client:	India Foundation for the Arts
Entrant Company:	Roy Studio
URL Link:	https://sandookamuseum.org
Description:	Sandooka is an immersive online website that vividly showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Kodavas in Kodagu. The term “Sandooka” in the Kodava language means a treasure chest—a symbol of preserving cherished materials and memories. Developed over two years through extensive field research and contributions from the community, this digital museum offers a vibrant portrayal of their cultural journey. The Kodavas, a small community in India, have unique traditions, language, rituals, and food. However, with social changes, the traditional ways of passing down cultural knowledge are fading. The project’s central challenge was to create a repository of Kodava traditions, rituals, and social practices, reflecting their evolution over time. Sandooka reimagines the museum as an organic space, sustained by community contributions and embracing experimental practices. The curation features a non-linear timeline, connecting past, present, and future through a contemporary lens. Stories are interconnected across nine categories using a graph-based database, with each story revealing links to others. The links are also visible through active tag links within each story as well. Accessibility is enhanced through a collapsible pane, offering simple navigation and visible connections through embedded tags.
Company Credits:	Design: Roy.Studio
Company Credits:	Animation, motion design & storytelling: Switch
Individual Credits:	Project Director: Lina Vincent
Individual Credits:	Research and Coordination Head: Mookonda Nitin Kushalappa
Individual Credits:	Studio Associates: Nigel Gomes, Smita Sohoni, Aditi George
Individual Credits:	Project Associates: Nitya Devayya, Dhriti Belliappa, Christina Dedhia
Individual Credits:	Web Development lead: Hasan Shahrukh
Individual Credits:	Front-end developer: Samarth Gulati | Back-end developer: Gaurav Nagar
Individual Credits:	Media resources: Clare Arni, Aiyuda Prasad Ponnappa, Kunjiyanda Mahesh Appaiah, Kalpit Gaonkar, Bhavani G.S.
Individual Credits:	Editorial Advisors: Boverianda Nanjamma Chinnappa, Chepudira P. Belliappa, Kodira Monnappa Lokesh, Sowmya Dechamma C.C.