Story of Totem

“Primitive society performs its sacred rites, its sacrifices, consecrations, and mysteries, all of which serve to guarantee the well-being of the world, in a spirit of pure play truly understood. Now in myth and ritual, the great instinctive forces of civilized life have their origin: law and order, commerce and profit, craft and art, poetry, wisdom, and science. All are rooted in the primeval soil of play.” Huizinga, J. (2016). Homo ludens. Angelico Press.

This excerpt from the book ‘Homo Ludens’ by Huizinga J. best describes our name - Totem Studio.

We are a team of Architects, Designers, and Engineers passionate about the concept of `Play` and `Playfulness.' At Totem, We explore this concept beyond the boundaries of toys and games for kids and explore design possibilities for a `playful everyday for all.`

Our definition of Play - Create your own `magic circle,` redefine rules that instil a sense of exploration, enhancing your everyday experiences of fun & joy.

Our Totems - Objects that define your `magic circle,` helping you transcend reality to create a world of your imagination. Contemporary objects, handcrafted using traditional techniques, nudging you to explore and define your reality.

Our process of design and production is focused on orienting the traditional craft/production techniques to contemporary forms and functions, keeping the crafts relevant for current and future generations