Project Udaan by Asian Paints and St+art India Foundation turns a learning space into a place of care, connection and inclusion

Time of India

06-05-2025

Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Asian Paints by Times Internet's Spotlight team.
Art's expansiveness not only holds space for expression but also for healing. It is a lens that adds beauty to the ordinary and fuels our determination to make sense of challenges. And when harnessed with purpose, it can turn even the most clinical or overlooked spaces into environments of care. This belief lies at the heart of Asian Paints St+art Care — a collaborative initiative by Asian Paints and the St+art India Foundation. Born from the idea that design can be both beautiful and deeply human, Asian Paints St+art Care focuses on transforming sensitive environments through art led by empathy, inclusion, and a genuine concern for well-being.Project Udaan, the third project under Asian Paints St+art Care, has been launched at Arpan Charitable Trust, Vadodara — a nonprofit organisation that works closely with children with neurodiversity. It's part of a decade-long partnership between Asian Paints and the St+art India Foundation, built on a shared dream to make 'Art & Spaces Accessible for All'. Through colour, creativity, and design, Asian Paints St+art Care brings light and joy into unconventional spaces not usually touched by art — helping them feel more inclusive and allowing them to evolve.For children on the spectrum, even everyday classrooms can sometimes feel overwhelming. Sensory stimuli and social interactions may become too much to process. In these moments, art becomes more than just a medium; it becomes a gentle companion. It soothes, centers, and enables expression. Through colour, form and space, art helps neurodivergent children with conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and more to share their inner worlds in ways that feel safe, expressive, and freeing.Project Udaan is an art and sensory intervention that creates neuro-friendly, emotionally attuned environments for the children. The model uses materiality and sensory design to redefine learning spaces proving that walls, colours, and textures can do more than decorate; they can encourage self-expression and promote healthy emotional regulation.In a conversation, Amit Syngle, MD and CEO of Asian Paints, reflects on what Project Udaan stands for, 'Project Udaan is a deeply meaningful initiative for us. It shows how design, when rooted in empathy and not just aesthetics, can support those who experience the world differently. This project brings together sensory understanding, collaboration, and creativity to craft spaces where every child feels seen, safe and understood.''Speaking on how the project aligns with Asian Paints' brand vision, he added. ''This initiative beautifully builds on our philosophy of 'Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai,' which reflects the company's core purpose — bringing unbridled joy into peoples' lives and celebrating the emotional connection people share with their spaces. Udaan, as a part of Asian Paints St+art Care takes this vision forward — from beautifying homes to reimagining schools and public environments that offer care, comfort and inclusion. It's a meaningful step towards our larger goal of making art and spaces more accessible, impactful, and soulful through design.'Neurodivergent children have varied sensory needs. Some may be sensitive to textures or sounds while others might actively seek sensory input and tactile experiences. Artists Amrit Khurana and Anikesa Dhing, who conceptualised and executed Project Udaan, deeply understood these nuances. Khurana, drawing from her own experience as an individual with autism, incorporated structured patterns and rhythmic textures that boost spatial predictability. Dhing used her material expertise to ensure each surface offered a purposeful tactile experience, some designed to encourage interaction, while others offered calm and stability.At its core, Project Udaan isn't about decoration, it's about empathy through design. Each texture, surface, and shade were chosen to listen to children's emotional and sensory needs.The inspiration for this project also stems from the butterfly's metamorphosis. It reflects the journey that every child takes — evolving in a nurturing cocoon, such as Arpan, into their fullest self. A common space within the school has been transformed into a stimulating and soothing arena through the integration of textures, colours, and interactive surfaces from Asian Paints, such as Royale Play textures, matte emulsions in pastel shades, and tactile Nilaya fabrics and wallpapers, to create a multi-sensory experience.Children can now explore their environment in a way that feels safe and exciting. Matte finishes reduce visual glare offering visual comfort, while tactile wall textures and Nilaya fabric surfaces provide structure and stimulation. Sensory rugs and pompom textures work together to enhance sensory awareness and motor development. From interactive spaces that encourage learning, to playful zones and cocoon-like corners that help individuals decompress, every element adapts to individual sensory needs, creating a space where every child feels secure and inspired.The design was shaped in close collaboration with Arpan's educators, caregivers, and occupational therapists. Their insights into behaviour, movement, and comfort helped ensure the space isn't just beautiful, but truly supportive of the children's needs.During a three-day workshop facilitated by Access For All and led by Siddhanth Shah, children explored the space using rollers, combs, and custom applicators, feeling colourful Royale Play textures take shape under their fingertips. Their responses, whether they gravitated toward a texture, paused at a shade, or felt overwhelmed, all became real-time design feedback, ensuring every choice was was rooted in actual needs and made with the child's experience in mind. The school's exterior now proudly features a butterfly mural, serving as a vibrant reminder of the potential of neurodiverse children.With Udaan, Asian Paints and St+art India hope to inspire similar sensory interventions across the country. Prior to Udaan, Asian Paints St+art Care transformed a Children's Hospital in Noida, turning the often stressful and intimidating experience of a hospital visit, into one that feels more friendly and welcoming, especially for its young patients. The second initiative, Project Sparsh was undertaken at a visually impaired school in Rajasthan, where tactile art experiences were created to make art more inclusive and accessible.Amit Syngle says, 'We believe spaces should do more than just exist; they should evolve with the people who utilise them. With Asian Paints St+art Care, we are committed to creating environments that are not only visually beautiful but emotionally resonant— places that provide clarity, comfort, and connection. By integrating textures and materials that support sensory needs, we've built a space that adapts to children. While our journey began with beautifying homes, it now includes shaping emotionally intelligent spaces for all.'There are still hurdles that prevent many from accessing or engaging with art in meaningful ways. But initiatives like Udaan remind us that when design is led by empathy, it can unlock expression, connection, and confidence in children who experience the world differently.Project Udaan is not just an intervention; it's a blueprint for what's possible when art becomes a language of care.