Digital Skilling of Textile Artisans: Designing Smartphone Interfaces for Low-Literate Users

Textile artisans with limited literacy often face barriers in adopting digital skilling tools, restricting their participation in the evolving technological landscape of textile production. This study explores how smartphone interface design can be optimized through visual affordances to support low-literate users. Using a human-cantered design approach, the research involved ethnographic interviews, observational walkthroughs, and participatory co-design sessions with a Madhubani artisan from Maharashtra. Visual cues categorized as Discover, Look, and Go were analyzed and mapped within existing mobile interfaces to support task recognition, flow, and feedback. Key interface adaptations included the use of domainspecific iconography, minimal textual dependency, and consistent visual markers to enhance usability. These adaptations improved comprehension, engagement, and learning outcomes within digital skilling environments. The paper proposes a replicable design framework tailored for low-literate user groups in the textile sector, contributing to inclusive technology integration and skill-based economic resilience. Digital skilling empowers textile artisans by enhancing their access to markets, improving production efficiency, and fostering economic resilience in a rapidly digitizing industry.