DDesign holds very significant importance in our lives. Everything is based on the designs, from the rooms we live in, to the streets we walk. Though in a broader context, the designs have been limited to only architecture, but the arrival of media and especially the digital world that we live in today have improved the quality of designs and made them an integral part of our dayto-day life.
When Steve Jobs said, "Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works," what is meant by this was that designs have life, and they add value and life to any structure that we may encounter.
One of the most prominent examples of designs is also given by Steve Jobs, who many consider the greatest CEO of all time, before the launch of iPods. When the design team showed the prototype of the first iPod, Steve Jobs wanted to have a more compact design.
To bring that design to reality, he immersed the newly designed iPod into a glass of water nearby and said there was more room for compact design since the bubbles were coming out.
And when the iPod was launched, it turned out to be one of the must-have devices of that time. Having said that, just like Steve Jobs pushed and groomed the designers of the iPod to their limits to bring out a compact and working product, design enthusiast students worldwide understood the importance of visionary designs.
The design field is booming, and with the new sectors introducing themselves through the web, the future seems bright for design. Realising the growth of the design sector, many prominent design institutes started enhancing their syllabus to groom designers for the future.
Despite a phenomenal change in the educational structure, the design
education space required the introduction of design study, which catered to the latest advancement in the field. This gave rise to some of the new design institutes that teach nothing but design.
Since design education is on the verge of turning into a booming industry, The Knowledge Review , magazine through this edition, wishes to guide the design enthusiast to the college that ideally suits them.
In this edition, 'Design Colleges of the Year, 2022' , we wish to bring the best designing institutes to light that are enhancing the design education space in India.
I hope this edition serves its purpose and have a happy and insightful read.
Ashlesh KhadseEditor, The Knowledge Review
ashlesh.khadse@insightssuccess.com
Apeejay Institute of Design
Arch College of Design And Business
DJ Academy of Design
GLS Institute of Design
Hue N Rig Institute of Art & Design
IDEA Worldwide Design College
Jindal School Of Art And Architecture
NICC International College of Design
P.A. Inamdar College of Visual Effects, Design & Arts
The Design Village
Apeejay Institute of Design (AID) is a Premier Institute in the area of Design Education. It was established by the renowned Industrial House of Apeejay Stya in 1991 with the mission to nurture and promote Art, Culture and Design. apeejay.edu
ARCH was set up in 2000 under the aegis of the ARCH Educational Society, to reform & transform the quality of education for design aspirants across the globe. archedu.org
Founded in 2004, DJAD has grown into one of India's nest Design Institutes offering Communication, Industrial, Animation and Interaction Design Programs at Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. djad.in
GLS Institute of Design pursues the concept of 3 H - Head, Heart and Hand which will be achieved through the right balance between Culture, Tradition and Technology. glsid.org
HUE N RIG Institute of Art and Design is grooming students towards excellence and has had an upper hand in training in multimedia designs. huenrig.com
IDeA Worldwide is India’s premier design institution established by Thomas Abraham (one of India’s leading design personalities) that he started right after graduating from IIT Kharagpur. idea-worldwide.com
The Jindal School of Art and Architecture is founded with the vision to become one of the foremost schools of learning of the visual, material and the built environments. jgu.edu.in
NICC is a one-of-its-kind Design Institute specializing in interdisciplinary cross-platform education since its establishment in 2005. niccindia.org
P.A. Inamdar College of Visual Effects, Design & Arts Animation College and Gaming Institution were founded on the philosophy that "learning by doing" combined with best industry practices is more valuable than years of theoretical study for Animators and Gaming Professionals. veda-edu.com
thedesignvillage.org
Vidyashilp Education Group has a heritage of nearly four decades in K-12 education. From a single room with 30 students in 1982, the group has grown to 3 schools and 2 preschools in various parts of Bangalore.
Defining the Future of Design with Threads, Strokes and Architecture
The Design Village has a unique curation of modules like Implications of Design, Conceptual Aesthetics, Conflicting concerns, Context Mapping, Design for Values, and many more.
From Left
Associate
Associate
Associate Dean, Academics
Dean, Admissions and Operations, MR VATSAL AGRAWAL
Dean, Executive Affairs, MRS LENA R. GUPTA Associate Dean IPhD, Chief Examiner Admissions
TThe modern world has significant advancements in technology, medicine and transport. But we are surrounded by excess everywhere – our population is exploding, there is overabundance of visual mélange, things are overdesigned and overused, extra focus is on the excess, while the affluence is ostentatious, simultaneously there is overconsumption of our spaces; to add to this, we have a habit of obsessively hoarding clothing and possessions and are indeed crumbling under all that clutter.
India needs a lifestyle and architecture diet. We need to hold back in order to navigate through these unusual times. We need to become more resilient and more authentic in order to not get swayed by every fad that comes along. It is a good moment to look at what has stood the test of time.
Therefore, the role of the designer has evolved and so has design education. Design today is no longer about decoration but about how the skillsets of a designer – creative thinking – can be used to solve pressing societal issues and creating new futures.
The Design Village (TDV) is a design institute based our of Noida offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in design with a vision to create an impact through design. The Knowledge Review magazine, in its endeavour to find 'Design Colleges of the Year, 2022', came across Mr Sourabh Gupta and Ms Mridu Sahai , the Founder and Co-Founder of The Design Village. In an interactive conversation, the dynamic duo shares their vision of impacting lives through design while solving the problems of today and proposing new threads of possibility for the future.
Being an interdisciplinary, industrycentric design institute, conceptualizing this incredible design institute started in 2010. The core team of the institute, after extensive worldwide research, came up with a research to study the design education landscape and build the future of an extremely responsible profession.
Following the foundation in 2012, with encouragement from the Dutch government, an astute curriculum team was formed with professors from TU Delft, Netherlands and the year 2014 saw the commencement of the first batch of post-graduate students starting their educational journies with The Design Village.
Talking about the ideology behind the inception of the unique design school, Mr. Sourabh Gupta says, "For design to impact the world, TDV believes that
one must investigate what impact that design will have. Therefore, students at TDV learn - how to dream that dream, understand the future and take responsibility for shaping the world. In essence, they design the reason first."
Continuing the thoughts of Mr Sourabh Gupta, Ms Mridu Sahai adds, "Additionally, TDV also aims to nurture and educate individuals by not limiting them to any particular field of design. Students may choose to not specialize in a particular discipline but can be manifestation independent nonsilo designers who can impact and change the world through design in any and every medium imaginable, echoing the ethos that a good designer can design anything."
An Unparalleled Sculptured Unique International Curriculum
The Design Village's unique curriculum is a joint result of the
The projects chosen by students at TDV reflect the societal challenges that exist today – from addressing the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, to considering taboos of gender violence, menstrual health, inclusivity, fashion consumption, community engagement. The curriculum leans towards understanding design as a verb, not as a noun – something traditional design education entailed.
Indian-Dutch proposal on new perspectives for Indian Design Education called compiled 'INDEED' in 2011. This unique and modern curriculum is set under the pretext of designing contemporary, bold and futuristic thinking.
The pedagogies nestle in creating the designers of tomorrow who can mould the conventional methods of designing, breaking the stereotypes and questioning the impermanent.
TDV employs design thinking methods to empower students to become responsible and vision-driven 'leaders of change' where design-driven innovation is the leading paradigm. Design Villagers dare to rethink processes, undertake systemic challenges and have the courage to address any societal issue.
Through this uniquely curated curriculum, The Design Village offers four years UGC recognized Bachelor of Design, Masters of Design program of two years and a five-year Integrated Masters program.
TDV offers pathways in its Bachelor of Design program are Fashion and Textile Design, Product Design, Space and Interior Design, Graphics and Communication Design, Interaction and UX Design, Transportation and Mobility Design, and a manifestation independent B. Des.
TDV offers pathways in its Masters of Design Program are Fashion and Textile Design, Product Design, Space and Interior Design, and Graphic and Communication Design.
Explaining this unique curation of educational modules, the founder of
The Design Village explains, "The Design Village have a unique curation of modules like Implications of Design, Conceptual Aesthetics, Conflicting concerns, Context Mapping, Design for Values, and many more. Each of these courses ensures that the student has a holistic learning experience, looking at design as not merely a manifestation but an intervention in the larger systems of being."
While building the curriculum, the core team felt the need to develop a set of core values around which the education at TDV revolves around. Keeping the bigger picture and future aspects in mind, the core team of The Design Village set Villaging, Taskbox and Baskets as the three constituent pillars of the institute.
Ÿ Villaging: Activities for personal
development, to build the TDV community and oneself. Villaging helps to engrain in a student the TDV DNA –the qualities of awareness, compassion, courage, and perseverance. TDV believe that these values form the core of a good designer.
Ÿ Taskbox: Industry centric design projects, where everything is based, and students get a first-hand experience on real-time projects
Ÿ Baskets: Clusters of courses characterized by a common theme, discipline or learning objective.
Adding more to the core values, is the community developed by the TDV, Ms Mridu Sahai asserts, "Members of the staff are agile and updated with the world and come armed with premier education and exposure. The leadership includes Associate Deans Dr. Latika Chaudhary, Ms. Mudita Pasari, Mr. Vatsal Agarwal and Mrs. Lena R Gupta. It is because of the nature of the personnel in TDV, that we seamlessly transitioned into a pure
“online learning environment, followed by a hybrid mode.TDV's International Board of Advisors comprising of professors and professionals ensures that the philosophy flows seamlessly in the institute's activities and focuses on actively elevating the quality of education through multiple activities like Faculty Development Masterclasses, Teaching Learning Center etc. It is focused on inculcating a learning-oriented culture over a teaching-oriented one."
In 2019 Forbes Design awards conferred The Design Village with the Best Institutional Interiors Award. Moreover, to add more laurels to the village, the institute was also awarded the 'Campus Design Excellence' awardwhich was well-deserved. ,
Explaining the ideation and conversion of a Kattha factory into an educational space, Mr Sourabh Gupta says, "The Design Village is proud to be housed within a repurposed building, which is far more sustainable than constructing a greenfield campus. New life has been instilled into spaces by transforming what was into what is. Cold storages now act as large classrooms, and a chemical pit is the heart of the village, acting as a think tank and a place to meet, discuss ideas, and celebrate. While a boiler which produced enough steam to run a steam engine sits as a backdrop to our student spaces among many such machines."
Further asserting the architectural experience, Ms Mridu Sahai explains, "Our space is a teacher! Apart from being a unique architectural
Every student at TDV is encouraged to study abroad for a semester. A selection of courses at partnering schools like L'école de Design Nantes Atlantique enables students to look at the Indian context with a refreshed perspective while working in a foreign country.
experience, our campus houses stateof-the-art design facilities– an internationally accredited fab lab that promises technologically driven highend prototyping, a digital mac-lab, fashion lab as well as an ever-growing library. We are also proud collaborators with the world acclaimed, 100% organic and sustainable Araku Coffee and have the privilege to have our very own Araku Café on campus."
On a Mission to Design the World The Design Village graduates today successfully command a variety of roles across sectors with sustainability, entrepreneurship and technology as their core DNA.
This has been possible through the constant guidance of prominent members of the advisory board of TDV : , IDE Technical Dr Paul Hekkert University of Delft, Netherlands, Prof Jeroen Van Erp Founder, Fabrique, Netherlands, Mr Christian Guellerin, Executive Director, L'Ecole de design Nantes Atlantique, France Honorary President, Cumulus Association, Mr Alexander Von Vegesack Founder and President, Centre International de Recherche et d'Education Culturel et Agricole, France, Mathias SchwartzClauss Director, Domaine de Boisbuchet, France.
With a panel of diverse international visionaries, The Design Village offers incredible international exposure opportunities to its students and staff to enhance their learning experience that will help curate numerous possibilities in their career as designers.
Asserting particular importance to the international exposure opportunities offered by the institute to its students, Mr Sourabh Gupta says, "Students get curated design travel opportunities through our in-house initiative of
Dtours India – aimed to spread awareness of architecture, design, art and culture through travel . Students have travelled extensively to countries in Europe and even Japan through this initiative. Such experiences have been extremely humbling and empowering for them."
"TDV also has the privilege of running its Summer-Winter school at the incredible learning environment of Domaine de Boisbuchet, an international hub for design in France. Design Villagers have travelled to France multiple times to build the India Pavillion and permanent installations and exhibitions on their campus. TDV is also the official partner of Domaine de Boisbuchet for their outreach and communication in India," adds TDV's co-founder, Ms Mridu Sahai.
Explaining the details of TDV's student venture abroad, Ms Mridu Sahai explains, "Every student at TDV is also
encouraged to study abroad for a semester. A selection of courses at partnering schools like L'école de Design Nantes Atlantique enables students to look at the Indian context with a refreshed perspective while working in a foreign country."
The Design Village has curated a unique experience of learning with its award-winning campus and internationally accepted curriculum. Welcoming diverse students from all over the country, TDV, over the years, has built a strong community across the world.
The Design Village has prepared itself for the rapidly changing world. Fore sighting the new emerging careers and the gap created in the formal education system, TDV has encouraged students to think macro, develop broad interests and skills, acknowledge and embrace the diverse experience and gather
Our campus houses state-of-the-art design facilities– an internationally accredited fab lab that promises technologically driven high-end prototyping, a digital mac lab, a fashion lab, as well as an ever-growing library.
information across multiple domains to keep surfing swiftly through the learning process.
Highlighting the diverse lifestyle of the villagers, Ms Mridu Sahai asserts, "The projects chosen by students at TDV reflect the societal challenges that exist today – from addressing the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, to considering taboos of gender violence, menstrual health, inclusivity, consumption, community engagement. The curriculum leans towards understanding design as a verb, not as a noun – something traditional design education entailed."
TThe spirit of the Indian heritage lies in its exotic cultural and ethnic diversity. The snippets of its richness can be contemplated through its rich and varied architecture, attires, industries and furniture that define the intricacies of the Indian way of life. If we dive deeper and try to find the route of the genesis of this beautiful legacy, 'Design' would emerge as a prominent influencing factor.
Acknowledges this and strives to create leaders in various fields of design. We at The Knowledge Review got an opportunity to jot down a tale of pure artistic passion and excellence as we spoke to Thomas Abraham, Founder, Mentor and Director of IDeA World Design College.
An architect with Honors from IIT, Kharagpur, Thomas Abraham, is the founder of IDeA (Interior Design
Academy) World Design College. The college started its humble inception by training students in interior design. Initially, Thomas used to manage the entire institution, from training the students to managing sales and securing admissions. Slowly, as the team began to grow, it paved the way for Thomas to unveil his flair for design- be it Fashion, Interior or kind of design. It led to the foundation of Fashion Design Courses later on. As it occurs, each field of design comes under the same umbrella of similar fundamental principles.
IDeA World Design College makes sure that at whatever level students join, whether with or without prior knowledge of design, in the end, they are design professionals, ready to take on the design world.
Under his mentorship, the college soon started providing short-term diploma courses. By this time, the student number had grown exponentially, and IDeA World Design College soon expanded to several locations across Bangalore for better reach. The college also conducted several shows, including Bangalore Times Fashion Week and Bombay Times Fashion Week. In 2018, the college received multiple accolades, including being officially affiliated with Bangalore City University, and it started providing degree courses. In addition to this, the
students of IDeA World Design College also designed for all the 30 finalists of Femina Miss India 2018. This year, the students from the college's first-degree batch topped Bangalore City University.
The White Knight of IDeA Thomas Abraham is an architect by profession, slowly expanding his expertise to interior design, fashion design, furniture design, art and writing. He has evolved into an awardwinning designer, educator,
entrepreneur and visionary. His genius extends across several fields of design, and he is among the few who have risen to the top of the design field, having won several national as well as international acclaims for his work, including winning the World Architecture Award, the Milan-based
Design a Better World To be a global leader in design education
Vision
To mentor students everyday in such a way that through original thinking, each day is a step closer to designing a better and more beautiful world.
A Design Award, the Architecture Master Prize award as, well as being a Finalist at the Indian Institute for Architects Award (IIA).
The art style that he invented, 'Writism' , has been patented. Both in its nomenclature and substance contribute uniquely to the art field. Today, his work is part of the permanent collection of the Karnataka Chief Minister's Residence in Bangalore (the equivalent of the State Governor's Mansion in the U.S.) – a collection of several eminent provenance works, besides being in private collections in Brazil, India and the U.S.
His work has also been a part of countless fashion shows since 2015. He has designed outfits for all 30 finalists of Miss India 2018 and then went on to design for the Bombay Times Fashion Week 2019, which was show-stopped by Suman Rao , Miss India 2019. His furniture collection was exhibited at the Architectural
Digest Design Show 2019 on par with international brands like Fendi, Casa and Gauri Khan designs, where his designs were much appreciated. He has been featured for furniture design on the award-winning American television channel Newswatch thrice. In addition, he has been in the press and media worldwide, including being featured in NBC and FOX 40 in the USA, Marketwatch in the Netherlands, The Morning Star in China, and International Business Times.
Thomas Abraham's popularity has contributed several ways to IDeA World Design College achieving its current reputation. His accolades have helped publicise the college as well across the globe. Students often arrive seeking admission after hearing about his design contributions and awards so as to be mentored by him.
At IDeA World Design College, the
eligibility to enter any course is not based on prior academic performances or knowledge. Instead, it is entirely based on the applicant's creativity. An exclusive entrance test is conducted called- IDEA (The Intelligence Design Evaluation Assessment). This test specifically tests a student's creativity and design level. Students are also not expected to have prior training or knowledge.
Thomas Abraham explains the significance of this unique approach by saying, "At IDeA, everything is taught from scratch, with and without software. There is less focus on theory and more on holistically developing the students to become industry-ready designers rather than textbook oriented. Everything is done through workshops, seminars and hands-on training. Moreover, the teaching setup is very flexible, where students are treated like friends to encourage open discussions."
•2018 - Emerging Icon Award for IDeA Design House (our in-house design studio where students' work is featured) by Times of India (the world's largest circulating English daily)
•2018 - IDeA World Design College won the award for Best Design Education at the Business Times Awards
•2020 - IDeA World Design College won the award for Top and Most Creative Design for Quality Infrastructure and Facilities
•2021-2022- IDeA World Design College's campus, the Crystal Hall, won over 15 awards.
•2022- IDeA World Design College's first-degree batch won the first rank at Bangalore University
Students at IDeA also get to design for celebrities, and high-end design shows and exhibits on par with them. In addition, 100 % placement assistance is provided, so the students get placed in top design companies. Thomas states, "IDeA World Design College makes sure that at whatever level students join, whether with or without prior knowledge of design, in the end, they are design professionals, ready to take on the design world."
The college focuses a lot on training students through workshops taught by industry experts. Julian Roberts , fashion designer and filmmaker, trained the students at IDeA in Subtraction Cutting, Rene Jansen, Building Biologist, took a COB Workshop, Dr Bijoy Varghese taught about landscape while Manuela Catania taught them about sustainable design.
In addition to this, the college also keeps having different long-term and short-term courses where students are trained specifically on how to hone their artistic skills. Prasad Bidapa , a fashion choreographer and impresario, taught students what to keep in their minds when their designs are showcased on the ramp, training them to be confident professionals. Anand Bhardwaj , a Vastu Consultant to celebrities in India, taught them about Vastu, an important concept for interior design students. IDeA World Design College ensures that professionals in the field teach students for them to have a clear understanding of what the industry is actually like.
Globally Competent Curriculum IDeA World Design College is directly affiliated with the American Institute of Architects (AIA). In addition to their international affiliations, students'
works are submitted for some of the world's leading design competitions.
Thomas Abraham sheds light on the global exposure for the students at IDeA; he says, "Last year, the Optimus from the Transformer Furniture Collection made by our students was the only Indian finalist at the Society of British and International Interior Design Awards (SBID). Students regularly get an insight into global design through the workshops conducted by global design personalities."
Thomas Abraham envisions IDeA World Design College to expand and gain exposure on a global level. The college also focuses on global affiliations with prominent design bodies and global associations with top
universities so that one can conduct exchange programs. According to Thomas, the exchange programs are particularly helpful as both students at their college, as well as the other universities, get exposed to design on a much more global level.
While explaining his outlook for the future, he exclaims, "IDeA also looks forward to participating in several international awards. We are also looking forward to many more university toppers in the coming years like we received this year. We are also especially looking forward to our alumni reaching heights based on the learning and exposure they received at our college. Many of them have started and are in the process of starting their labels, so it is a proud moment for their alma matter."
“
At IDeA, everything is taught from scratch , with and without software. There is less focus on theory and more on holistically developing the students to become industry-ready designers rather than textbook oriented.
As evolution took its pace, architectural designs made by professionals were inspired by the reality around the geographical systems. Post neolithic period, man began to structure the space ergonomically, popular evidence being the well-planned cities of Harrapan civilizations or the splendid dome architectural relics of the Romans.
With time, architectural designs have evolved with evolving technology, switching focus from symmetrical structures to using virtual reality for designing. This has brought in precision and maximized utility.
Apart from the mathematics behind it and giving the society unique structures, why are architectural designs important? What makes a commoner admire a certain architecture?
For starters, design (according to various studies) impacts us in every aspect. It augments emotional response in both ways, for example a small office space hampers productivity on the other hand a good office design would help gain extra revenue too.
After all the quote, "whatever good things we build, end up building us" rightly highlights the present importance of a good architectural design that is helping ideate reality.
This article builds upon this quote and helps the reader comprehend the impact of architectural designs in contemporary times.
Global political interactions have been shaped by co-mingling of individual national cultures, most popular being give and take of various popular artifacts that represent cultural values
of the nation. In today's time, most nations are taking a step further and are collaborating to create cities that reflect their culture. Many Asian nations are providing their architectural expertise to third world countries that along with developmental efforts, helps promote the culture too of the brother nation.
Technology has surely upscaled architectural designs, but innovations and creative ideas is the real deal that delivers unique solutions. Resource crunch has compelled us to look for innovative housing options. This requires architectural designs to experiment with different geometrical shapes to use space unconventionally. Current technological tools have enabled architects make budget friendly homes, ensure minimalism, or construct homes with "get the outdoor indoor" concept, few of which are trending globally.
Art evokes emotions and emotions drive our overall wellbeing. Designers must be mindful of various elements to use space judiciously that would prompt positivity among customers. Research suggests well designed spaces enhance cognitive satisfaction and produce better behavioural outcomes. Further empirical data on schooling designs or office designs, the data reveals – transforming old architectural designs of school improved learning outcomes by sixteen percent. Other studies also show improved professional outcomes when the office space was well designed.
Current consumer trends emphasise on deriving aesthetic pleasure from the design. Aesthetic appeal of a space depends upon its architectural
creativity. It could be derived from the material used like in minimalism which prefers simplicity over ornamentation, or from its visual appeal like the colour palette used or simply by how symmetric it is!
This emotional response is now heightened by incorporating novel technologies to create architectural designs. Let's see how technology is enabling this.
Designing process is heavily adapting technology – from conceptualising to modelling outputs, which is renovating the user experience as virtual technology tools are enabling architects to think out of the box and upgrade architectural styles. These technologies are converting imagination into reality.
Let's look into a broad context!
Technologies like Built in Modelling are being used in initial stages of designs to accurately divide work leading to lesser inefficiencies. It takes care from building 3D models to time management to optimized designs.
Proceeding further, in the straight string that is big data providing architects the right set of data to guide them, the relation has been turned circular by architects, who are designing smart buildings to give structural support for Big Data storage.
Another emerging technology that is significantly being used by architects is 3D printing. According to market research, additive manufacturing construction market is expected to grow by 91 percent by the next decade. 3D printing comes as a boon for modelling designs as designs ideated
can be altered, multiple layers can be added, several iterations can be attempted, and even print those colossal structures.
As the world leaders stress upon ecofriendly architecture, designing is also incorporating the sustainability component. It has accomplished to generate lower amounts of waste by using eco-friendly alternatives like PLA plastic rather than the regular thermoplastic, which is nondegradable. The magnus of additive manufacturing is evidenced by structures like Dubai's municipal building, two storey detached house in Germany and many more.
This makes it clear how largely it is also impacting the overall society along with individual emotions. The article proceeds to further discuss this.
Among the various elements of designing, spatial utility highly impacts the society and its progress. Let's see the noticeable impacts:
Ÿ
Enhanced recreational value – day to day places like parks are being modified to maximize customer satisfaction. Parks are becoming more inclusive – from kids to senior citizens – all can find their joy and peace. Other than parks, theatres are also being designed to enhance artist presence at the same that provides ease of access to the audience.
Ÿ Environmental – architecture designs are helping in permaculture farming. Degrading air quality in Urban areas globally has stressed on the need to have green buildings. Designing has helped transform compact urban spaces into Eco balconies that enable
Ÿ
people to cultivate through vertical farming.
Reducing the inequalities –Housing projects like Quinta Monroy have reimagined social housing in Chile for poverty struck and displaced families. It has accommodated more than 500 families in the same site within the state budget using design dynamics to its advantage.
Ÿ Space and Gender – Studies in mice show isolated spaces for women tend to increase corticosterone – a stress inducing chemical – than for male mice. Architecture design is negating gender discrimination through open spaces, movable walls, and genderneutral washrooms. Studies indicate that greater assault and
verbal counters on transgenders in gender segregated washrooms had been a great challenge. Hence, gender neutral washrooms designed creatively have aided shared work environments.
Ÿ For the differently abled –Inclusivity in architecture was first portrayed through Frank Lloyds hemicyclic and single storeyed Laurent house, where its curved structure provides natural accessibility had features like wheelchair levelled bookshelves, panoramic windows. Contemporary architects like Zaha Hadid
themselves built and have invited dolls house presentation from various architects around the globe that showcases architectural designs to benefit the differently abled.
Designing has contributed to every sector, even enabling space tourism for people other than the experts. This virtuous cycle of design ideating reality continues to open new horizons to the professionals; hence, it is evident that the design field along with robots will aspire to invent and innovate.
AArt!
Whenever we come across this word, the first thought that comes to mind is creativity. However, in our life's busy schedule, the creative art forms that our eyes often encounter are drawings, paintings, and writing to an extent. And, despite being an integral and well-groomed part of our lives, designing as practical and utilitarian art, is often ignored. The vision and ability which consciously requires our attention, and which combines art, engineering and other fields for a good purpose can be termed as design.
Observing potential art forms on a daily basis, we often think that mesmerizing creativity is a gift given to special artists. In reality, though, creativity is a gift given to quite a few life forms! Humans are inherently
creative, but then so are dolphins, and chimpanzees! It's just a matter of perspective to see potential. See the world differently. It's the essential practice that makes a creatively good artist more creative.
Creativity requires courage and confidence, two factors that help in freely expressing one's creativity. Courage because it's about doing unusual things which may often lead to criticism. Confidence because we need to drum up the courage and the power to communicate.
For instance, a drawing of people climbing a rainbow; the sun smiling and wearing black sunglasses; icecreams growing on trees; and monkeys giving instructions to lions. The more differently you look at the world, the more creative your ideas may be.
There is no defined way to learn the creative art of designing. However, there are many institutions that can help aspiring designers to grow and sculpt their craft and innovative thinking. ARCH College of Design and Business provides budding designers with the wings to polish their skills using advanced technology and equipment and the forums and platforms to exhibit their work both nationally and internationally. This has helped make it one of India's most prominent design colleges.
Based out of the Pink City of India, the institution provides many design courses that include Jewellery, Fashion, Interior, Product, Graphics, Digital and many more. Apart from design education, the institute also includes practical, highly relevant, and useful inputs in the entrepreneurship and business domains to make graduates capable of many more options for livelihood and success in the professional design field.
In an interaction with The Knowledge Review , Ms Archana Surana , the Founder and Director of the ARCH College of Design and Business, shared her incredible learning experiences, educational pedagogies and the institute's future vision and mission.
Archana Surana, Weaving the Threads of a Leading Design Institute
The inception story of this college starts from two residential rooms. Under the leadership of Ms Archana Surana and through the challenges and efforts of establishing the concept itself of design in the city of Jaipur, the institution has progressed hugely to become a knowledge hub for higher education in the field of design.
Her leadership, as a result of her experience in the U.S. State Department's Rotary Foundation and being a Vital Voices Lead Fellow, and a Fortune and GAP Mentee, has provided with the institution with useful farsightedness that other design institutes rarely acquire in such a short period of time.
Since the college's inception, Ms. Surana's leadership has focused on delivering quality design education. She moved the institute from solid societies to liquid societies with digital communications and technology. Explaining this inclusion of digitalization, Ms. Surana says, "The previously known notions of the context of the institute will become easily accessible and relevant as the content of the digital world."
The Origin Story of a Creative Design Institute
ARCH College of Design and Business started with the awareness of the deep necessity for DESIGN-based education. The institute was established in 2000 under the aegis of the ARCH Educational Society to reform and transform the education quality for design aspirants across the globe. The college campus is spread over 80,000 sq feet in Jaipur, often called the Pink City, and it has a 7000 professional alumni base.
The institute has been conducting the AIEED (All India Entrance Examination for Design) for Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in design since 2010. It also offers a wide gamut of industryoriented courses of international standards with university certification.
ARCH College of Design and Business offers various U.G., P.G., and
Certificate level design programmes, such as Fashion, Interior, Product, Jewellery, Graphic, photography, Digital Design, and Design Communication, coupled with specialized courses by combining Design education with Business and Entrepreneurial knowledge.
ARCH College of Design and Business is also a voting member and participant in international bodies, i.e., the World Design Organization (WDO), the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI), and Interaction Design Association (IxDA), and the CUMULUS Global Association. Ms. Archana Surana has just been elected to the Executive Board of CUMULUS, the first Indian to achieve this and serve on this board. Among National Memberships, ARCH is a voting member of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the Indian Institute of Indian Interior
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To increase the scope and extent of collaboration with advanced Indian & foreign educational institutions to adopt, maintain, and help enhance, global benchmarks in the dissemination of knowledge and skills in Design.
Designers (IIID) and the Association of Designers of India (ADI).
Alongside the strong links built with industry, these memberships offer global exposure and numerous and valuable opportunities for students and faculty to participate in International events and competitions through submitted research papers and project presentations. Additionally, they get the chance to interact with peer groups from all over the world, among many other collaborative learning opportunities.
ARCH College of Design & Business has partnered with design institutions in Scotland, England, France, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Ethiopia, Mexico, Ukraine, and Canada.
ARCH has signed MOUs to promote partnerships focused on staff development, research & development of a new curriculum, and developing progression routes towards higher education which extends to opportunities that range from exchanges to three-month industry internships abroad and attending module courses in member institutions. Participation in exchanges can extend from three months to a semester or a whole year.
While interacting with Ms Archana Surana, we asked her to highlight the vision (foresight) and mission (errand) of the ARCH College of Design and Business.
To engage the natural potential of an individual through Design Education enabled by positive thought and action and empowering them to evolve
through the spirit of holistic cocreation.
She also shared the institute's core values: EMPOWER, Co-CREATE, and EVOLVE.
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To be an internationally acknowledged design institution with an impeccable foundation of research and learning built on a broad spectrum of disciplines.
Ÿ To revive and renew the essence of time-honoured indigenous design culture and knowledge with its sustainable practices and ensure these are universally accessible to help solve the problems faced by the world today.
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To enrol youth of pluralistic identities and cultural contexts and to nurture and channel their energies towards creative entrepreneurship and to become innovative, proactive leaders inspiring transformation.
Ÿ They enable youth with a range of professional skill sets geared to address emerging societal and industrial needs effectively and effectively successfully.
Explaining the challenges while implementing the e-learning facilities in the institute Ms Surana says, "We are one of the few confident institutes and centres of excellence equipped to use digital technology and online delivery to provide continuous smooth premium education and learning experiences to students, despite the advent of the coronavirus pandemic. The grim situation presented new and unprecedented challenges for all of us. Our teachers and students showed remarkable agility in quickly adapting and adopting innovative practices to successfully continue the hectic
'exchange' that is integral to the delivery of world-class Design education."
The institute's unique program is curated to develop and enhance students' fundamental creative skills. The creative processes of design, research or fabrication of models, sample artefacts or prototypes are achieved in well-equipped labs and workspaces.
All essentials are required for efficient grooming of students in developing artistic skills are accomplished with the most up-to-date hardware and software infrastructure in the form of ideation labs, peer learning, grass-root connections, emphasis on entrepreneurship, classroom projects, open house, industry interface, internships, club activities, summer, and winter courses and many more.
Asserting how the college management drives student engagement and growth through interactive extra-curricular activities, Ms Archana says, "ARCH offers various U.G., P.G., and Professional courses with the main aim to develop a set of skills required for being an industry professional or creative entrepreneur. Along with academics, ARCH emphasizes the overall development of skills and personality. The college organizes workshops, exhibitions, juries, peer assessments, and collaboration with the top companies in the design industry. ARCH also works as a facilitator through its Design Business Incubator."
As a design and business institute, the college has achieved many awards and accolades at the international level, and they are-
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It has recently been awarded as the Institutional Excellence in Design Education by Times Business Awards, Times of India.
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It received a 'Most Innovative Design College in Research and Business' award at the 22nd World Education Summit organized by Elets Techno Media Pvt Ltd.
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Also received a 'Rajasthan Education Leadership Award 2021' by the World Education Congress endorsed by the
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Establish a 'self-denition for women' by empowering them through education and helping them form & nurture the thought processes of generations to come by becoming professionals and entrepreneurs and creating their businesses or social enterprise.
Archana Surana Founder and Director, ARCH College of Design & Business
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Asian Confederation of Businesses with CMO Asia as its Strategic Partner and Stars of the Industry Group as a research partner.
ARCH has hosted International Design Culture – Pink City Design Confluence with 80+ speakers from 10 countries in 2022
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ARCH had also won the 'Uniform Design Contest' conducted by Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (JMRCL) and is the official Consultant Designer for the complete range of uniforms covering all cadres for the Jaipur Metro Corp.
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'The Changing Room' Installation: A 25ft long garment was created from waste in the fashion learning process. The institute also intended to remind society to keep changing
Envisioning the Institute's Future
itself according to time and seasons. The institute presented a research paper at the Responsible Fashion Series, Antwerp.
Ÿ International Fashion Colloquium 2020, which culminated in the Jaipur Responsible Fashion Manifesto 2020 declaration, ARCH organized and hosted the Pink City
Design Confluence in March 2022.
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ARCH is affiliated with the University of Rajasthan for Bachelor of Design Degree (B.Des) and B.B.A (Design and Entrepreneurship) and the Rajasthan ILD Skills University (RISU) for Master of Design Degree (M.Des), Masters in Design
Ms Archana shared the future expectation of the institutes, "ARCH is a part of the RISE project with European higher educational institutions (HEIs) to create innovative measures in sustainable and social entrepreneurship for HEIs via solid networking between India and the E.U. In addition, we are completing a proposal to apply for Erasmus Plus funding for developing an appropriate and helpful curriculum for a course in Social and Sustainable Entrepreneurship. As a natural extension of this exercise, we propose to set up a Centre for Sustainable Practices and Entrepreneurship (CSPE) in India. Our Design Culture initiative aims to facilitate forums to contribute to the content and nature of training appropriate for developing the next generation of designers and Design Leaders capable of transforming existing scenarios!"
Entrepreneurship, and Professional Development Certified Courses.
In ancient times, the world's renowned architecture was built on norms of cultural balance. The equipment that was used was not certified or advanced. However, the infrastructure built was alluring and conceptual. Initializing the process took heavy force and lateral thinking that helped create the modern structure.
In the process of creating a valuable asset to society, parameters of design came into the picture. A system of procedures for the creation and simultaneously considers its purpose, function, economics, sociocultural factors, and aesthetics.
Design is the practice of originating and shaping what doesn't exist to an
arrangement of elements in a way to accomplish a particular purpose, coexisting in multipurpose projects. It is relevant for the creation of structures, environments, interfaces, products, services, features, and processes. The main component supporting the structure is dependent upon design and architectural elements.
The skill set for the reimbursement of modern structure and fulfilment of cultural prospects; needs to be actively enacted upon. Therefore, the skills to improve the design are given below:
To stay relevant and improve your skills at the same time is to assimilate the web design tools as per the rapid changes that are brought forward by the growing design industry. New technologies have been emerging every year, and old methods are replaced or discarded. Adapting to the new methods that are relevant to creating a masterpiece must be the sole goal. Making personal design a trademark is a profound achievement by itself.
Reflection and imagination are the key sources for the visionary designer. The mandatory skill to advance in design is to learn to analyze a design's functional and visual potential. The usage of visual methods and tools are used to accomplish the goals. While performing analysis, be a user than a designer.
The characteristics to analyze are as follows:
Adequacy – Fitting the visual
Visual architecture – The structured design, Composition formula, and Content placement.
User objective – exerting oneself in the user's place.
Color palette – Choice of colors according to color psychology.
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Navigation – logical condition to navigate.
Ÿ Functionality – Solving user issues through functional design
Ÿ Content – The hierarchy of elements and logical blocks.
Ÿ Highlights – Highlighted structure (e.g., shape, size, animation, color, etc.)
Ÿ Graphics – The elements used for graphics (e.g., shapes, color spots, lines, textures, etc.)
Ÿ Icons – The overall style of rendered icons.
Ÿ Images – The main goal towards usage of photos, illustrations, and animation in design.
Fonts – The hierarchy of the font used in the system. The legibility of the text.
Ÿ CTA – Designing the CTA block.
Ÿ Uniqueness – The analysis of the unique features in the design.
To notice the design's differences, ups, and downs this elaborated analysis is a perfect way to head start the process. In less time analyzing the main aspects would be easier to discover. A detailed analysis has proven to develop a vision as well as creative thinking. Grasping the essence of design, integrating the projects, finding visual solutions, and avoiding mistakes will be thorough in this analysis.
The approach for a good designer should be analyzing web designers, sculptors, landscape designers, painters, musicians, writers, and other creatives. Examination of perspective of how other people think and produce and integrate these same principles. The fundamental aspect of any design includes shape, color, space, form, line, value, and texture.
The implementation is harder than the replication of the design, but it tends to be a lot more useful. Methodology
conveys creating a design style for one of the top-rated works but for different purposes. There are various styles used in web design in multipurpose combinations. Needless to identify the style, understanding of the principles in visualization that style utilizes.
It is mandatory to start with a general analysis. Examine the following: Ÿ Color palette Ÿ Layout structure Ÿ Amount of quality of graphics
Analysis using the visual criteria has been self-sufficient and contingent. To create our design layout in any given style understanding the design principles is mandatory. These examinations will make you grasp the aspect and utilize less time for replication methodology.
In this process the articulating prospect is storing samples using website blocks, such as Galleries, welcome screens, product cards, and icon blocks can be sorted for instance. Organizing bookmark collection by using bookmark manager and grouping designs by subject matter on websites like Pinterest. Design viewing is not limited, the principles of beauty and harmony are universal. A sip of colors, harmony, and shapes can provide perfection to foresee the elements of the world. Revising artworks in the province of human pursuit will help accomplish good taste, creative potential, and designer vision.
When preserving the natural facts designing has to offer, the ultimate goal should be applying and implementing conceptual artifacts. The segmentation between cultural and societal norms should be kept adhered reflecting the compounded outcome in the world of design.
"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Airman's Odyssey
As the French author- aristocratAntoine de Saint-Exupéry speaks about perfection in design; his view can be contemplated and related by every design enthusiast and practitioner. Design has always been an integral part of the Human
endeavour to acquire mastery over physical forms. While Design as an element is a ruling factor for all major global industries, its genuinity still lies in simplicity and the innate sense of aesthetical understanding of the designer.
To be an educator and excel at a prolific design college that acknowledges the challenge takes immense skill and understanding of the Art of Design.
The Knowledge Review takes immense pride in unveiling the story of one of the most prominent colleges of Design, the eminent NICC International College of Design . In an exclusive interview, we spoke with FounderDirector , Dr Akash K Rose about the college's journey, its unique yet predominant teaching methodologies, and impeccable results over more than 15 years. Following are some excerpts from the interview.
Kindly walk us through NICC's journey from its inception to being a prominent design college for aspiring designers. NICC's dedicated 10,000 sq.ft. building was planned in 2002 and completed in 2004. NICC International College of Design is a member-affiliate of the European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA), and the granting of this affiliation in March 2005 was simultaneous with the formal launch of NICC's International teaching programs. Successful high-level placements and international appreciation of NICC graduates (Including winning a prestigious full scholarship in Packaging Design to IED Milan) led to NICC being considered an aspirational destination for Design students.
State the motto, vision, mission and core values of NICC. "Career-Oriented Interdisciplinary Education" is the guiding principle of NICC's pedagogic system.
Core Values can be summarised as: "Focused individual attention, encouragement of creativity, one-onone nurturing of directional ambition and talent."
An essential foundation which empowers this approach is the limitation of class sizes to not more than 18 students per class.
Kindly introduce yourself to our readers and briefly describe your journey with NICC.
I, Dr Akash K. Rose, am an alumnus of the eminent college of Medicine, A.I.I.M.S. New Delhi. I have always been passionate about Engineering and General Sciences. Thus, when a Fellowship in Physiology - Biophysics was offered, I won one of the two seats available for the program. Here, my colleague and I successfully developed a prototype low-cost E.C.G. machine with locally available components, winning the appreciation of the then Minister for Health. With this foundation in Biomedical Engineering, I was appointed to be a member of the Development Team, Committee on Science and Technology in Developing
Countries, and subsequently successfully developed technologies for Govt. of India Ministry of Defence as a Consultant Scientist.
I have also been a consultant at the Vizag Steel Plant Laser Digitizing Annexe and in automation for several corporates. I have also developed unique products ranging from electrical to electronic to electromechanical for numerous clients and have patents/patents pending on his inventions. In the late nineteen eighties, I became an authorised Guide to B.E. Electronics Final Year students studying at colleges affiliated with Chennai University and have never stopped teaching since then. In addition, I am well-known and a respected photographer. This achievement led to NICC being selected as Canon's Pro Centre in Karnataka and currently to Nikon's choice of NICC as its only Equipment Partner Institution.
As an author-photographer, I have illustrated and published a series of nine detailed Photo-Technique articles in Better Photography, a Tata Donelly publication at the time. The interdisciplinary knowledge of Technology that I absorbed in Design and related subjects led to being an External Examiner to Govt. of India's National Institute of Design (NID) P.G.
'Career-Oriented Interdisciplinary Education' is the guiding principle of NICC's pedagogic system.
Campus, Gandhi Nagar / Ahmedabad for seven years - 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017 (M.Des.) for the Department of New Media Design (NMD).
I currently teach Product Design, EV Design, Alternative Energy, Automation, AI and Advanced Digital Imaging at NICC.
What are the course objectives and expected learning outcomes for the
students at NICC?
The Course Objectives at NICC align with the objectives of Govt. of India's New Education Policy - especially regarding Multidisciplinary Learning. NICC is one of the few Institutions in India offering programs guided by UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). Learning outcomes are specifically:
1) Interdisciplinary Cross-Platform awareness leads to unmatched creative team member competence in conceptual and skillset application.
2) Instant career readiness to enable immediate integration into the industry without the need for extensive training and orientation by the industry.
3) International-Standard Design knowledge and skillsets in keeping with the Bologna Convention's goal of establishing uniformity of Design curricula globally.
4) NICC is the first Indian institution to adopt the internationally increasingly important S.T.E.A.M. concept of integrating the arts (A) into the S.T.E.M. educational root. This leads to Design-Driven Innovation in multiple diverse fields.
Has e-learning enhanced the education facilities offered by NICC for the students?
Yes, it was of great importance during the various pandemic-induced restrictions. NICC continued without a break! We delivered quality teaching online throughout the period. However, online teaching of a multi-disciplinary field such as Design can only be a supportive exercise and does not replace the need for hands-on laboratory and field work as well as the team-building and co-operative skills necessary to be a successful Design professional.
What are the unique programs introduced to develop the necessary artistic skills in students?
In the First Year, a strong foundation is built in Art theory and Visual Design. Students create Graphics with a sound understanding of Art Movements, Current Trends, Colour theory, Colour Science and Applied Graphic Design. They also have entire projects devoted to creating Dioramas and other art installations to polish their artistic perception and develop their creative perception and skills of expression across multiple media.
Are there any special programs that allow the student to have global exposure?
All our U.G. and P.G. Twinning Programs incorporate standard degree education via direct enrollment in Govt. universities combined with parallel International-Syllabus Professional Diplomas (approved by the State Government). These programs use a curriculum closely in synchronisation with over 400 elite design colleges worldwide, which are our sister institutions via the ELIA network. Thus, the curriculum is truly up-to-date and genuinely international.
How do you help your students prepare for their careers in the future? Additionally, where do you see the future of education as we advance, and how is NICC preparing for it?
NICC takes a unique direction in crafting its curriculum for all courses. Conventional education syllabuses are based on academic classifications intended to lead to certain professions. In contrast, NICC's approach is first to understand what the global academic fraternity's extensive research indicates and to acknowledge the requirements of today's Industries. Our curriculum is constantly tailored to create graduates
who are a precise fit for mid-to-highlevel industry careers and who are career-ready from the very first day, thus eliminating the endemic problem of producing graduates who are not employable.
Please mention NICC's most notable achievements, accolades, accreditations, and awards.
NICC's most notable achievement is the record of Placement of its Graduates in coveted positions in top industries, including Byju's, Tata Elxsi, Xiaomi, Google, Nikon and many others. We are also very glad to note that many of our students have applied for and been accepted instantly for
Higher Education at elite institutions in the U.K., Italy, Canada and other premium academic destinations.
How do you envision the future of NICC going forward?
A strong foundation is built in Art theory and Visual Design.
In addition, we are proud to say that NICC students' work has been widely recognised, and appreciative articles on their work have been published in the mainstream Press - TOI, The Indian Express, Bangalore Mirror, and Deccan Chronicle. Internationally, NICC is the first Indian institution to be accepted as a member-affiliate of The European League of Instituts of The Arts (Netherlands / Holland). Further, NICC is the first and only institution to be chosen as an equipment partner by Nikon. NICC was chosen "Institute of The Year 2020" - Design & Visual Arts by Academic Insights Magazine.
NICC is deepening its ties across the globe in terms of Design Education and has been offered collaboration with eminent Universities in the U.K. This initiative is ongoing. We intend to keep pace with evolving technologies such as EV development, Alternative Energy, Socially-Conscious Design, Green and Sustainable Design and to broaden the scope of our Graduates even further across the globe.
