Young Designers 2009

 
Vinai Kumar
Acting Dean
PG Campus, Gandhinagar
Director, NID

 

New Paradigms for Design Professionals...

 

 

 

 

Thought leaders in business management have recently begun to recognize the importance of design and design thinking in formulating business strategies and implementation of integrated management decisions. As a result understanding the deployment and management of design processes and practices has become a major focus of capability development for the corporate sector. Particularly, the consumerdriven businesses perceive the role of design thinking as significant in developing and delivering innovative products and processes.
While the initial impetus for a programme comes from the recognition of its relevance for the profit-making businesses, the framework and methods can be meaningfully applied to the improvement of public services such as healthcare systems, transportation systems, public sanitation, public safety and security systems, and education-for-all. There are also many examples where designers have made a difference in the development of rural artisans by helping them translate their crafts into contemporary products successfully delivered in the urban markets. Designers have been continually discovering new challenges towards finding an appropriate balance between human wellbeing, economics, and environment. The generic thinking and manual skills imparted to students during their design education at NID drive them towards achieving integrative solutions relevant for their context of application. The five post-graduate programmes at the PG Campus - Apparel Design and Merchandising (ADM), Toy and Game Design (TGD), Strategic Design Management (SDM), Lifestyle Accessory Design (LAD), and New Media Design (NMD) - are advanced programmes of design learning with a balance of research, practice, and active interactions with businesses and stakeholders. The programmes are focused on developing a new breed of designers and design managers, who would fill a serious gap in the understanding of traditionally trained engineers and managers about design profession, and its methods and paradigms. Additionally, they are also groomed to support the design groups working in the industry become business-focused with a commitment to deliver well within the given time and resource constraints. The graduates from these disciplines are prepared to meet the challenges of the rapid change in our living and business environments.
We have very challenging times ahead, and I sincerely believe that graduating students will be able to demonstrate the value they bring to the table in the future contexts of life and business. I wish the outgoing graduates a great sense of personal and professional fulfilment in their careers.

Communication
Design