Training young minds to compete and lead in one of the most powerful and dynamic industries of the world is no easy task. However, this is the challenge taken on by Alain Parizeau, the programme head of Graphic Design at AOD, as he leads the AOD graphics department to create designers for the future.
Originally from Montreal-Canada, Alain completed his formal education in Graphic Design at York University.
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| Alain Parizeau, Programme Head of Graphic Design at AOD delivering the opening speech at the AOD Graphics Graduate Exhibition 2010. The exhibition showed graduate work to an audience of design and industry professionals and the general public |
After a successful career as a creative director he moved to Sri Lanka at the invitation of AOD, to enrich young minds with his knowledge and expertise in the field of Graphic Design and Advertising. During a special interview, Parizeau spoke about how AOD is working towards the growth of the local industry of visual communication through its innovative education.
"Sri Lanka is a country full of inspiration for design. Its heritage, landscapes, people, and even the language are wonderful elements that inspire any designer. I have seen amazing creativity by some designers here. If we are creative with the skills and materials at our disposal, we can produce internationally recognized design solutions that will be unique to this nation," says Parizeau.
With this wealth of inspiration and talent ready at hand, what should Sri Lanka do?
Alain believes that this creative energy should get focused and better directed through right design education; "Creativity needs to be honed with the right kind of education and training so that it's socially relevant and functional."
AOD creates a real life learning experience during education in order to prepare students to face the challenges that await them in the industry; "The more we allow our students to tackle real-life problems and realistic situations, the better prepared they will be to work in the industry. So, we direct them towards tasks that demand solutions for advertising, publishing and corporate or small businesses.
From design concept to execution and project management to delivery, our student practice each step of the process, so by the time they leave school they're not only savvy in design but also in industry practices and client etiquette. At this time, they graduate from AOD as professionals." AOD offers one of Europe's top graphic design programmes; Northumbria University School of design - UK degree. This grants AOD's graphic designers with several different career possibilities, such as advertising, publishing, interface design, art direction, and illustration, anywhere in the world.
What can the Sri Lankan graphic design and visual communication industry achieve with all this?
Parizeau believes that international education in graphic design is what will create a generation of Sri Lankan designers who will elevate the local graphic, advertising and creative sectors to a global market. Such leading designers and advertisers will also inspire the continuing growth of the industry; "global success of a Sri Lankan graphic designer or an advertising agency will do more than help the growth of the industry. It will give future Sri Lankan advertisers and graphic designers more approachable idols. Seeing a person or an organization from a background similar to them, making waves across the world of visual communication, can inspire generations of Sri Lankans to achieve the same and more."
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| AOD Graphics students and lecturers at Designyatra in India. AOD involves its graphics students in international educational tours and competitions as a part of bridging knowledge gaps. |
AOD's Graphics department is working towards this goal of producing experts in visual communication who will standout anywhere in the world. Alain believes that partaking in international competitions and live local and international projects is a sure way of bridging knowledge gaps and preparing his students to take on global challenges;
"Our students won national places for Cannes Lions advertising festival in both 2010 and 2011, while two more of our students were selected to represent the country at Spikes Asia Advertising Festival 2011 in Singapore. AOD's vision is to produce Sri Lankan Graphic Design Icons who will inspire the world visual communication industry, and we are getting there."
For more information on AOD - www.aod.lk, 29, Lauries Road, Colombo 04 | (+94) 115 867 772/3, (+94) 115 742 480/90
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