AOD students and alumni part of the global design discourse
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‘The Future of Font’ session was the latest in AOD’s international knowledge-sharing sessions that keep its students constantly connected to global idea streams. The international speaker hosted by AOD for this latest session was Prof. Derek Black—typographer, photographer, and educator. Derek, who is the former Associate Dean of Academics for the prestigious SCAD Hong Kong, and has a well-rounded design business experience involving award-winning way-finding and environmental design projects and promotional and interface design, brings in both academic and industry perspectives. Prof. Black discussed the ways that letterforms influence their audiences, how brands can leverage this and why specialty type design knowledge will not be a barrier for future designers to create their own unique letterforms that facilitate better brand distinction. He went on to share how on-brand typography is one of the most effective and subtle ways to influence consumers demonstrating why businesses need to take type design very seriously. The session attracted nearly a hundred typography enthusiasts, practicing designers, creative professionals and design students to AOD.
Robert Meeder— Chief Executive Officer of AOD, and internationally operating business strategy marketing leader explained that such international creative conversations are an important part of AOD’s vision to share design intelligence and new knowledge with its students, as well as the local creative community and businesses. “AOD sees design more as a movement, rather than a skill offered to a select few who study with us. Hosting international designers, bringing their knowledge to inspire Sri Lanka’s creative practitioners and professionals allows us to push forward things at a much more macro scale.
AOD students, fresh graduates and alumni are at the centre of this movement, and opportunities like this to benefit from global knowledge is constantly made available to them. It’s about taking them out of the traditional design classroom, and getting them to mingle with creative minds from around the world. We find this really works!”
Professor Derek Black mentioned that he was interested in Sri Lankan design, adding that the significance of traditional craft influences in contemporary local design as a remarkable trait. he observed here “Sri Lanka is one of those few places that still hold up their past crafts and partner with designers to re-envision their future through the respectful lens of their origins. This is evident in fashion, homeware, and so many other disciplines. I look forward to seeing how AOD and other institutions and industry will continue supporting this through the application of sustainable design entrepreneurship. Sri Lanka is acting as the catalyst for this regional, and hopefully global, movement.”
Derek is part of AOD’s growing network of global academics who want to contribute to a unique movement from the South Asian subcontinent, where design is used as a driver of good—as a force enhancing businesses, discovering new knowledge and creating more opportunities for creative thinkers. AOD students receive the opportunity to engage directly with creative intellectuals like Derek who have interesting viewpoints on design as a personal medium to change the world and methodologies in learning design, as well as creative entrepreneurship and careers. Derek’s session was an opportunity for many AOD students, alumni and industry network members to share ideas, open discussions and pose questions.
As Sri Lanka becomes more and more of a regional epicentre of creativity, design and innovation, sessions like this where international expertise interacts with South Asian creativity have much to contribute in terms of exchanging new ideas and breaking cultural boundaries.
To gain instant access to creative minds locally and internationally, and to find out more about how to join AOD’s Degrees in Fashion Marketing, Fashion and textiles, Motion Graphics and Animation, Interior Design and Visual Communication, reach AOD Colombo on 0775727772, email: info@aod.lk or walk in between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday – Colombo Innovation Tower, No 58, Lauries Road, Colombo 04.
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January 2020 enrollments for all degree courses are now in progress.