A decade of a powerful partnership in Design, as Northumbria University School of Design and AOD celebrate key milestones
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Academy of Design (AOD) celebrates a decade in partnership with the Northumbria University School of Design. Together, these renowned institutions have paved the way for many design opportunities for their students. Numerous students have used this pathway through AOD to launch successful careers within the design industry.
Each year, a new cohort of students showcases their work to industry professionals at AOD’s Graduate showcase, Reveal. This year, Reveal 2021 was opened by The British Council’s country director, Maarya Rehman who noted to the graduates “You are the future generation who will fuel the new era of creativity in Sri Lanka, and in doing so promote diversity, exchange of knowledge, and promote the free expression of ideas”
This year visitors were invited to explore the talented pool of young designers’ work at the Graduate design exhibition. Each student exhibited curated works in the fields of fashion design, graphic design, interior design, motion graphics and more. Their projects stand as a testament to the long standing partnership AOD holds with the Northumbria University School of Design. What sets AOD’s designers apart is their passion for design and immense potential to make a positive social impact in the world today.
Last week, Reveal premiered a whole host of events that were held in conjunction with the graduation ceremony of the latest batch of students. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka 2021 was also launched last weekend, with a brand new vision of bringing the ‘New Local’ to Colombo. A topical vision, given we exist in this new, post-pandemic world. The ‘New Local’ campaign aims at empowering young designers to boldly pursue big opportunities under the current climate we face today.
Creative thinking, adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit are harnessed and rewarded through this new initiative. Additionally, AOD aims to be a catalyst for change, as this year, the ‘design for export’ campaign called for re-thinking our export strategy, in the face of financial and economic hardships.
Young designers are trained in thinking about the global platforms they belong to and are encouraged to respond by thinking internationally, through their design initiatives. Therefore, these young designers offer up holistic design approaches to the global issues we face.
A large part of Reveal is also dedicated to re-envisioning the traditional crafts of Sri Lanka. With the use of new technology and creative thinking, a whole new range of products were on display that are not produced in the local market. This initiative has helped elevate local craftsmanship and made this heritage globally relevant.
AOD has been the springboard for many flourishing design careers. Fresh thinking and the right training in line with international standards can aid in keeping companies relevant in the global, commercial marketplace. AOD offers a well-rounded design degree from a prestigious British University, without having to leave the island, a bonus with international travel, a somewhat worrying prospect in the post-pandemic world. This also presents a financial advantage, as students save up to a third of the financial cost of receiving a British degree, while receiving the identical certification that you would receive studying in the UK. A unique advantage is that this degree is universally accepted and can open many opportunities within the field of design, the world over.
Reveal graduate showcase was a great opportunity for young designers to connect with companies looking to make their products and services more relevant to the global marketplace. This exhibition was also a great insight into what AOD offers each student, for any aspiring designers who were unsure of what a design degree entails.
Multi-disciplinary training is now essential to a universal understanding of the world, and AOD’s degrees are fantastic gateway to hone the talents of young professionals. Over the years, Reveal has also become a center for celebrating a new creative culture that has slowly changed Sri Lanka as a whole. Young designers have changed the vision of our island in the fields of fashion, interior design, as well as graphics and motion graphics. These skills are now essential in the commercial world and AOD’s programmes, along with students who exhibit at Reveal will continue to mould the future with their creative vision!
What was clear this year at Reveal 2021 was that our island possesses a huge talent pool of young, vivacious designers, ready to take the world on with their new design ideas. Each of their projects tackled current issues in an interesting and interactive manner. AOD is proud to have given this cohort of student the framework to be able to achieve all their design goals, and ensuring bright and successful future within the design world!
AOD invites Sri Lanka’s young design aspirants who have just completed their O/Ls and A/Ls to learn more about the programmes offered at the university. To find out more about Fashion, Fashion Marketing, Interior Design, Visual Communication Design and Motion Graphics & Animation Design, reach AOD Colombo on 0775727772, email info@aod.lk or walk in between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday – Colombo Innovation Tower
(CIT) 477, R A De Mel
Mawatha, Colombo 04.
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