AOD Empowering new design graduates to boldly face the New Post Covid world with creativity & innovation
View(s):At the end of each academic year, AOD hosts its Graduate Design exhibition – Reveal, an annual event to showcase the work of new-gen designers.
This year, Reveal exhibited the graduating projects of the 2021 graduating batch from Northumbria University (NU) in conjunction with AOD. Alongside this, AOD also hosted the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week SL 2021 (MBFWSL), which has long established itself as a global stage for budding fashion designers to showcase their work.
This year, young designers were mentored in engaging with the theme ‘The New Local’. Each graduate was encouraged to drive change and make a lasting impact through their work. Creative talent and entrepreneurial spirit was on full display over the last weekend, with most students inspiring the world with Sri Lanka’s new campaign to #designforexport. In an ever changing and interconnected world we now live in, the global platform poses infinite possibilities for young, career driven designers.
Reveal 2021 was able to connect the next generation of budding designers with industry professionals.
This was achieved with the use of AOD’s extensive networks that have been honed over the years. A new and innovative pool of graphic designers, animators, interior designers and fashion and textile graduates were all showcased at this event.
Each student had their work on display and was able to exhibit their work to a large number of professionals, fellow students and other visitors to the event.
Reveal has enabled many industry professionals to find the right designer for their businesses, opening up opportunities and sparking many careers over the years of its operation. This year was no different, as many flocked to see what the freshest set of graduates had on offer!
What was different this year, was ‘The New Local’ campaign that ran through the entire weekend full of events. Students were encouraged to re-imagine the use of traditional crafts, uplifting the local industry and making sure it met global and international standards.
Essentially, this campaign aids in giving traditional craft a new relevance in the global marketplace. This in essence, is paving the way for more sustainable design, not only by using traditional materials and craft, but by completely empowering many local cottage industries that may not have had the opportunity to cater their products to the global marketplace.
The MBFWSL was hosted by AOD in partnership with Dimo, on the 10th – 12th of December.
This platform has launched many student’s journeys in the fashion industry, such as Amesh Wijesekara, who is currently gaining popularity internationally. AOD Founder, Dr. Linda Speldewinde, commented that “Entrepreneurship has always been a big part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka but this year, it becomes a major focus, embracing the amazing talent that Sri Lanka has to offer.
We’re very excited to present ‘The New Local’ vision through this global event, and use this powerful platform to demonstrate Sri Lanka’s new approach to its exports.”
In line with this she added the importance of thinking about what new global markets require in this post pandemic world.
The students’ work was in response to important questions such as; what do new wearable markets need and how has the fashion industry changed in response to new commitments for a more sustainable world? Young Sri Lankan fashion entrepreneurs were all encouraged to re-think modes of creation in line with these ideas. This enables the entire industry as a whole to respond to global requirements, whilst using state-of-the-art technology to create a lasting impact in the commercial and global marketplace.
The week’s celebrations ended with the convocation for the graduating batch of 2021. With a virtual address from Professor Jon Reast, Pro-Vice Chancellor International, Northumbria University, who shared some insightful thoughts for the students on leveraging their talent and creativity.
It has been a difficult couple of years for everyone, with our daily interactions now happening more regularly in the virtual world.
Despite this, in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, AOD was able to host a much needed event, to not only encourage its young students, but also inspire industry professionals in Sri Lanka and the world over to take notice of all the hard work that has been covered by the graduates over the past few years.
Each student graduating holds the world as their oyster, as they enter the design industry, equipped with an internationally recognized degree.
This is only the beginning of their journey, as they harness their creativity and innovation to celebrate design in both our home country but also beyond borders with a New Local vision.
AOD invites Sri Lanka’s young design aspirants who have just completed their O/Ls and A/Ls to learn more about the programs 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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