The Academy of Design (AOD), Sri Lanka's leading design campus and one of South Asia's very best, has always been the pioneer in fusing traditional Sri Lankan craft with modern design and innovation.
Sri Lankan arts and crafts are phenomenal in nature and technique and have a fascinating amalgamation of nature and natural resources.

Marion Marchal has conducted craft projects across the world and helped to uphold and develop many craft-based communities; her work is a fusion of traditional craft and contemporary design.

Marion Marchal

However, due to the past decades of unrest, the development of these arts with the movement of international market trends has come to a near standstill. Identifying the need to incorporate the expertise of trained designers and the skill of the craftsmen in order to produce world-class, internationally competitive products using traditional crafts, the AOD has taken the initiative to restore the glory of Sri Lankan crafts within 21st century sophistication.

With this objective in mind, a special Home-Ware Design Project deriving inspiration from traditional craft techniques was implemented by the AOD for its students. AOD has invested in acquiring the expertise of French design connoisseur Marion Marchal for this project in order to train young designers to incorporate their traditions and roots in their profession. Marion Marchal is a specialized home-ware, interior and print designer who has a sound knowledge in international market trends in home-ware and interiors, and has worked on similar projects in various parts of the world including Vietnam, Belgium and other European destinations. Speaking of the project, Marion enthused that "Sri Lankan crafts have an exponential potential for the international and local markets and the craftsmen have really good skills and techniques.

There is emotion, creativity, intensity, and authenticity in their handcrafted products and by adding a touch of contemporary design, it will meet the desire of many target groups." The project is retail driven and focused on producing marketable and globally competitive designer products and encompasses a wide range of merchandize utilizing fabrics, wood, ceramic, lace and more environmentally-friendly materials.

The final products are to be exhibited at an international platform - the Sri Lanka Design Festival - later this year and are to be used as prototypes to create a range of designer products to be manufactured by Sri Lankan craftsmen. AOD being a key educator is undergraduate design in South Asia, takes on its role in advancing local design-related sectors such as crafts very passionately and whole heartedly, and this project is one among the many social contributory ventures of the Academy of Design.