AOD Introduces an AI-integrated, Human-centred, Creatively-led, Design Foundation Plus Programme Tailored to Gen Z and Gen Alpha
View(s):- AOD’s Creative Career Day on April 26, 2025 at Colombo Innovation Tower, will spotlight new pathways in design education and the specialised programmes to help Gen Z/Gen Alpha harness their creativity and unlock future-ready career opportunities
In a world continuously reshaped by rapid technological advancements, AI disruption and global uncertainties, one thing is clear: creativity is no longer optional—it is essential. The Academy of Design (AOD), Sri Lanka’s pioneering design institution, answers this call by launching Design Foundation Plus, a bold, future-ready programme for Gen Z and Gen Alpha learners. More than a curriculum update—it is a reinvention of how we prepare young minds for an unpredictable future.
Why Now?
We’re entering a decade of radical change defined by uncertainty and accelerated transformation. Traditional education, built for a predictable job market, no longer fits. Today’s students must be equipped not with memorised answers, but with the ability to ask better questions, think critically, collaborate across disciplines, and navigate change with confidence. Design Foundation Plus is AOD’s response to this urgent need, built to deliver an education that nurtures the creative mind and equips students to respond meaningfully to the challenges of our time.
Featuring the work of AOD Alumni Pubudi Lawanya's startup, Code Synth Labs, a design studio providing solutions in both the physical and digital realms of fashion.
Designed for a New Generation of Thinkers
Designed for post O/L students, the Design Foundation Plus programme introduces learners to core design disciplines: fashion, interior design, animation, branding, motion graphics, and visual communication—with a unique, powerful new lens. This programme integrates artificial intelligence, systems thinking, and creative intelligence to foster not just skill but insight, empathy, adaptability, and purpose. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are digital natives growing up with AI, climate anxiety, global inequality, and a desire to make a meaningful impact. Foundation Plus speaks directly to their realities, offering an education that is flexible, interdisciplinary, impact-driven and deeply human-centred.
The Future Needs Designers, But Not Just Any Designers
Design today goes beyond looks—it’s about solving real-world problems in healthcare, climate, finance, and tech. AOD’s Design Foundation Plus builds “creative intelligence,” teaching students to connect ideas, rethink challenges, and lead with empathy. They learn to design a better future, not just master tools.
What Makes Design Foundation Plus Different?
AI-Integrated Learning: Students use AI tools that complement, not replace, creativity. They learn to work with machines, while staying rooted in human insight.
Creative Labs + Real-World Projects: From sustainability to smart cities, students tackle live projects that reveal global challenges—and the power of their own ideas.
Design Thinking Across Disciplines: Whether pursuing fashion, health design, immersive media, or circular innovation, students gain the mindset and method to adapt and thrive.
Global Credentials, Local Relevance: Powered by AOD’s international partnership with Northumbria University UK and its strong network of industry collaborators, students earn a globally respected qualification while staying grounded in Sri Lankan culture and creative ecosystems.
Speaking to Parents: Creativity is the Future of Work
Many parents see design as risky, but the world is changing faster than traditional careers can keep up. McKinsey warns 800 million jobs could be automated by 2030—yet roles needing creativity, empathy, and problem-solving are rising. Designers now work across global industries, from Fortune 500s to NGOs. AOD alumni thrive worldwide, proving design isn’t just viable—it’s future-proof.
AOD’s Creative Ecosystem: More Than a Classroom
Foundation Plus is embedded in AOD’s larger creative ecosystem. Through platforms like Sri Lanka Design Festival, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, and retail channels Urban Island, FashionMarket.lk, and Island Craft, students engage with real industry, innovation, and entrepreneurship from day one. At Colombo Innovation Tower, learning happens where ideas and industries meet—the future is built here.
Join the Movement: Creative Career Day – April 26th, 2025
To introduce this journey to students and parents, AOD invites you to Creative Career Day at Colombo Innovation Tower on Saturday, April 26th, 2025. Explore design, meet faculty and alumni, and discover how Foundation Plus shapes tomorrow’s changemakers.
Whether your child dreams of becoming a fashion designer, animator, creative technologist, or purpose-driven entrepreneur—this is the starting point.
Enroll Now: May 2025 Intake Open
Design Foundation Plus begins May 2025. For post O/L students seeking a future-ready path aligning passion with purpose—this is the moment.
Call or WhatsApp 0775727772 to speak with an advisor or visit AOD at Colombo Innovation Tower on Creative Career Day.
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