The Institute of Design, Nirma University, organised its 7th Orientation Programme on July 24th,2023. Mr Anuj Prasad, an eminent artist, industrial designer, and CEO of Desmania Design Pvt. Ltd., graced the occasion as the keynote speaker. The event was attended by the esteemed presence of our Director General, Dr Anup K. Singh, and other dignitaries from Nirma University. It turned out to be an insightful and inspiring session for all the attendees.
Mr Anuj Prasad shared his professional journey, highlighting his transition from an engineer in a multinational company to his passionate pursuit of design and innovation. He emphasised the depth and soulfulness of good design, advising aspiring designers to continuously strive for improvement. He encouraged them to remain dedicated and persistent, iterating their designs until they reach a level of satisfaction. During the event, Prof Sangita Shroff, the Director of the Institute, discussed the current state of the design field and encouraged students to be well-informed and innovative.
Throughout the week-long orientation programme, many design entrepreneurs were invited to share their journey with the students of the Institute of Design.
On this subject, Mr Sudhir Kuduchkar, a design entrepreneur with many projects under his wing and the founder of the design firm Threedot Designs, engaged with students, discussing ‘Communication Design and its Future in India.’ He shared his personal journey and insights into the evolving landscape of design in India.
Similarly, Archana Shah, an alumna of NID, delivered a talk on the Joy of Discovering Design sharing her experience of working with traditional artisans and reviving craft skills. She is a textile designer and founder of BANDHEJ who delivered an expert talk titled “Joy of Discovering Design” as part of the orientation programme of the Institute of Design, Nirma University.
Institute of Design, Nirma University, also organised an expert talk by Dadi Padumjee, the founder of The Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust. He introduced the world of puppetry, emphasising its educational and social significance. He is an alumnus of NID Ahmedabad and Darpan Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad. He is someone who uses puppets as a means to tell stories and communicate, but not as an end itself. He employs puppetry for educational and social purposes. During his interaction, he introduced the captivating world of puppets to the students.
During the orientation programme, students actively engaged in a theatre workshop led by Shritej Bhatt and a puppetry workshop led by Dadi Padumjee. Building upon these workshops, the newly enrolled batch of foundation year students created their own unique theatre and puppetry productions, showcasing their creative talents and skills.