Design in India will get its share of importance at the Punj Lloyd-THNK panel discussion being organised at the second edition of India Design Forum (IDF) in Mumbai. Setting the tone for the two day event from March 15th-16th, 2013 at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai, the panel discussion has been organised jointly by design & construction global conglomerate Punj Lloyd, and THNK, the Amsterdam School of Creative Leadership.
The India Design Forum was created by the Coimbatore Centre for Contemporary Art (CoCCA) and is India's leading international design platform. The event aims at bringing the top global architects, interior designers, product designers and others to create inspiration, dialogue and action, on issues around design today and in the future.
"After its launch in New Delhi last year, I wanted to bring this unique forum to Mumbai which is emerging strong in the design space. I am thankful to all those who made this possible, specially Punj Lloyd for their enthusiastic second time association with the event" said Rajshree Pathy, Founder IDF, recently selected for a Padma Shree award.
Speaking on the event, Atul Punj, Chairman - Punj Lloyd Group said, "Lack of design thinking is too often allowed to compromise the quality, usability, and sensibility of India's public spaces and infrastructure. In a nation that is urbanising as rapidly as ours, it's critical to find new ways to curb this cycle. "
While IDF will be an amalgamation of the best of design minds from across the world, the Punj Lloyd - THNK panel will touch upon the relevance of design-thinking in the Indian context. Dinesh Sonak, India Ambassador, THNK and Co-founder, Saaf India Foundation, said, "The panel will jolt Indian minds to consider how design-thinking can contribute to solving India's societal challenges, and what leadership is required to grow a design-based culture in Indian businesses and society. In particular, the discussion will focus how design-thinking could bring positive change to infrastructure and behavioral change in India's rapidly urban environment. "
During the panel discussion, the Saaf India initiative will be used as an example of how design-thinking methods can bring new insights and breakthroughs, and how design-based solutions can and should contribute to societal innovation and sustainable economic growth. The Saaf India Foundation, an initiative started at THNK, is about creating a cleaner India by solving the waste challenge in India's public spaces using design-thinking methods and leveraging the Indian Railways as a platform for innovation and inspiration.
To further benefit the various stakeholders in the world of design, Punj Lloyd is taking multiple initiatives at the IDF venue. For the audience at large, Punj Lloyd is organising CINCH - an on the spot design completion where entries will be judged on the basis of different design briefs. The three best participants win cash prizes.
Encouraging young design and architecture students, Punj Lloyd has also conducted design competitions in Symbiosis, Pune, SPA, Delhi (School of Planning and Architecture), NID and CEPT from Ahmedabad (National Institute of Design and the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology University), among others. The selected students will receive invites to the conference along with their travel to the venue.
The book signing of 'Making' by world famous designer Thomas Heatherwick, will however be the icing on the cake. Heralded as one of the most original creative designers, and known for his innovative use of engineering and material in public monuments and sculptures, Thomas Heatherwick's 'Making' demonstrates the evolution of methodologies, product design, installations and buildings produced by the Heatherwick studio over a time span of two decades. The audience can come with their copy of the book* to the specially designed Punj Lloyd arena and get it signed by Thomas for keepsake.
Punj Lloyd truly believes that great design brings with it great power to accelerate economic growth within India, and IDF will play a phenomenal role in promoting innovative, insightful design - supported by committed industry and government.
Thomas Heatherwick's 'Making' can be bought online from here
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