Design in India and Design for the World
PUNE: On the auspicious occasion of India’s 78th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a groundbreaking initiative, “Design in India and Design for the World.” This ambitious program seeks to build on the success of the “Make in India” campaign, positioning India as a global hub in design based on India’s rich cultural heritage, cutting-edge technological advancements, and abundance of design talent. This announcement has been received with enthusiastic support from the design community, who believe that the Prime Minister’s vision will finally action out the long pending status of India as a global design hub.
Appreciating PM Modi’s focus on design, Balakrishna Mahajan, President- National Executive Council Association of Designers of India (ADI) said, “The announcement comes as a landmark moment for our Indian design community. Today, India is recognized globally for its emerging young designers who play pivotal roles in major companies worldwide. They have received international accolades such as the Red Dot and IF awards for their creativity and quality. The design industry minus fashion and interiors is pegged at around 20k Crores. In developed markets it contributes 2-3% of GDP, our figures could be lower in the range of 0.5% as a conservative estimate.”
Pointing out the potential for AI in the design sector, Mahajan said that “AI is emerging as a powerful enabler rather than a threat for the design industry because AI excels at automating tasks, but the true strength of the design lies in creativity, empathy, and contextual understanding which can only be done by humans.”
Adding further he said, “India today is known as the IT hub, and I am confident that we will soon be known as the Design Hub. India aims to become a $5 trillion economy and integrating design across various sectors will significantly enhance our growth towards achieving this economy.”
Expressing his support towards the initiative Ashish Deshpande, Industrial Designer -Director, Elephant, Past President, Association of Designers of India said, “If our economy decreases its reliance on foreign exports and needs new markets in the world, focus on good design is essential. Promoting ‘Design in India, Design for the world’ will provide the much-needed policy impetus to the Design profession. This vision will be possible if a solid ecosystem is developed between policymakers, Governing bodies, the manufacturing industry, skill & craft development, and the design profession.”
Prof. Dr Nachiket Thakur, Director, MIT Institute of Design, MIT Art, Design & Technology University, Pune, and member of the National Executive Council of the Association of Designers of India said, “The evolution of design as formal education in India has been remarkable, with over 100 institutions offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in various design specializations. Over 10,000 students have graduated from these institutions, making design a fascinating alternative to traditional fields such as engineering, architecture, and fine arts. Countries in Scandinavia, Europe, and America have long emphasized design in education and were considered competition, however, with Indian talent soaring high, they are now keen to forge connections with Indian educational institutions and view India as an emerging market. With the implementation of the National Education Policy in 2020 along with successful initiatives like ‘Make in India,’ ‘Atal Innovation Mission,’ and ‘Startup India,’ the design education sector is on an upward growth”.
