PUNE: “Designers should be involved in the development of Artificial Intelligence to ensure that collaborative and ethical tools are developed. Do not consider AI as a threat but as a tool to enhance creativity and problem-solving capabilities”, said Don Norman while addressing the gathering of designers and the students of design at a special session titled ‘Insights with Don Norman’ organized by the Pune Chapter of Association of Designers of India (ADI) and the BITS Design School at the Sumant Moolgaonkar auditorium of MCCIA over the last weekend. Dignitaries like Balkrishna Mahajan, National President of ADI, and Nandita Abraham, Dean, of BITS Design School were present for the function. Don Norman is a world-renowned design expert, the author of many popular books on design, and the Director of the Design Lab at the University of California, USA.

During his address to the design community in the city, Don Norman said, “Designers have the power to influence large companies about product choices and ethical business practices. So, they must learn to communicate in the language of business like margins, profit, loss, and financial forecasts. Designers need to develop the foresight like the marketing experts who often estimate demand for non-existent products. They must not forget the Importance of understanding politics, history, ethics, management, and finance to drive impactful design decisions.”

“Move away from colonial design methods to co-design with communities and understand the importance of participatory design by involving local expertise and resources. Policy-making often overlooks the direct involvement of affected people. Designers can extend help in this regard since they can influence policies by understanding and engaging with policy-making processes”, he advised.

According to him, the design community is becoming global. As a result, shared learning and problem-solving for complex global issues is becoming important. So, we must encourage young designers to work collaboratively and understand the broader implications of their designs.

Don pointed out that qualities like continuous learning and adaptation are essential for meaningful contributions to design and innovation. Thus integrating multidisciplinary approaches in design education that facilitate project-based learning to bridge gaps between theory and practice is of paramount importance. The Education system focuses on individual development with evaluation patterns like grading systems. However, developing the approach of working in teams must start from the higher education phase of life as problem-solving or developing solutions requires multiple skills.

ADI is a national body that offers a platform for designers to explore, and supports designers across various disciplines, promoting knowledge exchange, professional growth, and addressing the needs of the design community.

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INDIA: Lifestyle innerwear and leisurewear brand Macroman M Series proudly announced a ground-breaking partnership with ace designer Rohit Bal and launched MW Signature Collection. This unique partnership between a lifestyle brand and a celebrity designer marks a historic moment being a first for the brand Macroman M Series, a first for parent company Rupa and Company Limited, and a first for the innerwear industry in India.

“When you combine the world’s best fabric with exquisite workmanship, you get a vogue piece of clothing. In this case, it’s innerwear” said Rohit Bal, the maestro himself, expressing his enthusiasm for debuting into the men’s innerwear category.

Vikash Agarwal, Brand Director Macroman M Series and Director Rupa and Company Limited says “Signature Collection as a luxury range from Macroman M-Series flaunts fantastic prints and vibrant designs in colors on some of the world’s best fabrics. This is Mr. Rohit Bal’s stage and he has ensured the brilliance of his performance comes truly ALIVE.”

Agarwal provides further interesting insights into the MW Signature Collection when he says that each motif, symbol, print, and color within the range speaks of our country’s rich legacy and heritage. MW Signature Collection is truly ‘Made in India, (meant to be) Worn Worldwide’. He signs off by saying that with animal prints occupying a special place of pride in our collection, we are in solidarity with initiatives towards wildlife conversation and our global environment.

In a glittering ceremony amidst the fashionistas of the country’s capital city, design maestro Rohit Bal and Mr. Vikash Agarwal unveiled the MW Signature Collection, followed by a specially choreographed fashion show that did full justice to the collection and its creator.

Macroman M Series Signature collection by Rohit Bal now available on www.macroworld.in/signaturecollection/

And partner sites like:

• Amazon
• Myntra
• Flipkart

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The new uniforms are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2023. Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson expressed his excitement about the collaboration, saying, “Air India is delighted to be collaborating with Manish Malhotra to represent the very best of a vibrant, bold, and progressive India on the world stage. We are working closely with Manish and his team to create a fresh and exciting new look that supports and represents the new Air India.“

Manish Malhotra, a renowned fashion designer, expressed his honor to collaborate with Air India, saying, “Reimagining their uniforms is the onset of a journey of joy and collaboration, and I am excited to embark on it. Our shared ideology is simple yet profound: to evolve without erasing, to modernize without forgetting. Together, we aim to intertwine tradition with the future, crafting uniforms where comfort meets authenticity, wrapped in timeless elegance.“

Malhotra and his team have already begun meeting with Air India’s frontline staff to better understand their specialized needs. Malhotra’s prolific career spanning over 30 years as a couturier, costume stylist, and entrepreneur has seen him revolutionize the fashion landscape in India. His designs are characterized by their use of rich fabrics and bold colors, and his clothes are known for their perfect fit. He has styled and designed costumes for over a thousand films, including some of the biggest blockbusters in Indian cinema, besides dressing A-list celebrities from around the world.

Air India, founded by the legendary JRD Tata, pioneered India’s aviation sector. Since its first flight on October 15, 1932, Air India has built an extensive domestic network with non-stop flights to cities around the world, across the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Far East, South-East Asia, Australia, and the Gulf. After 69 years as a government-owned enterprise, Air India and Air India Express were welcomed back into the Tata group in January 2022.

Air India is navigating through a major five-year transformation roadmap under the aegis of Vihaan.AI, with an ambition to become a world-class airline with an Indian heart. The first phase of this transformation, the taxi phase, was recently concluded and focused on fixing the basics. These included bringing back to service many long-grounded aircraft, the addition of talent across flying and ground functions, rapid upgradation of technology, and strengthening of customer care initiatives amongst others. A member of Star Alliance, the largest global airline consortium of leading international airlines, Air India offers seamless connectivity and facilities to passengers all over the world.

Air India’s collaboration with Manish Malhotra to design new uniforms for its frontline employees is a significant step in the airline’s ongoing modernization program. The new uniforms are expected to reflect the airline’s brand, heritage, and culture while meeting the unique requirements of the airline environment. The rollout of the new uniforms is expected to begin by the end of 2023.

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