The best laid designs: Sustainability, inclusivity, user experience, innovation, ethics were at the heart of this design fest at Chitkara School

Some of the sharpest and brightest minds from the design industry came together to discuss the future of design in India and the world. “The tenets of design are no longer confined to merely the aesthetics of objects or their functional purposes; it has become a driving force in shaping the future of our society. By bringing together experts from all fields of design, we can create a collaborative environment that encourages experimentation, innovation, and creativity,” says Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor, Chitkara University. .

While on ‘Designing a New Era: India’s Impact on the Global Design Landscape’ Kusuma emphasized the need for India to lead the way in design and how design can be used as a tool for social change, Azmina Poddar, MD at Accenture Song, emphasized the need for designers to create sustainable solutions that are centered around people’s needs during the discussion on ‘Putting Life Centricity and Sustainability at the heart of your choices’.

The panel discussion on ‘Designing a Bold Future: Opportunities and Innovations in India’s Design Landscape’ by Ramneek Majithia, Kusuma and Poddar deliberated on the importance of innovation and how design can be used to create new opportunities in India’s rapidly evolving design landscape.

It was Nepalese born and award-winning British fashion designer known worldwide for her sustainable and ethical bridal wear, Sanyukta Shrestha, that caught our attention with her work. Sanyukta was barely 17 when her bespoke designs were showcased on Miss World, Miss Asia Pacific and Miss Earth. The ‘Youngest Celebrated designer’, Sanyukta made her mark in home country Nepal before moving to the London College of Fashion in 2005. Today. Her boutique has been nominated as the best boutique in the UK. “I come from a simple middle class family, my father is a businessman and my mother a teacher. I’ve always loved art, sketching and drawing, and wanted to be an artist, and my love for nature has always been something natural,” shares Sanyukta, whose designs revolve around sustainability, circularity, community, compassion, comfort. An eco warrior in her own right, she is also called ‘Green Goddess and the Greta of the Wedding World’ who has a zero waste approach, a slow and transparent supply chain, minimal carbon footprint, and high-end designs that prove her simple philosophy that “fashion should feel, look, and do good”. Her designs pays tribute to the 1000 years old Nepalese craftsmanship, and she creates luxurious, sustainable, and ethically made “one of a kind” piece using materials from apple, nettle, milk, hemp, recycled plastic bottles etc.

The two day festival raised many topics, including ‘Design, Tech, and Culture: Future of Indian Design’ where Sudhir Sharma, Founder and CEO of Indi Design discussed the need for designers to embrace technology and how Indian culture can be used as a source of inspiration in design. His million dollar advise to the students was to take life as research. “Work should take place from 11 to 4, rest of the time should be used to eat, pray, cook, play, observing, living, experiencing life, people, because there lies the problem, and the solution. Observe humanity, and your will understand the issue and come up with answers.” Now, that’s the best laid design.