Design the next big business

Friday, 6 September 2013 04:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Design industry’s young leaders speak out tomorrow at Design Career Day

Design deemed as the ‘n

ext big business’ by experts around the world (particularly in the UK), is undergoing rapid global growth. As one of the few industries that performed well during the destructive economic storm of the recent past, ‘design’ is winning the support of governments around the world in hope of recovery from the turmoil. With this, design professionals have the highest demand in the post-recession world economy, where ‘design’ is the highest value addition within competitive markets. What are the businesses included in the design industry? The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which has responsibility here, has defined them as including: advertising; architecture/interior design; graphic design; game design; crafts; product design; fashion; film and animations and of course publishing. Even within South Asia, where ‘design’ is a relatively new industry, more and more youth interested in design and older professionals looking towards an interesting and rewarding career change are turning towards this vast industry. To communicate this to the masses of youngsters and their visionary parents, Design Career Day is hosted by Northumbria University UK and AOD international design campus in partnership with British Council Sri Lanka, on Saturday, 7 September. The event invites both parents and aspiring students to take part and provides an in-depth insight to the design industry, the careers, remunerations, opportunities abroad and the creative education landscape in Sri Lanka. Design Career Day features a rare panel discussion led by Sri Lanka’s eminent young creatives such as the Founder and Designer of Sri Lanka’s first ethical fashion label RedCocoon and Head of Design and Development of MAS Brands Mihiri de Silva, Grant McCann Erikson Head of Digital and co-Founder of Electric Peacock Festival Tasha Marikkar, Designer and Creative Director of Buddhi Batiks Dharshi Keertisena as well as Founder and Chief Interior Designer of Canvas Interior Design Studio Chamika Wickremasinghe who will speak on the business of design, the careers opportunities and the new emerging opportunities they envision. The event will also include a series of presentations and discussions with three upcoming designers who will discuss in detail their experience in design education and starting up their own businesses and careers after graduating. The event will be held at Sri Lanka’s creative nucleus Northumbria University UK/AOD international design campus at 29, Lauries Road, Colombo 4 (free entrance), from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. To register, call 5867772/3, SMS your details to 0775980141 or email it to [email protected]. For more information visit the campus at 29, Lauries road, Colombo 4 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, or log on to www.aod.lk or www.facebook.com/aodsrilanka.