Ahmedabad Design Week: Towards making Ahmedabad the Design Capital of India

After their first edition in November 2018, India Design Confluence is back with the most prolific designers of the world but, this time, with a different name. ‘Ahmedabad Design Week’ is the torchbearer of India Design Confluence and aims at making India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City into the country’s design capital.

Augmented with the aim to create a unique and vibrant platform for the design fraternity, Ahmedabad Design Week is the congregation of varied fields of design that forms a kaleidoscope of our country’s creative potential. From high-end fashion trends to regional and traditional craftworks, ADW converges these fields from across the globe with the intention of creating a melting pot of ideas and insights.

Starting from January 17, ADW will be a 3-day-long festival initiated by the United World Institute of Design which will feature inspiring talks and experimental workshops by national and international experts, academicians, artisans and craftsperson who will demonstrate and educate aspiring designers about the potential landscape of the industry. Along with that, there will be some exhibitions and installations at the fest.

Going by the name of ‘India Design Confluence’ for their initial gala in 2018, this will be the second edition of this fest. With a thoughtful approach to promote Ahmedabad as the design capital of India, IDC decided to revise their title and name the fest after India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City. “It is a right transition to work towards promoting a World Heritage City as the nation’s design capital. On the lines of ‘Make in India’, Ahmedabad Design Week is looking forward to creating a catalyst effect and set in motion the actions towards fructification of Design in India”, said an organiser.

India Design Confluence has previously featured 15+ speakers, 18 design sessions and a great collection of art installations. Some of the iconic designers that addressed the audience included Rajesh Kutty, Lead Interior Designer of Bentley; Irakli Rusadze, a famous Russian fashion designer; Julian Roberts, a UK fashion designer who took a workshop on the technique ‘Reverse Subtraction Cutting’; Revathi Kant, Chief Design Officer of Titan; Angela Guzman, Lead Designer of Google; Peter Bil’ak, a Slovak graphic and typeface designer; and Sunil Sethi, President of Fashion Design Council of India. The fest also hosted a Craft Village where the audience could meet some of the skilled local artisans practising the ancient styles of designing like pithora, warli and kalamkarisane.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqhNrk0n0EQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqjhOMiHJ0I/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqwvwZAHPfo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

With the flare that IDC carried, they for sure knew how to end an event. The first evening of the festival featured a soulful concert by Lucky Ali. But the showstopper of the three-day creative escapade was a monumental fashion show, co-curated by Sunil Sethi and Anju Modi.

Although the first edition was received with a great gusto, Ahmedabad Design Week will not fall short of its predecessor. Additionally, this year their theme is “World Design 2025”, an initiative hopeful of becoming a powerful instrument in formulating actionable and effective strategies across platforms to address the climate crisis which they envision to toll out for implementation by 2025.

It features a stellar line-up of designers from USA, UK, Israel, Colombia, Denmark and Estonia, including Peter Knapp, Chairman and Global Creative Director of Landor; the illustration artist duo of Yehuda and Maya Devir, creators of web comic series, One of Those Days; Anil Reddy, Founder and Design Director of Lollypop Design; Rasmus Holscher, a specialist in urban design and CEO of Holscher Design; Chris Messina, inventor of #hashtag; and Surya Vanka, Founder and Design Director of Authentic Design and former User Experience Director of Microsoft.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6xqDBapLfr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6xpOnVJyyI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The schedule for the fest’s evening performances includes a performance by When Chai Met Toast on the 17th and an EDM night on the 18^th by DJ Julia Bliss and DJ Van Moon. Continuing the show-stopping tradition, ADW will conclude with an innovative fashion show titled ‘Khadi to Kinkhab’ curated by royal cultural revivalist Umang Hutheesing.

Ahmedabad Design Week will be held at Shree Shakti Convention Centre from January 17 till 19.