EDU: What do you think of the status of design education in India today, vis-à-vis other countries?
A: From being a field on the periphery, design has now taken centre stage. It is the next big thing as far as career goes. The emphasis seems to have shifted from technology and management, and students—as well as their parents—are now aware of the design industry as a career option. Many of them are now looking at choices and alternatives in this field after their school and undergraduate courses.
Q: How does the NID approach help?
A: At NID, we thrive on flexibility—when it comes to inviting people, mixing cultures, merging technologies and changing curricula. This has given our students and graduates the confidence that not many other young designers have. Many of them set out of the school and set up their own business/studio—that is the level of assurance they acquire here.
Q: Do you think the current supply is enough to meet it?
A: I think there is a great deficit of designers. I don’t have exact figures but I believe we are turning out very few designers every year. As compared to the lakhs of engineers and managers who graduate every year, this number is paltry. We may need 15,000-20,000 designers in different sectors of economy and development, and there is a great need to augment supply.
Q: Do you think the National Design Policy has helped the cause of design?
Q: What do you think are the problems that plague the industry?
A: We need the backing of the industry. Many a times, the industry questions the need to spend so much money on creating awareness on this front. But several big industries have already started investing in design. We also want small and medium- scale industries to follow in their wake. We need designers, small and big, to add value. There is also a need to promote design awareness and thinking. We realise that we cannot change things overnight. We did not have a culture of product development all these years, and we cannot hope for a sudden shift. But with ideas like design clinics to promote product of artisans and clusters, jobs will be created.
Q: What approach do we need to design education system and curricula for design schools of the future?
A: Design plays a crucial role in the economic and social development, be it of a region or a country. We need a curriculum that helps create designers. Design and technology are intertwined; we need to keep in mind that we use emerging technology to create a product and services system that is contextual. Also, design direction in education should be sustainable. Since we need to consider all kinds of strata and all types of people, the curriculum must have an inclusive nature. Emphasis must also be placed on design students learning to cope with the threat to natural resources and being able to work with emerging technology. We need a multi-tiered approach to design education. We need to sensitise people towards design, they don’t necessarily need to be designers themselves, but an awareness of design can help in every field.
Q: You have spoken of a ‘design education audit’ system. How will that help?
A: We need some sort of certification, some kind of a voluntary quality benchmark. For example, if a designer comes with the India Design Council label, you would know he or she has been trained at a good school. We do realise that design is not something that can be stamped and certified, but we are still discussing and debating how to do this. Perhaps having a group of people to set norms on curriculum, course delivery method, health of institute, etc, could help.
Q: How can educationists ensure creativity and critical thinking?
A: Experimentation is extremely important. Students need to be allowed to experiment, and they need open-minded encouragement and discussions. At NID, we do not have text books. We believe there is no one way to impart training or learning in design. I may have my point of view but I must give every student the opportunity and allow him or her to make a choice when it comes to line of thinking and direction. We need qualified and trained faculty who nurture each student. I believe that a student is like a plant while the teacher plays the role of a gardener.
Q: Is the government doing enough to enhance the design educational experience in India?
A: I believe we are going in the right direction. The government is convinced that an innovation-led economy will lead the way forward, and the Human Resources Department is also now involved. Sam Pitroda has been emphasising on innovation centres and hubs. We are on the right path. Our designers and students need more exposure—more films, fairs and awareness. Design is not just a facelift or beautification. It is a holistic way of thinking that leads to contextual solutions taking society and environment into consideration.
