Presents ‘Think Design’ Career Month this June to create awareness on design careers and opportunities

Interview with Principal of AOD, Karen MacLeod on the month-long free series of talks and exhibitions presenting the top design jobs available in Sri Lanka and abroad where she discusses the opportunities that design presents to young creative minds.

Why is design such a big topic in the business world today?

With ‘design’ being recognised as one of the most powerful contributors to business growth today, most industries in Sri Lanka are employing more and more designers each year. Mega Industries like hospitality and tourism rely on interior designers and product design for spaces, furniture, cutlery, crockery etc. that expresses their own identity through clever design. Most large- scale exports like tea and cinnamon, whose international clienteles demand good design, look to graphic designers for strong logos, brand identities and packaging. Similarly, businesses turn to fashion designers for corporate uniforms that are in line with their brand image while Sri Lanka’s massive apparel industry is also one of the biggest employers of fashion designers. With more and more brands entering the digital sphere, and the entertainment industry looking to harness the wonders of the latest technology, animation designers are also in growing demand. These are just a few examples from the many industries that consult or employ full time designers for better business.

How does AOD contribute to the design career scope in Sri Lanka?

Being the preferred design partner by the government and industries of Sri Lanka, AOD has been instrumental in linking design talent with business by employing 100% of their graduates in design careers locally and overseas. Education should deliver to the type of careers needed by the country. The degrees presented by AOD were all selected based on what Sri Lankan businesses need from ‘design’ and the creative roles they need fulfilled. This is one reason why AOD graduates are employed; they are all very much needed by the business world here.

Why is AOD organizing the ‘Think Design’ event?

‘Think Design’ career month by AOD is a response to this need and aims to share the much-needed information on working as a designer with students. There had been a growing interest among students and parents on design careers. However, most find it difficult to access validated, reliable information on design careers, the growth opportunities that they present, tasks and responsibilities linked to design job roles, and standard salaries etc.

Can you describe more on the ‘Think Design’ event?

It is a programme structured to suit students, parents and anyone else who wants to walk in and learn about design’s potential as a career and what it offers in terms of job roles, growth opportunities and financial security. ‘Think Design’ also helps parents and students understand how design is a contemporary career path with fantastic opportunities to travel the world, start own businesses or join some of the biggest industries of the day. This special insight on design will be shared by AOD through a series of exhibitions and industry talks within the month of June 2017.

How can they be a part of this event and to whom will it be interesting?

School leavers, design enthusiasts, aspiring designers and parents are invited to walk in to AOD anytime between 9 am – 5 pm on weekdays and get free and reliable information on design careers, their relevance for today’s business world and the fantastic opportunities that they present to young creative thinkers. The programme also gives direct exposure to students on working as a designer, through the free talk series by industry speakers. These talks also aim to inspire young minds to think creatively and harness the incredible potential that design thinking presents in terms of career opportunities today.

The event will also present instant admissions to the prestigious Northumbria University UK degrees available to be completed at AOD, in BA (Hons) Fashion, BA (Hons) Interior design, BA (Hons) Graphic design, BA ( Hons) Motion graphics and animation design and BA ( Hons) Fashion marketing design.

AOD Think Design design career month will be freely available to all, at AOD, on 29, Lauries Road Colombo 4 on 9am-5pm on weekdays during the month of June. For more information, call 0775727772 or email info@ aod.lk

that expresses their own identity through clever design. Most large-scale exports like tea and cinnamon, whose international clienteles demand good design, look to graphic designers for strong logos, brand identities and packaging.