AOD Design Talent Wins UK’s ISTD Award, Takes Sri Lankan Graphic Design Global
Graphic Design in Sri Lanka is often misconstrued as software knowledge common diplomas; however in reality, it is a thought and strategy driven creative science that works on branding, editorial, advertising, packaging and typography design among much more. Sri Lankan graphic design is undergoing an interesting period with the availability of correct education and growing international recognition, fuelled by AOD – Sri Lanka’s most dynamic design campus. Recently, yet another AOD designer won global recognition with a highly prestigious ISTD award; twenty-two year old Indika Jayatilake who follows the Northumbria UK graphic design degree at AOD, submitted his work to the ISTD competition in the UK and emerged a winner.
Inter national Society of Typographic Designers, ISTD, is a very prestigious award and internationally they are considered tough to win and vital in raising and maintaining, typographic standards. Indika’s project was selected out of hundreds of other entries from design universities around the world. This is a testament to AOD’s teaching team, their dedication to the students and Jayatilake’s hard work on this project.
Originally from D.S. Senanayake College in Colombo, Indika says that being awarded by the ISTD means a lot to him as a young designer. “My project, ‘The evil among us’ is a typographic publication with the focus on the Sri Lankan society’s perception of its LGBT community and urges the reader to re-evaluate how we recognize, interact and treat LGBTs,” says Indika. The project received fantastic response from the ISTD international award body where it was reviewed as a contemporary and important social topic explored effectively; “An engaging and charming booklet, which engages its audience. Well done,” stated the ISTD assessors in the UK.
AOD’s graphic design programme head, Canadian Graphic Designer Alain Parizeau stated that competitions of this nature help to motivate students and professionals to do better work and possess more awareness of professional and ethical practices; “In 2014, an AOD student won the first ever ISTD award for Sri Lanka and we have continued this success to 2015. I think this sort of recognition encourages young Sri Lankan designers to follow their dreams. It acknowledges and rewards people who work hard and have passion for what they do.” Parizeau concluded.
Having received international accolades for his creativity and intellectual skill, Indika is more determined than ever before to pursue his design dream; “I wish to pursue a career in branding and advertising design. Being able to work on real projects with businesses and the networking opportunities with top design professionals is undoubtedly one of the best perks of being at AOD that jump starts your design career. I›d like to thank my lecturers; Alain Parizeau, Pushpi Bagchi and Chani Perera for the guidance, members of the LGBT community who shared their experience for the project and my parents for being there every step of the way,” Indika concluded.
AOD has been establishing design as a serious education discipline and a dynamic profession in Sri Lanka for the last decade and boasts a 100% job success rate and a trusted relationship with industries in Sri Lanka as a recognised centre of design excellence in the South Asian region. AOD’s powerful partnership with Northumbria University in the UK- billed as one of Europe’s top design academia, gives students a solid, globally-recognised foundation delivered by AOD’s 100 % international faculty. AOD is currently enrolling for these prestigious degrees in fashion, fashion marketing, graphic design, interior design, 3d product and furniture design as well as motion graphics and animation design.
AOD is currently recruiting for its 2015/16 intake and if you wish to discuss an education / career in design, reach AOD International Design Campus on 077 5980141, 5867772 email info@ aod.lk or walk in between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday to AOD, 29, Lauries Road, Colombo 4 or log on www.aod.lk to apply online