Academy of Design’s Graduate Exhibition – 360 one; a showcase of design excellence, local enterprise, and societal consciousness

Northumbria University School of Design and AOD Celebrating key milestones of over a decade of a powerful partnership in Design

The most highly-anticipated event on the design calendar is here, and off to a great start. 360One, the Academy of Design’s annual graduate exhibition, is currently underway and on its final day, having experienced an eventful and design-packed weekend.

The flagship celebration of Sri Lanka’s young design talent was officially inaugurated by Chief Guest Ms. Lisa Whanstall, Deputy British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, at the opening night held on Thursday the 1st of December at the iconic Colombo Innovation Tower (CIT).

When asked about her thoughts about the work of graduate students and the message she wanted to share with the other design enthusiasts, Ms. Lisa Whanstall said “The work of students are totally inspirational and mind-blowing. I am so pleased to have visited here. It’s thoughtful and engaging. I’ve seen new ideas on sustainability, recycling, and projects in technology. It’s cutting edge creative thinking. They have really been able to bring ideas into reality. All this is great for the Sri Lankan economy.” She also spoke on AOD and Northumbria University’s partnership, “It’s great to hear that AOD and Northumbria has been in partnership for the last 20 years. It’s positive to experience the relationship between our two countries bringing together expertise, ideas and making it into something new. It’s important that we are able to nurture talents in this way.”.

Celebrating a powerful partnership over a decade-long collaboration with the UK’s highly-ranked Northumbria University, AOD has over the years provided its students with the very best of British design education; always setting the gold standard, and in turn paving the way for students’ career success.

In harnessing the collective clout of the university’s industry connections –both local and international- and successful alumni community, at this intimate event AOD afforded its graduate cohorts the enviable opportunity to unveil and showcase their final year projects to potential

In turn, senior representatives from a broad spectrum of sectors (fashion and textile, travel and tourism, hospitality, information technology, architecture, etc.) in attendance, as proponents of design innovation, were able to witness first-hand the immense potential of home-grown creativity entering the professional world, as well as seek out the cream of young design talent to join their own creative teams.

employers from the country’s diverse economic landscape, and also rub shoulders with some of Sri Lanka’s most notable industry heads. In turn, senior representatives from a broad spectrum of sectors (fashion and textile, travel and tourism,