Ahmedabad: Vice-President Hamid Ansari
on Tuesday asked graduating students of the National Institute of
Design (NID) to give Indian touch to their products as it
would fetch a premium in the global market.
"As Indian designers catering to Indian consumers and
designers located within the country, you would notice that
your sense are well attuned to diverse linguistic, cultural,
religious and geographical make-up," he said during the 31st
Convocation of NID here.
"Each of these elements and influences is a source of
innovation and initiative," he said, adding it needs to be
treasured and fine tuned.
"In this era of globalisation when our real villages
have to compete with the global villages, the problem for many
designers is to fuse functionality with our cultural legacy
and heritage."
"Designs and products that are identified with our
culture, our geography and Indian-ness would distinguish and
fetch a premium in the global market place of ideas, service
and products," the Vice-President added.
Ansari asked the graduating designers to question
themselves as to what kind of designs are needed to fulfil the
existing needs.
He further told them to introspect how well they have
addressed design needs for immediate problems related to food,
shelter and population. "I wonder how many among you would be
interested in design that would serve real world issues."
"How many of you would focus on designing low-cost and
adaptive sanitation systems to address this pressing need of
millions of our citizens," he asked.
According to Ansari, design today was seen from the
lens of value addition, enhancing competitiveness and
improving quality of products and services.
He said though roots of Indian design go back to
Harappa and Mohenjodaro era, an innovation that has helped
many people lead normal lives - the Jaipur foot - was not
readily recognised as a design marvel.
NID Director Pradyumna Vyas said from today the
institute has started its Golden Jubilee celebrations. A host
of events will be organsied through out the year.
He said five new member have been inducted to the NID
Governing Council. These include Gujarat Chief Secretary A K
Jyoti and Ahmedabad Mayor Asit Vora.
Vyas said they were in talks with the State Government
for allotment of land for setting up the first design museum
in the country.
This year 213 students from various disciplines of
design have graduated from the institute.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, December 14, 2010, 22:39