For this group, design is the most important aspect of being
For this group, design is the most important aspect of being
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For the Pune Design Foundation, design is on the top of their list of priorities. No wonder then, that the main goal of this three-year-old group is to "form a strong network of designers and create a platform through which people can share design thinking and to increase the awareness of good design amongst the people and industry," as its founder member Darpana Athale stated.
Members belong to different fields including industrial design, product design, web design and graphic design. They intend to spread design awareness at the school and college levels and promote Pune as a design destination.
Work in progress
One initiative they started with this aim was the Industrial Innovation and Design Cell (InnoCell) in April 2008 to promote the cause of design, regionally (in collaboration with the MCCIA, Pune). Last December, just after the Mumbai terror attacks, the group also held a workshop on Design Response to Terror PDF08 at Symbiosis Institute of Design. Since November 2006, the group has been holding the annual Pune Design Festival that sees national and international designers, corporates, academicians, students and people from allied fields participating in workshops, exhibitions, competitions and seminars on designs.
Connectivity
Nachiket Thakur (34), a founder member said, "It's a rewarding experience to interact with the general public.
Their feedback often gives birth to out-of the-box ideas." Pankaj Satkal (41), an industrial designer observed, "We have a community of creative people, who bring a certain vitality to the whole enterprise of design. We also connect with other creative minds in the field."
Ashish Deshpande (43), a founder member and industrial designer said, "It's interesting to get people together on the same platform, share views and arrive at solutions that will benefit the group."