Leading Industry Experts Gather at IIAD’s Fourth Edition of Industry Conclave

More than 50 industry leaders from 40 leading brands gathered at the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD) for the fourth edition of the Industry Conclave, an annual event that aimed at connecting academia with industry. Hosted at the IIAD Campus, the conclave provided a valuable opportunity for over 140 students and alumni along with 35 faculty members to interact directly with industry experts, fostering exchanges and knowledge sharing.

Notable brands who participated included big names such as Ernst Young LLP, India Today, Charkhee, Groyyo, PDS Group, JCPenney, Urvashi Kaur Label, Design Plus, RLDA Studios, Miraggio, Genie Mode, Alt Mobility, QUOD, RATA, OR Aur, Aaquib Wani Design, Kaboom Social Impact, Yellow Brick Road Media, PLUGD, and more. 

In a time marked by global challenges, the imperative for design to drive positive social change has never been more pronounced. This year's conclave focused on the theme "Creating Social Impact by Design," emphasising the growing importance of design in addressing contemporary challenges. The World Cafe format facilitated one-on-one interactions between students and industry experts from various design sectors, including communication, fashion business management, fashion design, and interior architecture and design.

The event provided valuable insights into the changing demands of the design industry, equipping students with the knowledge and connections necessary to thrive in their future careers. Beyond theoretical knowledge, these interactions provided invaluable insights into the practical applications of design across various industries, thereby equipping students with the skills and perspectives needed to navigate the complexities of the professional landscape.

Industry Conclave concluded with discussions of the future of design in terms of not only sustainability but also conscious consumption, promotion of local craftsmanship, 

Fashion design and fashion management experts discussed sustainable fashion's role in social impact. One topic was the true meaning of sustainability and how to achieve it in the fashion industry. There was a debate about how to balance business needs with social impact, with challenges arising from the higher costs of sustainable practices. The discussion also highlighted the importance of clear communication with consumers about these practices. Finally, the conversation addressed the misconception that tradition is static in fashion. Instead, participants argued that tradition should evolve and adapt to meet changing needs. The conversation also covered community engagement and deconstructing old practices. A key takeaway was the need for individual commitment and authenticity to drive sustainable fashion.

The discussion at the Interior Architecture and Design department centred around the importance of user-centric design that adapts to specific contexts and celebrates diverse needs. The dialogue explored ways to incorporate diverse design trends and materials in a culturally sensitive manner. Collaboration strategies were debated, with some advocating for involving the community directly rather than just relying on specialists.

Communication design experts urged creating valuable designs that enhance existing ideas. They discouraged free work and advocated empowering local artists through monetization strategies. The discussion also emphasised integrating design thinking and marketing, addressing sustainability throughout the process. Experts advocated for a shift designers becoming facilitators, collaborating with audiences, and iterating for impactful design.

Industry Experts who participated in the Conclave are listed below:

Communication Design:

Nishant Sapra (The Dreamer Design), Vandana Pant (Folklogue Studio), Anurag Sehgal (Digital Tranzform Pvt. Ltd.), Nandita Sengupta (Yellow Brick Road Studio), Yogesh Gagotia (Simpleplan Media), Utkarsh Srivastava (Rusk Media), Nirmala Nair (Kaboom Social Impact), Dharmesh Mehta (Bluone Consultants), Raksh Anand (Alt-Mobility), Khushi Mishra (Alt-Mobility), Dhruv Goel (Brand Catapult), Vikram Kazanchi (Threye Interactive), Vikas Vashisht (Ernst Young LLP), and Samya Ghosh (Purpose).

Fashion Business Management:

Radhika Mittal (OR Aur), Shilpa Aggarwal (Charkhee), Mohit Jain (Miraggio), Dhruv Kapoor (Design One), Shefali Gupta (Nutrabay), Kajol Aurora (Aurora Creatives), Abhishek Yugal (Groyyo), Divya Mohan (Groyyo), Jigyasa Sachdeva (Groyyo), Ankita Gulati (Design One), and Pranav Pandey (Genie Mode).

Fashion Design: 

Urvashi Kaur (Urvashi Kaur), Namita Mahajan (PDS Group), Garima Bhat (Creatnet Fashion), Supreet Kaur (Creatnet Fashion), Varun Manohar (Beone Inc.), Ananya Bhat (Creatnet Fashion), Shilpi Nigam Sharma (JCPenney), Ikshit Pande (QUOD), Chirojit Bhattacharya (India Today), Meeta Mastani (Bindaas Unlimited), Mrinal Jain (Asmara India Pvt. Ltd.), Naina Sehgal (Nalphi India), and Pratiksha Tandon (RATA).

Interior Architecture and Design: 

Shivani Mittal (Laliittya), Navya Aggarwal (Navya A Quarter), Abhishek Bij (Design Plus), Aaquib Wani (Aaquib Wani Design), Kulveer Bhati (TOD Design), Ritu Yadav (TOD Design), Rohit Jain (Dreamscape Design), Vandana Jain (Dreamscape Design), Priyamwada Singh (Common Ground Practice), Rahoul Singh (RLDA Studios), Ritika Malik (PLUGD), Priyanka Sood (Kingsmen India Pvt. Ltd.), and Disha Gulati (Kingsmen India).

This Industry Conclave reflects IIAD's commitment towards bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring students become future-ready with the skills and real-world exposure that the industry seeks today.