Founder & CEO – IIAD on ‘Design for better future’

Education has always played an indispensable role in socio-cultural evolution, economic advancement for societal growth and well-being. The education landscape has seen a radical paradigm shift in recent years as we have transitioned into a new phase of virtual learning. This has opened the doors to an entire digital world that had up until now remained largely unexplored - the metaverse. The rapid development of this virtual environment has ushered in a new age, one which has generated endless possibilities especially for the future of design. As a discipline, design is experimental and exploratory in nature. It requires a hands-on and process-based approach that is constantly evolving like the transitioning milieu we currently inhabit. Design necessitates an integrated teaching and learning methodology, one that reflects the working of the world around us. As we increasingly leverage digital tools and blended learning, hybrid education has become the new way forward. Advancements in technology, varied online tools and softwares and the New found outlook towards education has enabled design to thrive. The primary focus at present is on logical reasoning, problem solving and designing for a sustainable, fluid and increasingly virtual world. The metaverse offers an augmented reality that is an amalgamation of interconnected digital spaces. This provides the perfect environment for design education as it does away with the compartmentalisation of skills that students and practitioners later need to assimilate and bring together. As we stand at the brink of change and growth, at the cusp of new beginnings, it is more vital than ever before that we ensure the education we impart to the future generation equips them with the aptitude, skills and mindset fit to face the challenges and opportunities that these times will bring with them. A multi-disciplinary, practical and iterative education will enable the creation of various experiences that are well adapted for the digital age. The future is both exciting and uncertain. We don’t have all the answers we may need yet, however, the path ahead offers a glimmer of hope. For better or for worse, design will be our anchor as we begin to traverse the metaverse.