UNFOLD 2023 – Indian Institute of Art & Design’s Graduate Show

The Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD) recently concluded its Annual Graduate Show, a spectacular event that showcased the exceptional talent and creativity of its graduating students. The showcase, held on 2nd & 3rd June at IIAD Campus, Delhi, was met with resounding success, attracting a diverse audience including industry professionals, art & design enthusiasts and the general public.

The Annual Graduate Show provided a platform for the graduating students to exhibit their remarkable work across various design disciplines, including Fashion Design, Interior Architecture and Design, Communication Design and Fashion Business Management. This event was a true reflection of IIAD's commitment to nurturing emerging talent and fostering an environment that encourages innovation and artistic expression.

The event commenced with a lamp lighting ceremony by the chief guests Mr. Manjeet Baasi and Mr Ajit Chadha (Chairman, IIAD) accompanied by Dr. Jitin Chadha, (Founder & CEO - IIAD), Professor Usha Patel, (Director - Academics), Aarti Uberoi (Course Leader - CD), Prof. Snehanshu Mukherjee (Course Leader - IAD), Dr. Sunita Gupta Kunwar (Course Leader - FBM), Kishore Chakraborty (Course Leader - Foundation) and Prof. Saumya Pande (Course Leader - Fashion Design).

IIAD campus was transformed into a vibrant tapestry of creativity with each department creating unique exhibition spaces that showcased their mastery of design. Students from all departments demonstrated their proficiency in translating imagination into tangible design solutions. The showcase included mesmerizing projection mapping, audio-visual displays, immersive art installations, refurbished wooden furniture displays, retail window displays, an engaging fashion show, and interactive 3D interior walkthroughs. These presentations highlighted the students' ability to think outside the box and create impactful designs.

Some of the prominent guests to felicitate the students on their Graduate Show were Mr. Rajeev Sethi - Founder, The Asian Heritage Foundation, Sunil Sethi - Chairman Fashion Design Council Of India, Dr. Sudha Dhingra - Professor, NIFT Delhi, Mrs. Leena Singh - Director, Ashima Leena Design Pvt. Ltd., Ms. Indrani De Parker - Designer and Faculty IIIT, Ms. Mandeep Negi - Design Director, Shades of India, Mr. Rajeev Lochan - Former Director, National Gallery of Modern Arts, Mr. Suvir Saran - Chef, Author, Entrepreneur, Consultant, Dr. Vandana Bhandari - Dean Academics, NIFTand many more

The first day of the Graduate Show focused on the Communication Design (CD) and Interior Architecture & Design (IAD) departments. CD students presented awe-inspiring projection mapping, impactful branding projects, captivating user interface and user experience creations, hand-drawn animations and thought-provoking illustrations on socially relevant subjects. The Communication Design students received prizes in various categories, acknowledging their academic and professional excellence, as well as socially relevant projects.

The Communication Design students were awarded prizes by Mr. Nikhil Joshi, Partner - Digital Jalebi for the following categories:

1. Academic Excellence award to Ms. Kashvi Bansal
2. Professional Excellence award to Ms. Deeya Wadhwan
3. Most Socially Relevant Project award to Mr. Sreeram Jayaram
4. Special Recommendation award to Ms. Ankita Aggarwal

Simultaneously, the IAD students showcased their innovative interior architecture projects, emphasizing the transformation of spaces through modular systems and impeccable design. The Interior Architecture and Design students were recognized for their academic and innovative projects.

The Interior Architecture and Design students were awarded prizes by Mr. Verendra Wakhloo, Owner - Matra Architects & Rurban Planners for the following categories:

1. Academic Excellence awarded to Ms. Kanika Aggrawal
2. Professional Excellence awarded to Ms. Insha Rizvi
3. Innovative Project awarded to Ms. Gurleen Babbar
4. Special Recommendation awarded to Ms. Soumya Balani

The second day of the Graduate Show was dedicated to the Fashion Design (FD) and Fashion Business Management (FBM) departments. The audience was captivated by an engaging fashion show that celebrated the exceptional talent and creativity of the FD students. The show featured stunning couture designs, while the FD third-year students presented an intriguing denim project that pushed the boundaries of craftsmanship and design.

The FBM students showcased their expertise in the world of retail through captivating window displays that demonstrated their keen sense of aesthetics and understanding of consumer behavior and visual merchandising strategies. Additionally, they impressed with their business analysis mapping, showcasing their analytical skills in identifying market trends, consumer insights and business opportunities.

During the Graduate Show, students from the Fashion Design and Fashion Business Management departments were acknowledged for their exceptional performance.

Mr. Yogeshwar Sharma, CEO & Executive Director - Select Citywalk awarded the Fashion Business Management students for their outstanding performance.

1. Academic achievement awarded to Mr. D Sai Krishna
2. Professional Excellence awarded to Ms. Vanshika Gandhi
3. Most Industry Relevant awarded to Ms. Reetika Singh
4. Academic achievement awarded to Ms. Devyani Keswani
5. Professional Excellence awarded to Mr. Manik Sharma
6. Most Industry Relevant awarded to Ms. Khushi Bansal

Mr. Rajeev Sethi, India’s first scenographer and Padma Bhushan award winner felicitated the Fashion Design students for their exceptional work.

1. Most Innovative Design Collection awarded to Ms. Sana Saxena
2. Best Engineered Design Collection awarded to Mr. Kartik Mahalwal
3. Socially Design Collection awarded to Ms. Sanjana Grover
4. Academic Excellence awarded to Ms. Sana Saxena

The Annual Graduate Show themed 'UNFOLD,' showcased the commitment of IIAD to fostering design excellence and empowering the next generation of creative visionaries. The event left an indelible mark on the design landscape, exemplifying the institute's core values of design thinking, dynamism, and art aesthetics. The Indian Institute of Art and Design continues to inspire and nurture young talents, shaping the future of the art and design industry.