Sri Lanka Design Festival 2011 New Website launched

Award-winning international design firm 'Addikt' partners with AOD to produce Sri Lanka Design Festival 2011 Graphics. SLDF visual identity – SLDF 2011 visual identity by Addikt is implemented by AOD Graphics Department, and revealed through the official site www.srilankadesignfestival.com
Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) has returned for 2011 with its third edition. The much-awaited festival, added to the anticipation when it recently announced that the globally successful design firm 'ADDIKT design movement' was commissioned to create the Graphics and visual theme for SLDF 2011. In par with SLDF's aim to engage designers and delegates from around the world, upgrading the festival visual campaign to international standards was imminent.

ADDIKT started as a motion graphics studio in Amsterdam early 2004, and evolved in to a new type of creative agency that has erased boundaries between film, web, animation and design. ADDIKT's expertise ranges from visual identities, commercials and short films to Big Motion projects across the world. Recently concluded Kyoorios Designyatra – India's largest design forum, was also one of ADDIKT's acclaimed works.

Barry Schwartz the Creative Director/Co-Founder of ADDIKT was a specially invited delegate of SLDF 2010 and is a firm supporter0 of Sri Lanka's mission in becoming a regional leader in design. ADDIKT's core team of designers, directors, artists and animators created a stimulating visual identity for Sri Lanka Design Festival 2011. SLDF organizer, Academy of Design (AOD) is implementing this visual theme through its graphic design department. Alain Parizeau, head of graphics department at AOD said that the identity designed by ADDIKT A close-up on Sri Lanka is a contemporary theme that brings Sri Lanka in to focus; "This theme and motion graphics draw parallels not only to SLDF, but also to Sri Lanka through its associated shapes, colours and movements."

SDLF unveiled its new visual identity with the launch of its website www.srilankadesignfestival.com on the 27th of September. The website launch is leading to the formal announcement of SLDF partners and programme on the 15th of October 2011.

SLDF is partnered by Coats Thread PLC, Textured Jersey, Trade Card, Hellmann, Sri Lankan Airlines, Mount Lavinia Hotel, British Council, Addikt Design Movement, Bates Strategic Alliance PR, Social mIdea and the Norwegian Embassy.

To contact Sri Lanka Design Festival; SLDF secretariat at AOD, 29, Lauries Road, Colombo 04 | (+94) 115 867 772/3, (+94) 115 742 480/90 | info@srilankadesignfestival.com

M L H takes a momentous step towards social sustainability with AOD

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Artisans from Jaffna and Mannar

Products developed by the artisans under the guidance and design input from AOD

Mount Lavinia purchases custom designed hotel range produced by the North- Palmyrah artisans working in Palmyrah Development Borad Centres in Jaffna and Mannar.

This project, 'Design for sustainable Development' (DFSD) which provides stable livelihoods for artisans in rural and war-affected areas in Sri Lanka, was initiated by the Academy of Design (AOD) under the invitation of the reawakening project of the Ministry of Economic Development. DFSD is currently executed under the Palmyrah Development Board (PDB) under the Minitsry of Traditional Industries. The project helps artisans and communities engaged in craft through design, product development while connecting high-end clienteles such as the Mount Lavinia Hotel with the artisans through large quantity production orders.

Artisans from Jaffna, Pungudutivu Island and Mannar visited Mount Lavinia Hotel recently, to present the completed order of Palmyrah products to the hotel.

The General Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel, Anura Dewapura accepted the products from the artisans. "Mount Lavinia has always been a firm supporter of ecological and social sustainability and has made it an integral part of our corporate value system.

We were delighted to place an order for the products made by these artisans, not only because it helps to establish better livelihoods for them, but also because their new products are specifically designed for our purpose and curate by the project set up by AOD which makes the entire project feasible.

General Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel, Anura Dewapura in conversation with the artisans

Personal Assistant to the Minister of Traditional Industries, K. Dayananda and Senior Advisor to the Minister of Traditional Industries, Jegarajasingham also attended the event representing Minster of Traditional Industries

I am honoured to accept this delivery of the products from the artisans themselves," said Dewapura.

The AOD students, Mufeena Ameen and Insha Fahim who worked on the DFSD project with the artisans and Managing Director of AOD, Linda Speldewinde

Senior Advisor to the Minister of Traditional Industries Jegarajasingham and Personal Assistant to the Minister of Traditional Industries K. Dayananda, also attended the event representing Minster of Traditional Industries. Representatives of the Sri Lanka Palmyrah Board were present for the event too.

Managing Director of AOD, Linda Spledewinde expressed her thanks to Mount Lavinia Hotel for pioneering in social sustainable hospitality; "This marks the beginning of the involvement of Sri Lanka's hospitality industry with rural livelihood development and thereby becoming a part of the national development agenda through a new angle. We are confident that other leaders in the hospitality industry will join hands with us too."

"Our Income has increased over five fold because of these orders – AOD has worked with us very closely and treat us very sincerely. This order from Mount Lavinia Hotel has helped us to have hope for the future," stated artisans from Jaffna Pungudutivu Island Palmyrah Weaving Centre.

The artisans from Mannar, Pavilanpattu stated that they have had no steady income before this project but now they have a new livelihood that has created for them with a new centre being developed for Plamyrah Weaving.

Sri Lanka Design Festival 2011 to showcase island craft, apparel industry

Academy of Design (AOD) Managing Director Linda Speldewinde presents the project catalogue to Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa in the presence of Industries and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen at the Economic Development Ministry. With strategic support from Economic Development Ministry and Industry and Commerce Ministry: Academy of Design (AOD), Sri Lanka's active promoter of using design and creativity for economic development within industry and the rural communities, presented two main model projects at a special session convened by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the Economic Development Ministry premises and discussed the presentation of the projects and the vision for the upcoming Sri Lanka Design Festival 2011 to be held in November. The model project one which focuses on the North and the East of the country involves over 100 women artisans from the districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Ampara and Batticaloa who are rebuilding in a post war era. AOD was invited by the Economic Development Ministry – Reawakening project to do a scoping visit and carry out an initial training back in January 2011. AOD has continued the project since then and has trained the women to produce palmyrah designer homeware products for high-end clientele of the hospitality industry such as Mount Lavinia Hotel and Chaaya Hotels and currently the women of these districts are handling these orders. This project has increased the wages of the women from Rupees eight to Rs 50 per hour increasing their income over five fold. The Palmyrah project logistics are carried on in partnership with the Palmyrah Development Board and UMCOR. The handloom weaving work is carried out in a cottage industry model in Mardhamunai in Ampara and Eruvil in Batticaloa. The second project encompasses the southern and central part of the island and the new products developed in these regions are due to be also showcased at the upcoming Sri Lanka Design Festival carrying on all the outcomes and success stories from the 2010 craft project which was showcased at Sri Lanka Design Festival 2010 by AOD in partnership with EDB. The other main discussion at the Ministry was about the new project to be showcased at the Sri Lanka Design Festival and that is the unique project in the Western Province – Gampaha District in Ilhala Madampe in the Divulapitiya division. The project which is carrying on under the Liya Abhimani programme of the Economic Development Ministry and under this project AOD is working with the Ministry and training 60 weavers in design and product development. The weaving community is currently working on producing collections of Fashion and Interior products to be showcased at Design Festival. The other new projects are a project in the Uva area in Bibile and Badulla where AOD is working with Cane and Kithul wood artisans. This project was started on the invitation of Uva Chief Minister's office. The Sri Lanka Design Festival is due to be held from November 16-20 and the outcomes of all the above projects are to be showcased at the upcoming Design Festival in the form of an island craft exhibition, contemporary craft fashion shows and a specially curated pop up store. The islandwide model projects completed under AOD's 'Design for Sustainable Livelihood Development Project' were presented to Minister Basil Rajapaksa. The Minister guides the next phase to be presented and showcased at Sri Lanka Design Festival 2011.

AOD Graphics students for Spikes Asia 2011

It was not too long ago that Academy of Design (AOD) Alumnus Chanuka Wijesinghe and current Graphic Design student, Dihan de Silva represented Sri Lanka at the prestigious Cannes Lions Advertising Festival 2011.  Last week, two more AOD Graphic designers were selected yet again, to represent Sri Lanka at another international gathering of advertisers and graphic designers: Spikes Asia 2011.

Pathum Egodawatta, a second year student at AOD and Shanika Perera, a final year student of AOD – two promising students of the AOD Graphic Design degree programme, will be the young Sri Lankan representatives for the Spikes Asia 'Young Spikes Academy' programme. Both students were selected to Spikes Asia 2011 based on their portfolios comprised of academic work for AOD.

AOD Principal, Karen Macloed thanked the IAA, Metal Factor and the MBC Networks for organising the Spikes Asia competition and for giving the opportunity to AOD students to become a part of it. "AOD faculty is delighted by this double victory and we know that our students will do Sri Lanka proud in Singapore," added MacLeod.

AOD's Head of Graphic Design, Alain Parizeau stressed on the importance of organising competitions of this nature in Sri Lanka for the growth of the local advertising industry: "Competitions like this will help Sri Lanka create its own icons in the advertising and graphics industry, by giving opportunities for its future leaders to test the international tides at the early stages of their education."

Pathum and Shanika thanked the organisers of the competition and the MBC Networks for being a continuing supporter of young graphic designers like themselves. "We want to bring back what we learn and experience at Young Spikes in Singapore and share it with everyone at AOD and anybody interested in graphics and advertising," Shanika said. "This is an extraordinary chance for both of us, and we hope to make the best of it," Pathum added.

AOD, the renowned Northumbria University School of Design's International Campus for South Asia, offers Northumbria's globally accepted BA (Hons) Graphic Design degree that can be fully completed in Sri Lanka.

 

For more information please visit  www.aod.lk

One-to-one business meeting drives exports of SMEs

The highlight from a business sense was the one to one discussions that were staged at the Sri Lanka Designer Festival 2010 between Small and Medium apparel companies/apparel brands and prospective retailer globally.

The global retailers included top names such as Asos, Ted Baker, Frugi, Warehouse, Playhouse, Topshop, and Whistles.
Whilst the Sri Lankan export companies/brand label owners who took part were Buddhi batiks, Ventura Star, Vogue Tex, Orit, BAM, Hirdaramanis, Brandix (Conexao brand), Times, Jinadasa, Saemaul, Penguin, Union Apparels, Rakshaa, Marlo, Sanchia and Kalaro to name a few. They were keen to find links to global markets which gave a new twist to the Sri Lanka Design Festival perceived to be more of a creative than a fashion show.

The Founder Core Team member Rohantha Athukorala said the Sri Lanka Designer Festival was an idea conceptualised by the creative guru Linda Speldewinde around three years back and has been supported ably by a team of professionals for it to be a high share of voice event today. The 2010 edition was unique given that it linked to the Sri Lankan economy by linking products from rural Sri Lanka with artisans, SME apparel exporters and global retailers that gave the business dimension to the event said the corporate personality Athukorala.
The credibility earned over time has attracted key Government agencies that promote exports to partner the event including key private sector organisations like MAS, Brandix and Dialog together with SriLankan Airlines that gives an indication of the linkages to the Sri Lankan business sector and economy at large said Speldewinde.
Apart from the one to one business meetings between Small and medium scale apparel companies and key retailers for business building a landmark decision was made to launch a Sri Lanka Peace Collection that can bring in Rs.1 billion in export value to Sri Lanka. This will be the CSR project of the Sri Lanka Design Festival commented Athukorala
The Peace collection will be the brand that will connect rural Sri Lanka produce with the International markets said Athukorala. Some of the merchandise from the apparel collections that was showcased at the fashion shows of SLDF 2010 will be picked to come under the Peace Collection targeting the major U.S. chains like Macy’s and top retailers in UK with donor funding like UNIDO for supply chain development.
Macy’s CEO Terry Lungren who already carries the Rwanda Peace Collection in the Macy’s New York store had already committed to Athukorala at the WWD CEO summit this year that Macy’s can open the door for Sri Lanka’s Peace Collection brand provided that there is a continuous supply and sustainable business practice which happens to be the theme that SLDF has been driving on over the last three years.
The Peace Collection has the potential of becoming a key livelihood opportunity for villages that can bring in a net Rs.1 billion to the people who have been resettled in the North of Sri Lanka.  The overall branding and promotional strategy has been finalised now, and all that is required is the product range said Athukorala the founder core committee member of Sri Lanka Design Festival.
For more information Contact:
AOD Colombo (Pvt) Ltd No. 29, Lauries Road, Colombo 04, Sri Lanka.
Telephone: (+) 94 11 5867772 / (+) 94 11 5742490
Web : www.aod.lk Email:  info@aod.lk