‘Design Yatra’ to Create Design Awareness

KOCHI:
India’s first ‘Design Yatra’ will reach the city today (November 4). The Institute of Indian Interior Designer (IIID) had launched the yatra at Indore on February 20 this year. It will travel to 29 cities across the country by next February with an aim to spread awareness and take designs to the masses. The total distance covered will be 15,000 kms in three Nano cars.
The yatra, which includes three cars designed in India, will be in Kochi till November 7. Competitions, heritage walk, talks and interaction with students have been organised between November 4 and 7. The cars will be parked at
important locations so that the public can learn more about designing. The members will visit different places so that they could give design inputs to make specific locations and public places in the city more user-friendly.
“The IIID wants to highlight the importance of design in our day-to- day lives,” said National Secretary, Architect Jabeen L Zacharias. “We have decided to take the design to the cities.  Design can change the way we look at cities and its problems. The purpose of the yatra is to engage with local communities.”
Architect Babu Cherian, Chairman of IID, Kerala chapter, said, “The rally is aimed at inspiring people to design houses, schools, hospitals and public places in such a way that they present local culture, consider convenience of people and save the environment. The IIID has played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s design policies and trends in the right direction.”
The design yatra members will be greeted at the Queens walkway near Goshree Bridge here by the members of  IIID, Kerala chapter and the public. Kochi Mayor Soumini Jain, MLA Hibi Eden, Architect Jabeen L Zacharias, IIID National Secretary, Architect Babu Cherian, Chairman of IID, Kerala chapter, Nikhil Mohan, secretary, IIID Kerala chapter, Ranjit Roy, Joint secretary, IIID Kerala chapter will also attend the function. The members of IIID will also interact with students, community members and designers at the venue.
Meanwhile, a live painting on 50 Murams will also held as part of the design yatra for public and students at Durbar hall ground at 6pm onwards.  The theme is ‘Moods of the city in colours’. Apart from public about 25 artists will also attend the live painting  programme. The design yatra will leave from Kerala to Karnataka on November 11 , after visiting Kochi and Trivandrum.