KOCHI:
Kerala is working towards developing a Design Policy for promoting sustainable infrastructure that employs innovative designs for habitats and smart cities, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said today.
Speaking at the valedictory session of the second edition of the Kochi Design Week (KDW), he said the government will launch a ‘Kerala Design Festival’ by scaling up the existing KDW format through integration of multiple events. That will make it the world’s largest and longest such annual event, he pointed out, adding, “Kerala Tourism can market it globally so that it will be one more reason for the creative community to travel to Kerala. ”
Noting that design had an “inherent potential” across disciplines, the CM said the government will work with the Kerala Startup Mission and similar agencies to assess the areas that required stronger focus amid an ongoing mission to rebuild the state’s infrastructure.
“We will come up with necessary interventions to boost entrepreneurship, skilling and other related areas,” Vijayan said.
The December 12-14 KDW, the country’s biggest such annual event, saw experts and enthusiasts exchange ideas that are possible inputs to a long-term development plan for Kerala through futuristic technology and architecture. It also discussed the latest trends in design as well as architecture for their effective implementation to counter natural calamities.
More than 100 speakers from within India and 12 other countries addressed sessions and workshops as well as masterclasses before 3,000-plus design professionals, architects, interior designers, thought leaders, policymakers and government officials. The event was organised by the Kerala government’s IT and Electronics department.
The CM described the KDW as a unique event in Kerala’s industrial history, where scholars and buffs in a range of disciplines came together to celebrate ‘design’. The event marked “a unique cross-disciplinary attempt” by joining hands with various industry bodies.
Vijayan recalled the natural calamities Kerala suffered during the monsoons of 2018 and 2019, and expressed apprehensions about a “repeat” of such a tragedy. Given that the administration is striving to rebuild Kerala into a “better, more resilient and environment-friendly place”, he said “design thinking” and “creative design experiences” could quicken up the mission.
The CM described creativity as a domain where Kerala can play a lead role. Several MNCs across the country and abroad have Malayalis as decision-makers in the creative or design domain, he noted.
To make Kerala the world’s creative hub, the CM reiterated, the government will build a design-centric ‘Centre of Excellence’ in Kochi, with hardware and software facilities, fablabs and prototyping facilities besides talent-grooming and community development initiatives.
Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, speaking at the function, called for more number of design institutions in Kerala so as to bridge a “disconnect” existing in the state’s educational stream. “We would also want the government to ensure that Kochi emerges as a world-class design hub,” he added.
Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose said the success of KDW 2019 showed the immense potential of the state to emerge as the world’s design capital. “This morning, I visited the stalls here and could sense the richness of talent we have in design,” he added.
M Sivasankar, Secretary (IT), Government of Kerala, welcoming the gathering, said the KDW has grown in stature from its inaugural edition to the just-concluded one that featured “very engaging” conversations and classes. “This time, it’s not just the government organising the event; we had partners as well,” he pointed out, adding Kerala is an emerging global hub of creativity, given the strong pool of talents from the state.
Other speakers were Asset Homes MD V Sunil Kumar and Abbey V Rodrigues of CERA Sanitaryware.
Proposing thanks, KDW Special Officer Arun Balachandran, who is Kerala Chief Minister’s Fellow (IT), said the event would not have been a reality without the support of the partners.
Earlier, the CM gave away awards to the winner of a ‘Kerala Design Challenge’ contest held by International School of Creative Arts. Krishna Sunil, a student of the AFD Institute in Kochi, won the cash prize of Rs 25,000. Four runners up won a collective purse of Rs 20,000. Another contest, titled ‘Tagline’, conducted as part of the KDW, too, had its results declared at the function. Eden, MP, gave away the awards to 10 top winners who won Rs 10,000 each.
The KDW-2019, which was studded with expositions as well, hosted an international blockchain summit and an inclusive platform named ‘Design Open’. Also, there were exhibitions, installations and contests alongside cultural shows and a unique food fair.
