AOD Sri Lanka racing ahead to be South Asian center for textile design

Sri Lanka’s AOD International Design Campus is teaming up with UK’s Northumbria University School of Design to offer its world renowned fashion and design degrees in the country. “AOD’s vision is to open a South Asian center for international textile design and education. The idea is to work closely with industry so that designers can deliver something unique to Sri Lanka and the rest of the world,” explains Shamlee D’Silva, Head, Public Relations, AOD.

The Northumbria University International Design Degree programs offered at AOD International Design Campus are the only British internal design degrees that can be fully completed in Sri Lanka. D’Silva explained further, “We are partnering a lot of universities in the UK and offering their curriculum in Sri Lanka. Fashion designing and fashion marketing are two of our main degrees. We also have courses in graphic, animation and product designing. We guide our designers, students to work closely with the industry. Even before they graduate from the institute, they get a chance to work with future employers and understand industry standards which is very important today,” she opines.

Among the advantages AOD International Design Campus students have is the close network the institute has with design industry in Sri Lanka and international creative industries especially those in the UK and Italy. Through this active network, live projects and competitions are set where students design for clients directly.

Imbibing their cultural heritage

D’Silva points out even though students are working with latest technologies they also go to villages and help artisans and work with them. With hands-on experience they create products that are unique and handmade and accepted in international markets. “Sri Lanka has a vision to become the international gateway to designs in South Asia. We will have internationally educated designers with knowledge of what works anywhere in the world and they have the capacity to enrich our industry and help create something fantastic for the rest of the world,” says D’Silva

AOD international design campus also has ‘Design for Sustainable Development Project’ which is a not-for-profit initiative. It connects the skills of rural artisan communities with designers to upgrade their products for high-end exports. The project results in livelihood development for artisans and an international caliber product for the student. “We are going to work closely with industry. We keep industry and heritage craft in mind. The Sri Lankan government is supportive of what AOD is doing and sees the potential it has for tourism and exports,” she explained.

AOD International Design Campus conceptualises and organises Sri Lanka’s largest and the most prestigious national event in fashion and design, the Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF). In its 5th year, SLDF hosts nearly one 100 top international fashion and design delegates from around the world. The local participation brings together Sri Lanka’s fashion, apparel, advertising, graphic design, publishing, architectural and interior design industries together on a single international platform. “This opens a world of opportunities for AOD’s students. They are at the centre of this design nucleus that generates the future of fashion and design in Sri Lanka with top fashion and design gurus from home and abroad,” D’Silva informs.

Emphasizing on the need for collaboration with neighbouring countries, D’Silve says, “India has a unique design heritage of its own. In terms of education India has done a great job in inducing her designers to protect her heritage and make it up to date. Our relationship with India is quite strong. Our outlook towards design is very global and we have our roots in heritage. It appeals to a buyer from Europe or China. We are very keen to work with Indian talent because what we have is quite different from what India has. We would like to collaborate with Indian designers.”