Mumbai (India) – The 2014 Icsid Interdesign Mumbai workshop, a collaborative initiative of Icsid and Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research‘s WeSchool successfully concluded in an exhibition at WeSchool campus in Mumbai on 18 February 2014 that showcased approximately 25 prototypes created by the participants.

Under the overarching theme ‘Humanising a Metropolis’, 30 designers from India and 8 other countries with different design competences came together to address some of the social and infrastructure challenges facing the growing city of Mumbai. The participants worked on 6 sub themes formulated based on the pre-research done by WeSchool faculty. Participants visited various precincts to further understand the design bottlenecks faced by the city focusing on key issues like drainage system, waste management, challenges of creating an educational township, socialising in a metro, improving the outdoor experience for citizens, chaotic shopping experience, lifestyle related health problems etc., and ideated on the probable solutions which can be practically implemented.

With sub themes like ‘Visualising Matunga as a University Township’, ‘Living with Rain’, ‘Zero Waste Household’, ‘Redefining the Outdoor Experience’, ‘Health on the Go’ and ‘The Great Indian Bazaar (unorganized and organized retail)’, the exhibition of the prototypes at the open house showcased how many of these solutions could later be applied in other Indian metropolises and emerging international economies.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, WeSchool said, “This is the second time an Icsid Interdesign has been held in India and we are happy to be hosting it. For the past two weeks, WeSchool has been an innovation hub with experienced designers from India and abroad devising ways and means to bring about simple design interventions, to tackle some of the critical infrastructural and social challenges in a metropolis like Mumbai. The aim behind this workshop was to try and bring about transformative changes that will improve the living conditions in Mumbai by tackling existing issues through a designer’s holistic and abstract approach. It has been our constant endeavour to give a fresh learning experience to our students and faculty members by contributing to society and hence, our attempt to bring positive reflexes will not stop at the planning level. Apart from creating globally responsible leaders, we at WeSchool understand our social responsibility and will continue doing activities differently to make a maximum impact.”

For more information please visit 2014 Icsid Interdesign Mumbai project page or contact:

Natalie Dutil
Communications Officer
t: + 1 514 448 4949 ext. 223
e: ndutil@icsid.org

Allison DaCosta
Project Manager, Icsid
t: +1 514 448 4949 x 235
e: adacosta@icsid.org

Ms. Archna Lalwani
Adfactors PR
e: archna.lalwani@adfactorspr.com
t: +91-9820012106

Ms. Megha S Dharan
Adfactors PR
e: megha.dharan@adfactorspr.com
t: +91-9769669494

About WeSchool

Established in 1977, Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool) features among the premier Business Schools in India. Run by charitable Trust S.P. Mandali, Pune, all across the state of Maharashtra, WeSchool is ranked 10th among the top private B-Schools, 8th in international linkages by Forbes India in their best Business School survey in July 2011 and ranked 16th in Economic Times – India Inc’s Preferred B Schools survey 2011. WeSchool’s goal is to use the power of the amalgamation of design and management thinking and truly redesign the way education can make a meaningful difference to students, corporates and society that is visible through actions and outcome.
www.welingkar.org

About Interdesign workshops

Since 1971 Icsid’s Interdesign Workshops have been devoted to analysing, developing and solving issues of international significance. Generally hosted by an Icsid member society, Interdesign Workshops are forums in which designers from different countries and cultures work together with local experts exploring design issues of regional, national and global importance. These workshops seek to provide innovative and appropriate solutions intended for implementation.