NID course to now focus on responsible design

The director, faculty members and design experts associated with the National Institute of Design (NID) are busy redesigning the curriculum. To remain updated with latest design trends, academic requisites and future requirements, the premier design institute is reviewing its curriculum in all 17 disciplines for the first time in 15 years.

Director of the institute, Pradyumna Vyas, believes that design theories being taught in the institute are based on 50-year-old fundas and require replacement with theories that support future requirements in the design field. Speaking to DNA, he said that the current curriculum is based on decades-old concepts like consumerism that affected designs then.

He believes the time has come to teach students to be more responsible as they study design. "Main idea of reviewing curriculum is to make shift from consumerism to responsible design. The world is becoming conscious of saving the environment. The old school of design focused on user friendly design and use and throw material. But they are a threat to the environment we live in. That's why we felt that design education should focus more on responsible design keeping social and environmental aspects in mind," he explained.

The new curriculum will be implemented by 2013. Vyas said the institute is focusing on the new curriculum including newer aspects like universal, inclusive, socially significant and multi- dimensional design that helps in sustainable growth. 

Special emphasis is also being laid on value centric design rooted in Indian traditions. "I always believe that we can be global leaders with the help of traditional wealth. In this time of global collaboration, it is important to keep curriculum significant in global competition but it is equally important to include design values rooted in Indian tradition," he said.