The fifth edition of the Future of Design Summit and Awards, held on May 16 in Mumbai brought together design enthusiasts and industry leaders to celebrate innovation and sustainability. Guided by the theme "Reimagining Design," the event highlighted forward-thinking approaches to global challenges.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the prestigious design awards, recognising outstanding prototypes and completed designs across various industries. These innovations not only epitomise excellence in design but also contribute to enhancing lives and driving sustainable progress.
The meticulous selection process, overseen by a distinguished panel of experts, ensured the recognition of trailblazers shaping the design landscape. The esteemed jury members included, Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld & Founder, Exchange4Media. Prof. Pradyumna Vyas, President-elect, World Design Organization, and former Director National Institute of Design. V Sunil, Design, Thinker, Brand Architect, Co-founder Motherland Founding Trustee, Kochi Biennale Foundation. Lulu Raghavan, VP, APAC and MD India, Landor. Janine Wunder, Consultant Business Strategy and Awards Germany, Former VP Awards & VP Communication and Marketing, German Design Council. Reza Kabul, President, ARK Reza Kabul Architects. Rahul Vohra, Actor. And, from the BW Businessworld team, Jyotsna Sharma, Sr. Associate Editor, BW Businessworld was the lead on the project.
A Quick Look
In addition to focusing on design, the summit showcased diverse perspectives and visionary ideas, with a special emphasis on mentorship, women empowerment, and the creative impact of Indian cinema. The event also featured The Dharavi Dream Project, highlighting the transformative power of Hip-Hop culture in underprivileged communities.
Renowned fashion designers, Shantanu Mehra, Co-founder and CEO, and Nikhil Mehra, Co-founder & Chief Design Officer, Shantanu & Nikhil explained how they have navigated a choppy fashion journey for the last 25 years. For them, the idea was to interpret a different narrative of India, the one that moves away from traditional embroidery and a decadent style to an interplay of silhouettes and minimalism. They wanted to make India look sexier, while keeping the occasion in mind and bringing in their philosophy of luxury.
Ajay Jain, Head of Global Design Strategy at Tata Motors, unveiled the company's visionary approach to redefining mobility in the years leading up to 2030 and beyond at the summit.
Emphasising the multidisciplinary nature of automotive design, Jain stated, "We combine the architecture of vehicles with the art and fashion of projecting what taste people will have in the future and then, within the organisation, act as the brand's custodians."
He underscored the profound impact of electrification and connectivity on vehicle design, enabling new expressions of sculpture and lighting. "By taking away all the engines and the mechanics of the vehicle, we're able to put a focus on the interior," Jain explained, highlighting the growing importance of creating immersive and enjoyable mobility experiences.
V Sunil, Design Thinker, Brand Architect, Co-Founder, Motherland, Founding Trustee, Kochi Biennale Foundation shared insights from his illustrious career in advertising and brand building. Speaking about the 'Make in India' campaign, which he described as 'almost like an industry revolution'. He emphasised the power of design, stating, "Can design influence a project like this? Can it influence the soft power of the country? Can it influence cultural diplomacy? In my view, yes. It can. But the thing is that with the right partnership and right collaborations, that's definitely possible."
Storytelling through Cinema
Storytelling through Cinema has always been an integral part of the Future of Design conference. In addition to the fact that it is an industry that generates a large amount of employment, it also has a profound impact on shaping cultural norms, influencing attitudes and behaviours.
In 2023, India's box office surged to a record-breaking Rs 12,226 crore, marking a remarkable 15 percent growth over the previous year and surpassing the 2019 peak of Rs 10,948 crore. This milestone underscores a seismic shift in the cinematic landscape, heralding an era of unprecedented creativity and commercial success.
This year, the conference had, Rajat Kapoor is an actor, filmmaker and playwright and a three-time National Award winner, first for his 26-minute non-feature documentary, Tarana, then for his short, Hypnothesis, and after that for Raghu Romeo in Best Feature Film in Hindi section. At the conference when asked how theatre and mainstream cinema differ, he said, "Both are completely different. Theatre and cinema have nothing in common except that they both use actors but in very different ways. In cinema, you create an image through how the camera moves and how the light falls and several other aspects. An actor is only a small part of the larger scheme of things. Theatre is really the medium of actors. Whatever you create on stage is through his body and voice. Without an actor, cinema may be possible, but not theatre."
Vijay Varma, an alumnus of prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, is a household name credited with acclaimed performances in films such as Pink, Gully Boy and Darlings among others. Additionally, his performance across several OTT series has been applauded by critics. On movies leading conversations on what is happening in society "It does put a magnifying glass, for sure. In Pink, for example, the whole idea of consent became a conversation at the dining table. Even with Darlings, the theme was about domestic abuse and women finding the power in themselves to battle it. Recently, Laapata Ladies and Dahaad did the same. The ones watching are receiving what they are supposed to receive. In a climate like that, if films can speak metaphorically and connect, it is good."
National Film Award Winner, Bishwadeep Chatterjee, Indian Film Sound Designer and Sound Editor, talking about changes in the Indian sound design landscape, explained, “Principally, Indian cinema has evolved at par with the West because of our colonial background. We have taken it in a different direction because of our history like theatre, nautanki and more. We have slowly developed our own language of cinema. Sound is 50 per cent of the cinema experience.”
Rahul Vohra, Actor, director and producer, has acted in many seminal films such as Kama Sutra - A Tale Of Love and Monsoon Wedding, and Swades. Talking about creating characters, Rahul Vohra, Actor and Director asserted, "Grasping the essence of the emotions that your character is feeling is essential. I research my character by observing life, I note little subtleties like someone's particular way of sitting or a unique twitch. Initially, you don't know where you're going to use these things but it's handy when the time comes."
Siddhant Chaturvedi, an Actor and a Youth Icon, from his breakout role as MC Sher in Gully Boy to his captivating performance in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, has consistently garnered critical acclaim. A powerful performer, Siddhant's unique blend of intensity, charisma, and authenticity has captivated audiences making him an inspiration to aspiring actors and a beloved figure among fans worldwide. His remarkable journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of staying true to oneself.
For Siddhant, success is not about fame or awards. It is about having the freedom to choose roles he wants to do. He sees failure and success as two sides of the same coin. True success for him, is exploring his full potential as an actor. "Every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow. As long as you can learn from your mistakes and try again, you'll never truly fail. And as someone wisely said, success is about bouncing back from failure after failure, without losing your enthusiasm," he said.