The Hindu Business Line : Six MoUs signed with Dutch design houses

Pune, Feb. 11 Indian and Dutch design houses signed six independent memorandums of understanding at the inaugural session of the 8th CII-NID Summit held today as part of the week-long India Design Festival under way here.

The agreements signed were between Vyas Gianetti Creative (VGC) and Holland-based graphic design studio LAVA, VGC with Flex Innovation Lab, Kyoorius Exchange with IDIS, Elephant Design with NPK, Association of Dutch Designers (BNO) with Kyoorius Exchange and ElephantVersity with Faculty of Industrial Design.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Henri Christiaans, Associate Professor, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, said that governments should be stimulated to invest more in design. “A visible change in design is that it is shifting focus from expert mindset to participatory mindset. Customer focus is gaining more importance,” he said.

Mr Frank Hemskerk, Minister for Foreign Trade, Government of the Netherlands, said design was about improving the public space, strengthening the economy and quality of life. “It should be functional, sustainable and affordable,” he said, and citing the example of the Tata Nano, he added that design should address the needs of the middle class.

Design collaboration

Mr Peter Kersten from BNO (The Association of Dutch Designers) said there were ample opportunities for design collaboration between India and the Netherlands. Amongst the areas he identified were packaging design, interactive design, industrial design, information design and special design (museum, cafes).

“Setting up an apex association like an India Design Council will help,” he felt.

The India Dutch Design collaboration will move ahead next year with exchange of faculty members and thematic courses. Development design management courses at appropriate Indian Schools and Design Exhibitions in both the countries are also on agenda.