Designed for excellence

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

Northumbria University in partnership with the Academy of Design (AOD) conferred design degrees to 70 young designers who accomplished the world renowned Northumbria University School of Design Degree in Sri Lanka.

"Your attitude and innovation is second to none. You are the best of what your country has to offer to the world. You have worked hard and you have made sacrifices. Through your lecturers and tutors you have become increasingly independent and you can trust your own judgment. You can trust your instincts. In short you are fully fledged designers," Northumbria University School of Design Dean Professor Steven Kyffin said.

In her address AOD Founder and Managing Director Linda Speldewinde called the graduation the end of a journey and the beginning of another. Calling the Degree program offered by Northumbria University School of Design, 'world renowned', Speldewinde also called the three to four year course a 'process' that gives confidence and accomplishment.

This degree means that a student can fully complete an international BA Honors in Design without leaving the shores of Sri Lanka. This is the first British Design Degree to be awarded in Sri Lanka. It is not only a first in Sri Lanka but also a first for South Asia. Furthermore, they are on par with any international designer they choose to work alongside with.

"Education is the greatest gift that anyone can give you. Graduates, this school from which you are graduating from today, is a world recognized designing school. It is in the top 20 international list and the top five in Europe. It is a school, that par excellence, winning award after award internationally. It is also the largest university in the North East of England, the biggest UK education provider in Hong Kong," Linda further added. "We have created a great role in building the infrastructure of design education in Sri Lanka. We at AOD strongly believe we need to share the knowledge that we create at the academy with the rest of the country," Linda stated.

While the rest of the world talks about sustainability, we in Sri Lanka are already practicing these concepts: social sustainability and environmental sustainability.

As a result of this our young designers and graduates belong to an age where designers are aesthetically sensitive, ecologically aware and environmentally and socially sustainable.

"These young designers care about others, care to contribute to the world we live in, the planet, rather than destroying it. This is the beginning of a very visionary picture to make Sri Lanka the hub of South Asian Education," pointed out Linda.

Professor Steven Kyffin in his message said that AOD and Northumbria University share a common goal - making the world a better place to live in and to shape self confident designers who have a clear vision of what they want to be and the skills and know-how to make it happen.

Kyffin added that AOD and Northumbria also share a common approach to design education. It is important for designers to have a personal point of view, because the way you work now leads to the looks of the future.

"You 70 young graduates are living proof of the benefits of this partnership. As graduates of Northumbria University, you have a cause to be proud. Northumbria is a world class university with a significant global presence - such as here in Sri Lanka. You are now members of a growing international community of Northumbria School of Design graduates," declared Kyffin.