IDeaZ ends on a high note!

The last day of the two-day IDeaZ design conference ended on a smooth note today, drawing high praise from every audience member present.

The itinerary for the day opened with a speech from an industry professional, who interacted with students as he took them on an interesting journey into the rapidly developing world of paints. The presentation was delivered by Mr. Manoj Ibrahim of Leigh Paints, who spoke of flame retardant paint coatings and its impact on interiors. Students learnt how these paints reduced the rate at which materials, especially steel structures, caught fire for an hour or two – which could well be the difference between life and death.

The talk was followed by presentations from five students at both Bachelors and Masters level, wherein they showcased the work they’d done the past semester. These presentations were an eye-opener to students in terms of presentation style and the importance of taking their work one step further by learning how to explain their concepts.

Mr. Manoj Ibrahim of Leighs Paints during his presentation. Photo by Anusha P.

The much-awaited prize distribution took place in the afternoon where faculty and students alike were felicitated for their achievements and contributions to the department. Among those honoured were the Visual Communication students of the Department of Media & Communication, led by their professor Mr. Sabir Haque, for their role as creators of the IDeaZ magazine.

By the close of the conference, it was evident that both parents and faculty were equally impressed with the amount of time and effort that had been put into the works showcased. As one parent Ms. Latha Venkatraman put it, "To be able to create ideas and design them into this final product the way these students do, is a truly amazing thing indeed. The conference was interesting and I appreciate the work the students put in." Other parents were unified in their opinion that the conference was "very well-organized".

Mr. Ashok Iyer mentioned in his closing notes that they hoped to make the IDeaz design conference an annual event. In light of this, Ms. Latha also had a few suggestions. "I think there's always plenty of room for improvement. For instance, I felt that the students would've done better to give more emphasis to the design aspect of their presentations than anything else. They could work on their presentation skills, such as their rapport with the audience and being more precise. With practice, they'd be great presenters too, which is very important."

Students listen intently to presentations by fellow classmates. Photo by Anusha P.

Lunch might have been the most… ‘full-filling’ highlight that sealed off the event for some. At the same time, it was an ideal opportunity for everyone to mingle, meet and strike up engaging debates.

With the positive feedback so received, we can indeed expect the Department of Interior Design to be back with a bang this time, next year, too. Conferences and exhibitions are hardly easy feats to pull off – successful ones, that is. But as students were reminded today, when strong team work is involved, the result is evident in the final output - and in this case, the IDeaZ design conference was without a doubt, tagged "Success"!