India Design Council appoints Anand Mahindra as President

New Delhi: Mr. Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the US $ 6.7 billion Mahindra Group, has been appointed President of the India Design Council (IDC) by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion). The India Design Council is a government appointed body and Mr. Mahindra’s tenure as President would be for three years.

In addition to Mr. Mahindra, the Council includes eminent names from various fields related to design, such as Mr. Akhil Succena of the National Institute of Design, Mr. William N. Bissell of Fab India and Technology – Design Specialist, Dr. Naushad Forbes. Representatives from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and from apex industry organizations including ASSOCHAM, CII and FICCI will also form part of the Council.

“Design has always been a key element of the overall production process, irrespective of industry or sector and the IDC can provide a suitable platform for Indian design to enhance its competitiveness on the global stage. I am sure the Council will also play an important role in fostering closer ties between industry and academia, and showcasing India’s rich design heritage, which is most apparent in our monuments and traditional textiles. I am delighted to be appointed President of this august body and look forward to my new role,” said Mr. Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra Group.

The major functions of the IDC include undertaking design awareness and effectiveness programmes both in India and overseas, undertaking R&D and strategy and impact studies, accrediting design institutions and developing standardised design syllabi, etc. for institutions imparting design related education. In addition to this, the Council will act as a platform for interaction with all stakeholders, conduct programmes for continuous evaluation and development of new design strategies and create and develop intellectual property in the area of design.

The Council will also encourage innovation amongst the Indian design fraternity by providing designers with access to global trends, market intelligence and technology for product development. It will also work towards promoting close cooperation between industry and academia to produce proprietary design know-how while encouraging creation of new design-led enterprises.