Mumbai, The India Design Council recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization (JIDPO) for collaboration, education and development of design skills in both countries. The MoU which was signed by Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman, India Design Council, Mr. Pradyumna Vyas, Member Secretary, India Design Council and Mr. Asaka Takeshi, Executive Manager, JIDPO, will help the India Design Council evolve a design evaluation and recommendation system for the India Design Mark, as well as facilitate mutual cooperation and training.

By encouraging close cooperation between India and Japan in the sphere of design, this MoU will play an important role in enhancing the competitiveness of Indian design on the global stage. The introduction of the India Design Mark will also help raise the standard of Indian designed products as it will function as a mark of quality assurance, said Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman, India Design Council.

We are delighted to partner with the India Design Council as it will help foster closer ties between both countries. Both India and Japan have a rich design heritage going back several centuries and this MoU will not only encourage greater collaboration between us but will also lead to exchange of technological know how and skills which will be mutually beneficial for both parties, said Mr. Asaka Takeshi, Executive Manager, Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization.

At the international level, both parties will cooperate regarding ideas, principles and philosophies, particularly related to design promotion, development, education and training. JIDPO and the India Design Council will promote links between their respective national and local organizations, as well as encourage them to organize and implement joint programmes.

As per the MoU, both JIDPO and India Design Council will also help each other foray into new areas, strengthen each others promoting design and draft and implement growth and development strategies. Education and training for youth on leadership and business issues will also be an integral part of the agreement. This also includes promotion of design through cross-cultural communication and training and development of management skills. The focus here will be on design, project management, communications, design leadership development, amongst other areas.

Mr. Anand Mahindra, the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Mahindra Group, was appointed President of the India Design Council in 2009.

The India Design Council is a government appointed body and its major functions 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 acts as a platform for interaction with all stakeholders, conducts programmes for continuous evaluation and development of new design strategies and creates and develops intellectual property in the area of design.

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


Notes to Editor

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