‘Design Yatra’ by IIID to visit Kozhikode to Encourage Engagement with Local Communities

In a move to spread awareness and take designs to the masses, the Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID) launched India’s first ‘Design Yatra’, in Kozhikode for three days beginning November 4 till November 6, 2016.

In 2016, the Yatra was launched on 20 February and was scheduled to travel to 29 cities across the country up till February 2017 covering around 15,000 km.

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Highlights of the Design Yatra by IIID:

• Various competitions
• Heritage walk
• Talks and interaction with students

Members also visited different places to give design inputs to make specific locations as well as public places in the city more user-friendly.

One of the members of the Yatra said that consumer goods are increasingly getting designed, whereas interior and residential designs, that are new to India, are yet to catch up in a big way. There is a vast scope for interior designers in this area. But the good news is that public spaces like metros, malls, and airports are transforming. Even the consumer products like bikes, automobiles, musical instruments are designed nicely."

Jabeen L Zacharias, an architect, and IIID National Secretary said that they have decided to take the design to the cities. He mentioned that only design can change the way people look at cities and its problems. The aim of the Yatra is to engage with local communities.

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While Babu Cherian who is also an architect, and IIID Chairman of the Kerala Chapter, said that the rally was aimed at inspiring people to design schools, houses, public places and hospitals in such a way that they present the local culture and heritage organically; consider the convenience of people and finally save the environment.

He also said that IIID has played a crucial role in shaping India's design policies and trends in the right direction. The Design Yatra will proceed to Karnataka on 11 November, 2016 after visiting Thrissur, Kottayam Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram.