India Design Council (IDC)

India Design Council (IDC) is an autonomous body of Government of India established under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. In pursuance of the National Design Policy announced by the Government of India on 8^th January 2007, the Central Government constituted the India Design Council on 2^nd March 2009. It is a national strategic body for multi-disciplinary design and is involved in the promotion of design to ultimately make India a design enabled country.

Objectives of IDC

Design Awareness & Design Promotion

• Creating public awareness on quality design & its effectiveness: Use of design as strategic element for business excellence and as a key factor for innovation, to improve people's quality of life
• Promoting design awareness and effectiveness programs in private & public sectors -Country Based Brand Building - Design Promotion/ Exhibitions/ Conferences/ Seminars
• Promoting design as a tool for innovation, productivity and economic competitiveness in business and industry
• Encouraging micro, small & medium industries to follow the best design practices
• Promoting the concept of environment friendly designs and promote designers and industry to work towards environment friendly design

Design Development

• Promoting design investment in industry & research organizations - work towards tax benefits for design research
• Assisting industries in appreciating the importance of quality and effective design management in product manufacturing to upgrade market competitiveness
• Initiating educational institution - industry partnerships - to impart both design knowledge and business knowledge such as marketing/entrepreneurship
• Promoting best design practices & innovation in design - India Design Mark
• Encouraging design research and establish national grants for design research
• Building a common platform for integrating design resources of the government, the manufacturing, and academic circles
• Acting as a primary knowledge management body for design in India - integrate domestic cultural and creative design information, building a platform to share and exchange knowledge, exploring creativity - operate a design database
• Undertaking awareness programs in IPR in the design industry - provide workshops on intellectual property management and design

Positioning India as a Top Design Destination

• Setting up a museum/design centre to showcase the role of design in everyday life to visitors from India and abroad
• Building a smooth mechanism and channels of international cooperation, promoting exchange of Indian design and Indian designers

Design - A New Paradigm of Development

In the years to come, design has to and must become integral to the national competitiveness. Design is extremely important for the future of our nation. Design contributes significantly to our culture, environment, and economy. This needs to be recognized furthermore. Design has to be embraced in all sectors of public and corporate domains.

Design has evolved into a new paradigm of development. It has transformed from a tool to make aesthetically pleasing and desirable products to a key role player in business to stay competitive and also in people’s lives. It is a discipline that drives economic growth, shapes human interactions with objects and systems, and improves the quality of life people.

Design helps achieve product differentiation, save costs, realize greater efficiencies, create enduring brands, and present merchandize in a pleasant manner. Design not only makes economic sense but also balances environmental and social outcomes. The role of design as a transformational force in society, capable of providing the primary engine of growth for the nation is being recognized widely. It is time that our industry and businesses recognize this and embraces design as an integral part of the business eco-system. Companies must place design at the centre of their business strategy so as to gain and sustain competitive advantage in a global marketplace.

Programs and Initiatives

India Design Mark

India Design Council has initiated India Design Mark in 2012 cooperation with the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP). India Design Mark symbolizes product excellence in form, function, quality, safety, sustainability, and innovation and communicates that the product is usable, durable, aesthetically appealing & socially responsible. India Design Mark is a design standard, not a contest. It is granted to an applicant after following a diligent evaluation process aimed at identifying good design that exceeds the prescribed criteria of evaluation. India Design Mark is for everyone. Anyone, from global enterprises, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises or cottage industry, can apply for India Design Mark for their product offerings.

Design Education Quality Mark (DEQM)

The India Design Council determined to benchmark design education programs on pre-determined standards and to accord Design Education Quality Mark (DEQM) to institutions that meet the provisions of the published standard. The Quality Mark will help the students to choose the right design program from a wide choice, will help the prospective employers understand the standing of the design institute, and will communicate to the society about the adherence of Quality Code by the design institute.

Chartered Designers of India (CDI)

The Chartered Designers of India (CDI) is envisaged as an institution that will establish & uphold the professional standards of Design practice in India. The focus of Chartered Designers of India (CDI) is the "Professional Designer" identified by a design qualification and / or experience.    CDI will clearly identify a Professional Designer. The membership process will ensure a benchmark in which people, employers, policymakers can have the confidence & trust to employ the services of such professionals from within India and at a global level.

Related Links

• National Design Policy
• National Institute of Design (NID)
• Industrial Design Center (IDC), IIT Bombay

Source:  India Design Council (IDC)