Thiruvananthapuram’s Designers’ Community, a unique collective dedicated to enhancing design literacy, is celebrating its seventh anniversary. The community has become a hub for creative professionals from diverse fields, fostering collaboration and innovation.
At its core, the community advocates for “design literacy,” a concept that transcends aesthetics and explores the broader impact of design on various aspects of life. According to Justin Ahren, an American design strategist, kerning—the process of adjusting spaces between letters in typography—serves as both a technical skill and a metaphor for creating space for creativity in one’s life. The Designers’ Community, founded by Abrar Ali, embraces this philosophy, seeing design not just as an art form, but as an essential framework for shaping a better world.
Founded as a co-working space in a century-old building in Vazhuthacaud, the community has grown to include over 250 members. Its members range from architects and graphic designers to psychologists and entrepreneurs, all drawn to the community’s interdisciplinary approach to design. “We call this our ‘third place,’ the space between home and the workplace,” explains Ali.
The community’s influence extends beyond traditional design fields, incorporating design thinking into policy, finance, and strategy. Ali emphasizes that improved design literacy can help policymakers recognize the value of design in decision-making, ultimately leading to better outcomes in various sectors. “A well-executed financial design, for example, can yield significant returns,” he notes.
The Designers’ Community prides itself on being a “community of communities,” with various sub-groups emerging under its umbrella. These include ‘Mattam,’ a sustainability initiative; ‘Beyond 7,’ a music-oriented community; ‘Neythu,’ which focuses on fashion; ‘Dying Art,’ dedicated to film and media; and ‘Olam,’ a space for entrepreneurs. “Our mandate is to support the growth of other collectives,” says Ali. “We have seen individuals join the community and grow into thriving groups.”
A standout feature of the community is its inclusive, judgment-free environment, where members are encouraged to challenge each other’s perspectives and engage in thought-provoking activities. One such activity is the “Sketch Walk,” held twice a month, where members explore local spaces and interpret them through their own design lenses. “These sessions offer invaluable insights, helping members learn from one another’s diverse approaches to design,” says Ali.
The community also hosts events like “Charcha,” which provides a platform for open discussions on various topics, from the need for financial design to seemingly light-hearted debates on the design of women’s clothing. “Modern problems require modern solutions, and we believe design thinking can offer new approaches to these challenges,” Ali explains.
Looking ahead, the Designers’ Community plans to organize a design festival that will bring together experts, enthusiasts, and learners to present and explore ideas, including policy-driven design solutions for urban planning. “Everything in this world is designed,” says Ali with a smile, summarizing the collective’s vision for a more design-literate world.
The Designers’ Community continues to grow and inspire, encouraging a broad understanding of design’s power to shape not just the visual world, but also the social, political, and economic landscapes around us.
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