AND Academy, a fast-growing online design upskilling platform backed by the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD), hosted its third Alumni & Learners’ Meet- AND Social: One Community, Endless Possibilities on 20 Dec, from 11 am to 4 pm, in New Delhi. AND’s only in-person annual meet has been renewed for a third chapter and welcomed multiple big names from the design industry, alongside an insightful panel discussion, a convocation ceremony, and wrapping it all up with lunch.
The event’s panel discussion on “Where Design Careers are Headed: Skills, Roles and Trends” was moderated by Sakshi Jain, Head of Communication Design at IIAD, and saw participation from Rahul Saini, Chief Design Officer at Paytm, Akhil C., Creative Head at YAAP, and Harsh Vardhan Jain, Founding Partner & Principal Architect at Studio Juggernaut. The sharp, grounded conversation shed light on the realities of the industry, while covering audience questions on what’s changing, what’s staying, and what designers should build for the long run.
The event also saw attendance from several industry stalwarts, including Shiva Vishwanathan- Founder, CMO + Design Head at Catenate, Vaibhavi Kanad- Head of Business Development at SandCup Design Studio, Yash Sethia- Associate Design Director at Futurris, Vandana Saxena- Founder and Design Principal at Studio IV Designs, Aanchal Kheria- Senior HR Generalist at Buffalo Soldiers, and Sanjana Choudhari- Associate Head of Visual Design at Nicobar, among others.
AND Academy’s CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Jitin Chadha, spoke fondly of the event’s third chapter, saying, “Our vision for AND Academy is to make a profound impact on the lives of learners across the country. And, seeing so many of our alumni come out on a cold, winter morning to attend this event stands testimony to our success in this regard. AND Social was built to create room for practitioners, learners, and educators to exchange what’s actually shaping design today, not just what looks good on screens and slides. We hope to continue bringing together our learners, mentors, and industry leaders for this unforgettable day of learning, networking, and celebrating, every year to come.”
Aside from coming from a strong design pedigree, a key distinguishing characteristic of courses at AND Academy is the importance the institute places on bridging the growing employment gap in the country by equipping learners with essential technical skills. Career readiness in graduates is ensured through personalized career advice sessions on CV-building, interview guidance, and networking opportunities, which help learners seize key placement opportunities. The project-based pedagogy ensures that graduates have a market-ready portfolio, effectively showcasing their design expertise to recruiters. Additionally, the institute offers software training sessions alongside a broader design-oriented curriculum, ensuring that learners are well-equipped with industry standards upon completing the course.
The classes are conducted by faculty members who are industry experts and focus on engaging learners deeply through experiential and active learning. Robust assessments, external reviews, and guided portfolio-building round off a wholesome learning experience. At the moment, AND Academy offers courses in Graphic Design, UI UX Design, Interior Design, and Motion Graphics in various formats. Learners can choose from Certificate, Diploma, PG Diploma (Part-time), and PG Diploma (Full-time) programs, depending on their career aspirations. The stackability of these courses allows for seamless progression to advanced classes for those who wish to continue their learning journey. The duration of each course varies by discipline, typically ranging from 16 weeks to a year.
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