Impressive Transdisciplinary, Solution-Oriented Projects of Young Minds on Display at Unique Exhibit
Bangalore, May 25th and 26th, 2024: The Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology (SMI) hosted the SMI Collective 2024, a grand exhibition featuring over 150 thesis and capstone projects from the Class of 2024. This event, held at the MAHE SMI campus, showcased the diverse talents of more than 500 students from undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Known for its innovative interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary project-based learning, SMI Collective served as a culmination of the students’ academic journey. The exhibition included projects from the four-year BDes & BFA programs, the three-year industry-focused Undergraduate Skill-based Vocational Program, the two-year Post Graduate Programme, and the one-year Post Graduate Diploma Programme (PGDP).
“The interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary thesis projects situated in real-world environments equip aspiring professionals in design, art, and technology for meaningful roles in a dynamic and unpredictable yet creatively inspiring professional future,” said Dr. Arindam Das, Director of SMI. “At SMI, the process matters as much as the outcome. Our students have challenged themselves to arrive at innovative expressions that demonstrate conceptual and technical skills. We are delighted to celebrate the collective accomplishments of our students as they prepare to forge their unique futures.”
The BDes & BFA Program projects responded to diverse design briefs, covering themes such as mental health, ecology and environment conservation, smart appliances, and circular economy business models. These projects showcased the students’ creative evolution, confidence, and ability to transcend disciplinary boundaries.
The BVOC Programme’s Capstone Projects were industry-based, developed within real-world production pipelines. These projects highlighted students’ skills in research, design processes, ideation, prototyping, making, and testing, gained through collaboration with various businesses, including interior design firms, filmmaking, advertising and branding agencies, magazines, and government and social organizations.
Post Graduate Programme students presented projects that reflected their immersion in real-world problems within their chosen fields of art and design. These culminated in creative artifacts supported by scholarly exegesis or dissertations.
The PGDP exhibits revolved around the theme of ‘Crossing Over,’ showcasing how students navigated this concept over two semesters. These projects encouraged visitors to explore the students’ journeys through reflections on identity, relationships, and action, presented in sections like with-for, within-without, and-but, and from-towards, all emerging from a deeply immersive process.
The SMI Collective 2024 celebrated the innovative and interdisciplinary spirit of SMI students, preparing them for dynamic futures in the art, design, and technology sectors.
