Dankotuwa Porcelain collaborates with AOD for novel design opportunities

• DPL partners with AOD’s ‘Design for Export and Local’ initiative 
• It is the first time that AOD partners with the porcelain giant for an initiative of this nature

Dankotuwa Porcelain Chief Executive Officer Channa Gunawardana

Academy of Design Chairperson Linda Speldewinde

Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC (DPL), renowned for its luxurious and elegant porcelain tableware, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Academy of Design (AOD) to create a series of novel and

spectacular design opportunities, opening the industry to new realms of creativity. 

‘The Designer’, a design competition initiated by Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC in collaboration with AOD expects to elevate its world-class design capabilities, broadening the exposure of design students to new industries, widening opportunities and creating new pathways for design and concept development. Dankotuwa Porcelain continues to work with many international designers and the key reason behind this collaboration was to initiate the involvement of local designers, thus providing local students with the opportunity to have a hands-on experience and gain knowledge about the porcelain industry under the guidance and expertise of the company. 

This collaboration will give design students an opportunity to be exposed to the product design aspect in the tableware industry and thereby grant them an insight into the real business world where the mettle of their skills will be put to the test. 

Known for its long-storied culture of innovation which goes back many years, Dankotuwa is proud to partner up with AOD to not only groom the next generation of designers but to also introduce new products to the market,” stated Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC Chief Executive Officer Channa Gunawardana. “Through this initiative, the valued customers and stakeholders of Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC can now look forward to the launch of creative and innovative designs and products being unveiled continually over the coming months, which will keep exciting and inspiring our loyal fan base and the local industry as a whole,” Gunawardana concluded. 

AOD’s current agenda is driving design innovation and is passionate about entering into new industries that can benefit from talent and intervention in this area. They are keen to support the development of the export industry of the country through this input. AOD has created a unique ecosystem to deliver to this and along with its latest initiative ‘Design for exports’, has really leveraged design to increase exports. This industry partnership will help AOD designers to explore a new sector. AOD intends to extend industry collaboration opportunities such as this to its network of design alumni thus bringing in benefits to both the industry and AOD designers. 

Academy of Design Chairperson Linda Speldewinde said, “Design and innovation has a key role to play in supporting industries up the value chain and into a new design led world we see the commercial space moving towards. AOD prides itself on creating designers that create impact and can contribute towards creating economic value whether it be to companies, products, or towards national and macro initiatives. We are pleased to associate with Dankotuwa through this new initiative and to work with a new industry and sector. We hope that this industry collaboration with AOD Designers will grow further. We are thankful to Dankotuwa Porcelain for giving the opportunity to local designers to share their creativity and design and invite other industries to connect with designers as well.”

As dynamic organisations, Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC and AOD, understand that design is an essential component of every industry, and encourages collaborations of this nature which will grant industries access to fresh design talent while designers will have the opportunity to build and establish long term relationships with brands and clients supporting their work, making it mutually beneficial to all those involved. 

Looking at elevating product design, the competition will enable AOD and alumni to submit their designs based on porcelain products including innovative shapes, decals and designs for evaluation and a winner will be selected accordingly. Dankotuwa Porcelain would provide a competition orientation for the participants which would include present and future trends, industry and market movement, consumer insights, technical aspects and other areas to create a holistic experience.