India Design Forum (IDF) held their first event in Sri Lanka on 18 October, 2018. India Design Forum was initiated as a comprehensive design conference in 2012 to cater to all disciplines of design. [gallery link="file" size="full" columns="2" ids="10015,10016,10017,10018,10019,10020,10021,10023,10024"] It was the first South Asian organisation that was intended to offer a global dialog on design, and it has gained the reputation as India's most esteemed design platform. The IDF provides an important platform to top figures of the industry, professionals, and budding designers to interact with their counterparts from across the world. It has been held in New Delhi and Mumbai. where it has welcomed some of the most globally cherished international design personalities. The IDF has been recognised as a pioneer in design by the Indian Government, and has been invited to anchor the Make in India Week in 2016 in Mumbai. Further, IDF was invited to represent India at the inaugural London Design Biennale in 2016, and has recently been selected, with the Government of Telangana (India), to host the 2019 World Design Assembly (WDO). IDF Colombo IDF Colombo was held at the former offices of the celebrated Sri Lankan architect – the late Geoffrey Bawa (Gallery Café), and the event included a series of informative, yet interesting discussions with a selected group of distinguished international design personalities including the unique inventor, creator, architect, designer, and artistic director Philippe Starck, who was honoured with the lifetime achievement award at the event. A deep dive into design After a welcome address by INF and INF Singapore Founder/Director Rajshree Pathy, the sessions kicked in. The speakers for the evening were: Team Architrave Principal Madura Prematilleke, Writer, Curator, and Honorary RIBA Fellow Vicky Richardson, London Design Biennale Director and V&A Director of Architecture and Design Christopher Turner, ANL Associates Principal Architect Abha Narain Lambah, Gensler Architecture Vic Froglia, PR fashion boutique Owner/Curator Annika Fernando, Bodice Creative Director Ruchika Sachdeva, Colombo Fashion Week Founder Ajai Vir Singh, and India Design Forum and IDF Singapore Founder/Director Rajshree Pathy. While the event was mostly focused on architecture and its past and future, Ruchika Sachdeva and Ajai Vir Singh involved in a panel discussion on the ‘Contemporary South Asian Fashion Design’. The man of the hour The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Philippe Starck by State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne. Philippe Starck is a globally acclaimed French designer and architect. His profound understanding of modern fusions, his dedication to make the world a better place, his proactive concern for the environment, his passion to preserve the aptitude of usefulness – and the usefulness of aptitude – have accompanied one incredible creation after another. From lemon squeezers, to revolutionary mega-yachts, he has converted his vision into a reality. He is a force to reckon with, who considers it his sole duty to share vision of a fairer planet with the rest of the world. Following the presenting of the award, Starck addressed the gathering. His speech was focused on creativity in life, and how ideas can change lives. Giving a little bit of wisdom to his fellow designers, he said “my only talent is management of concentration.” The perfect ending An extremely successful and meaningful design event came to an end with the best way it should; a Fashion Show! Curated by PR [fashion] Concept Store Owner/Curator Annika Feranando, the fashion show showcased a series of trendy styles. By Pujanee Galappaththi Photos Indika Handuwala