Inside AOD with Thanushka Wijesinghe : An insider’s view of what it’s like to study design at uni

08 Nov 2020

Inside AOD with Thanushka Wijesinghe : An insider’s view of what it’s like to study design at uni

08 Nov 2020

By Patrick de Kretser ---- Art and design studies ranks at the top of the popularity charts amongst most liberal art students these days. And in Sri Lanka, one of the best places to go to continue your pursuit of a future as a specialist in design is none other than the Academy of Design (AOD). AOD is an incredibly diverse university that offers you the chance to learn everything from fashion to animation design, taught by a faculty of incredibly talented and well-educated designers who have experience and expertise in all things creative. These days, it can be incredibly hard to narrow down your options for further studies with the selections that you have available for you. Of course, I myself am no expert on design studies, and therefore I certainly cannot give you the answer you are looking for. Luckily, that is why I have a trusty friend of mine to explain the ins and outs of AOD based upon his own experiences studying there. Thanushka Wijesinghe is an incredibly talented individual who is a graduate from Royal College in Colombo. As an individual who possesses a myriad of talents in various fields ranging from event planning to creative design, it is no surprise that he found himself studying at AOD at some point. I first met Thanushka during a Model United Nations (MUN) conference back in the start of 2018. At that time, we were both members of the Ex-Co for Colombo Model United Nations (COMUN) which gave us the opportunity to get to know each other better. Thanushka previously spent four years working in the event management industry where he bolstered his skillset in both creativity and leadership. He currently works there only part-time as he has invested more time into his design studies. I decided to interview Thanushka about his time at AOD since he recently started it this year, in the hopes that he would provide some useful insight for any prospective fashion or design students out there who want to learn a little bit about what it is like studying at AOD. Where did you do your studies? What was your main interest growing up? I did my studies at Royal College, Colombo. Growing up, I was interested in so many things outside the classroom rather than inside one. My interests varied from sketching to taking part in community activities such as Model United Nations. I was always more of a guy who likes to move around and take part in different activities rather than just stay in one place. What hobbies interested you the most outside of design? Outside design, I am a keen fan of sports. Some of the sports I like to watch during my free time include rugby, basketball, rowing, MMA (mixed martial arts), and American football. Also, I love to help people a lot and I always find pleasure in doing something that helps someone else’s day get a little bit better. You're an AOD student now. What interested you most about studying there? I would say the atmosphere at AOD lured me there. It allows us to think differently and gives us an opportunity to be as creative as we want. For example, inside AOD, there are no right or wrong answers; merely different perspectives. That to me is what makes AOD stand out as a design school. There is also a diverse group of university students who are very accommodating and welcoming. I quickly found myself making a lot of friends while I was there, which is a huge plus for me. What is it like at AOD? Did it meet your expectations or was it different to what you imagined it would be like? It was more than what I expected, actually. It is hard to explain, but the only way I can define it is that AOD is actually my second home, because inside AOD, we are both physically and mentally comfortable and surrounded by openness and appreciation like what we would find in our own homes. What are the challenges of studying design? What kind of skills are needed for the task? I would say the trick to studying at AOD rests in being capable of creative and innovative thinking. Being an independent thinker is the key to being able to design anything yourself, along with being passionate for what you want to pursue like you would for any other field. If that ticks all your boxes, then you should not have much trouble studying design at AOD. How has the coronavirus pandemic affected your studies and how have you adapted? Due to social distancing guidelines, we currently cannot physically go to college and it is not easy to stay at home and do the work because you are stuck in one place for long periods of time. The guidance we get from the lecturers is really appreciated and they really motivate us to be productive as well. Being creative requires more than just staring at a computer screen at home hoping to think up something and the lecturers do a great job in trying to make what we do more interesting and immersive. What are your future goals? I actually have a lot of things I want to do. To touch on them a bit, one of the main things I have wanted to do is start my own fashion brand. Since you have to study in a field that depends on your ability to be creative, it is no surprise that I wanted to eventually create my own fashion brand so that I can truly let my own imagination run wild. In addition, one of the specific areas I feel keen on exploring in the future is movie costume design, which is a field that has always intrigued me. What would be your main bit of advice to aspiring design students who want to follow in your footsteps and study at design school? I would say you should make sure you know you want to do design before you embark on your journey in design school. If you are not sure yet about what you want to do, then try to take the time to think it through. The important thing is to do whatever you are passionate about and not just do it because someone else told you to or because all your friends are doing it as well. Finally, I would say that you should never be scared to fail. Whether you fail at designing something during a project or whether you fail at something outside the classroom, you need to remember that failing is a part of life and you should never let it deter you from pursuing something you want to pursue. PHOTOS Thanushka Wijesinghe

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Inside AOD with Thanushka Wijesinghe : An insider’s view of what it’s like to study design at uni

Inside AOD with Thanushka Wijesinghe : An insider’s view of what it’s like to study design at uni

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