MUMBAI: Held over a period of three days (11 - 13 September), the ninth edition of Kyoorius Designyatra concluded on a thought-provoking and inspiring note. Over the three days, the conference was a hive of creativity that sparked new ideas amongst the best creative minds from across the globe. The 1520 delegates from 18 countries contributed to a diverse, eclectic atmosphere in Goa.
Kyoorius founder CEO Rajesh Kejriwal said, “It’s exciting to see almost nine months of planning come to fruition. This year we brought together a group of divergent thinkers to encourage cross-pollination between people from different countries and disciplines. No matter your background or professional experience, each delegate left Designyatra thoroughly inspired. At Kyoorius, we hope that delegates will go back looking at their work with fresh eyes and take more chances to step out of their comfort zone.”
The day kickstarted with Moving Brands CEO Mat Heinl speaking on creativity in a moving world and the need for brands to . Todd Rovak talked about Fahrenheit 212’s ideology of combining money and magic to create transformational growth and innovation for their clients. Hakuhodo’s Morihiko Hasebe emphasised that agencies need to evolve and explore possibilities beyond advertising. Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv co-founder Ivan Chermayeff, offered the audience insights into some of his iconic, timeless identities, many of which are still in use; he ended his talk advising young designers to make things which are simple, memorable and appropriate. Holly Hall highlighted D&AD’s educational programmes, funded by its widely celebrated and extremely selective awards programme and the importance of giving back to the international creative community. For Ajaz Ahmed of AKQA, more than technology, imagination is the most powerful thing in the world. Liam Paton and Nathan Prince of Silent Studios wowed audiences, merging motion and sound to create immersive experiences for a number of brands.
Interactions at Kyoorius Designyatra were not limited to the stage but also occurred during smaller, intimate breakout sessions, allowing for more in-depth knowledge sharing in an informal environment. Over the three days, hands-on sessions were conducted by professional experts, including one on law and intellectual property for designers by Kushagra Shah, a participative workshop on creative ways to ideate by Hyper Island’s Maria Eriksson. Students and young designers also had the opportunity to show their portfolios and gain insights from the who’s who of the industry.
The Kyoorius Designyatra was also pledged to be a carbon neutral event, partnering with Greening Advertising and Media Entertainment to calculate and offset its carbon footprint.