DOT School of Design brought Tamil Nadu's design community
together at IITM Research Park Auditorium on Friday, 19th June 2026 evening for
Design Confluence 2026, the state's largest design graduation showcase. The
third edition of the annual event saw 100+ designers receive their course
completion certificates across five disciplines: Fashion Design, Communication
Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and the BFA Visual Arts programme,
before an audience of ministers, industry leaders, and creative professionals.
The evening welcomed
Minister for Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi Vijay Balaji as chief guest, joined
by Mr. Sudhir Sharma, Founder of Indi Design, Design India and India's Best
Design Awards, Mr. Senthil Ramesh A, Secretary & Correspondent of SBIOA
Educational Trust, and Gp Capt. R. Vijayakumar, Executive Director of Madras
Management Association. Over 50 design leaders and industry practitioners were
present across the evening.
Addressing the
gathering, Minister Vijay Balaji announced that the Tamil Nadu government would
procure designs created by students of DOT School of Design, marking a
significant step in bridging design education and public sector application.
The Display Showcase
featured over 200 student works across two parallel exhibition halls, spanning
identity systems, spatial interventions, material explorations, and speculative
industrial design. The Fashion Design cohort presented a live runway at
Spotlight '26, with 25 graduating students drawing sustained applause from the
audience.
The evening also
honoured Design Chair and legendary designer Balaram Singanapalli with the
Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented on stage in the presence of
Alexander Dodonov, Director, Vice Consul General of Russia, R.B. Bhaskaran,
former Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi, and Ramesh, Managing Director of Pothys
recognising Balaram's lifelong contribution to design education and practice in
India.
Themed Maatram, meaning
Change in Tamil, the event positioned each graduating student's body of work as
evidence of a design education built on rigour, independent thinking, and
real-world application. Five disciplines, one graduating class, and a single
evening that made the case for Chennai's growing stature in India's design
landscape.
"Design at DOT is rooted in social
responsiveness, work that gives back to the people and communities it touches,"
said Dr. AR R
Raammnath, Chairman, DOT School of Design. "Graduating designers carry with them a
conviction that design belongs to the common person."
Now in its third
consecutive year, Design Confluence has widened its reach and deepened its
industry presence with each edition, cementing DOT School of Design's standing
as Tamil Nadu's leading design institution.
About DOT School of
Design
DOT School of Design
(dotsod.in) is Chennai’s exclusive design college offering undergraduate and
postgraduate programmes in Fashion Design, Communication Design, Industrial
Design, and Interior Design.
Visit: www.dotsod.in for more details about
the Institute.
