Beaconhouse National University (BNU)

First Edition of Design Summit Unveiled Intricacies of Design Discourse in Lahore On March 12, 2024, The Design Summit Lahore 01, a pioneering event poised to unravel the intricacies of design discourse in Pakistan and the Global South, was held at the historic Walled City of Lahore and BNU Campus from March 7 to 13, 2024, as part of BNU’s 20th-anniversary celebrations. Hosted by the Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts and Design (MDSVAD) at Beaconhouse National University (BNU), in collaboration with Rhode Island School of Design and the Punjab Walled City Authority, this groundbreaking summit showcased diverse facets of design through exhibitions, conversations, projects, and pavilions. Under the theme “Everything that has been designed or will be designed is being designed right now,” coined by Prof. Ijlal Muzaffar of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), the Design Summit fostered a rich and expansive dialogue on design. It brought together international speakers, design academics, practitioners, and visionaries who delve into conversations surrounding the themes: ‘Artificial and Other Intelligences’, ‘Planetary Geographies’, ‘Design as Translation’ and ‘Designing Pakistan’. The Conversations segment was Powered by Lead Sponsor JS BANK and their digital arm JS Zindagi. Other key aspects of the summit included the Simultaneity as Design: Pakistan and Beyond- Exhibition, that showcased a curated display of works at the Royal Kitchen, sponsored by Co Lead Sponsor i2c Inc., and Patron / Cultural Partner German Embassy to Pakistan and the Materiality as Design; Envisioning Space Through Time- Pavilions exhibition that inspired audiences with their large-scale installations, sponsored by Meraj Housing Society. Additionally, the Spontaneity as Design; Jugaar and the City - Projects showcased at the Delhi Gate presented a critical re-examination of the notion of ‘Jugaar’ through real-life interventions. Sponsored by Cultural Partners British Council with some projects supported by Anne-Marie Schimmel Haus (German Culture Centre Lahore). The grand finale of the summit was held at the BNU Tarogil campus, witnessing participant engagement in hackathons, workshops and unique segments such as Sound and Performance as Design. The night concluded with the Food as Design segment led by Hashoo Group.