About us – Bhubaneswar Design Week

Our Story

A Vision From
Odisha To Nation

From Bauhaus to Bharat to Odisha. Design is not just about aesthetics—it is about purpose, transformation, and nation-building.

With the launch of Bhubaneswar Design Week (BDW), curated by the Odisha Design Council (ODC), we envision a platform that brings global design thinking into the heart of Eastern India—Odisha.

BDW is a renewed and evolved edition of Odisha Design Week, which previously celebrated the creative energy of the region. This time, the scale is bigger, the purpose is deeper, and the reach is national

Why Bhubaneshwar ? Why Now ?

Bhubaneswar is already recognized as a Smart City, an education and IT hub, and the cultural capital of Odisha. But its creative potential remains untapped. BDW is designed to activate this potential through:

• Dialogue between Crafts and code (AI)

• Design Innovation for Mining, Manufacturing, and Infrastructure

• Showcasing Odisha’s rich Heritage in Textiles, Pottery, and Temple Architecture.

• Nurturing a Future-ready, Design-led Creative Economy

Aligned With
Prime Minister's Vision

BDW echoes Hon’ble Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi’s campaign for Make in India, Design in India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat. With a powerful theme like “From Bauhaus to Bharat to Odisha”, BDW intends to create.

• New job opportunities through creative industries

• Startup and innovation support for design led ventures

• Design education and skilling for youth in Tier 2/3 cities

• Women-led design initiatives in crafts, tech, and sustainability (Mission Shakti)

More Than An Event,
Its a Movement

BDW is not a one-time celebration. It will :

• Inspire policy-level thinking for Design in Government

• Attract national and international designers to engage with local stakeholders

• Build capacity in Odisha for Design for Public Good

• Forge strong networks between academia, industry, and governance

Global Inspiration
Local Action

Around the world, design weeks have become transformative platforms, from the London Design Festival, Dubai Design Week, and Dutch Design Week, to India’s own Goa Design Yatra, Kochi Design Week, Hyderabad Design Week, Ahmedabad Design Week, and Pune Design Festival. Each of these celebrates the role of design in shaping creative economies, cities, and cultural identities. If Dubai and Bangalore can do it, so can Bhubaneswar.

People Who Will Be There

• Design & IT Professionals
• Policy Makers
• Startups & Innovators
• Students - Design, Engineering, Architecture, Arts, Managements
• Craftspeople & Women Entrepreneurs
• Global Design Thinkers And Academicians
• Artists & Media people
• Institutes, Investors & Business People

A Glimpse From Previous ODC Events

The previous edition of Odisha Design Week witnessed the participation of over 35 renowned designers, educators, researchers, and professionals from across India and the world. From internationally acclaimed studios to homegrown innovators, the event hosted multi-disciplinary voices that inspired and ignited Odisha’s creative landscape.

The event earned national recognition by Design India Show, featured in the Design Next Yearbook, and was appreciated for its thematic depth, inclusivity, and curatorial excellence.

From rural crafts to futuristic UX, from type design to social innovation—ODW emerged as a confluence of design thought and grassroots energy. It laid the foundation for what will now evolve into Bhubaneswar Design Week (BDW) at a national scale.

The Curator & His Legacy

Paresh Choudhury is an internationally acclaimed designer, educator, and branding expert with over 30 years of global experience. He has led design for iconic brands like Coca-Cola, Rolex, Microsoft, and Star Sports at top agencies including TBWA, Ogilvy, and McCann.

A former Professor and Head at NID Ahmedabad/AP, and an alumnus of University of the Arts London, he has mentored over 1000 students and shaped 3000+ branding projects across India. He is a well-known and respected figure within the Indian design community and a member of Association of Designers of India (ADI) and a member of Design Principles & Practices, US.

Paresh has represented India at leading global platforms such as ATypI - Amsterdam, DPP -Chicago, Hong Kong, Pratt Institute (New York), and UX-India. His research on Odia Typography positioned the Odia script on the global Typographic map, celebrating it as one of India’s oldest and most culturally rich scripts.

As Founder–Chairman of ODC, he now curates Bhubaneswar Design Week, envisioning Odisha as a global hub for design, innovation, and cultural identity.

Let's Co-Create The Future

Bhubaneswar Design Week (BDW) is more than an event — it is a strategic platform to position Odisha at the intersection of design, innovation, culture, and economic transformation. Rooted in our local identity and aligned with global aspirations, BDW brings together policymakers, designers, educators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to reimagine how design can serve the public good.

We invite the Government of Odisha to lead from the front, public or private institutions, and forward-thinking partners to collaborate with us in building this vision. Your support will amplify Odisha’s voice on the national design & innovation map.

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