Designing Our Nation
How can design shape the future of Sri Lankan identity?
Curated by Mooniak, this two day programme brings together leading Sri Lankan and Indian creative minds to explore how design defines us, expresses our culture, and shapes our place in South Asia and beyond. South Asian creativity is in the global spotlight. This is our moment to define how Sri Lanka shows up.
Join us for a series of conversations on how design builds our creative DNA, amplifies our cultural voice, and unlocks new possibilities for Colombo as a regional creative hub.
Location :
Level 8, The Shoppes, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams
Dates :
22nd and 23rd November 2025
Two days of Talks & Dialogues
DAY 1 - Saturday, 22nd November
Design Dialogue Showcases
10.00am - 10.45am
Sanskar Madan Sawant
Founder and Director, Homework Studio (India)
11.00am - 11.30am
Dr Dilina Janadith
Design Researcher and Educator (Sri Lanka)
11.45am - 12.30pm
Tanya George
Typographer and Type Designer (India)
12.30pm - 1.00pm
Nimna Wickramasinghe
Artist and Designer (Sri Lanka)
1.00pm - 1.45pm
Anant Ahuja
Managing Partner, Irregulars Alliance (India)
Design Dialogues
2.30pm - 3.30pm
Design Dialogue 1:
Design and South Asian Identities in Business
As global commerce shifts its focus, South Asia is now at the center of major corporations and home to global enterprise leaders. Yet, a crucial question remains: Who controls the creative and design work that fuels this economic engine? This dialogue addresses the urgent need for South Asian creative agencies and designers to claim their rightful value. Featuring two designers who have successfully scaled creative enterprises, the discussion will focus on strategies for regional companies to compete and excel globally.
Moderated by
Pathum Egodawatta Founder, Mooniak (Sri Lanka)
Speakers
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Anant Ahuja, Managing Partner at Irregulars Alliance www.irregularsalliance.com (India)
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Randhula de Silva, Founder Good Life X goodlifex.com (Sri Lanka)
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Shiva Viswanathan, Director, DesignUp | Founder + CMO, Catenate.io (India)
3.45pm - 4.45pm
Design Dialogue 2:
New Ways of Design - Beyond the Western Textbook
From spatial to visual design, from interfaces to systems — design disciplines are shaped by Western frameworks and power structures.
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What are we doing to break these patterns?
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What new approaches could help us create futures rooted in our own contexts?
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What are some examples and emerging ways of design that question old paradigms and western prescription of design?
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How is your practice day today related to these questions?
Moderated by Chathurangi de Silva, Lecturer at Department of Integrated Design, University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka)
Speakers
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Sanskar Madan Sawant, Founder/ Director, Homework Studio (India)
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Sophia Sansoni, Design and Strategy at Barefoot (Sri Lanka)
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Dr Dilina Nawarathne, Design Researcher and Educator, Lecturer at Department of Integrated Design, University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka)
5.00pm - 6.30pm
Design Dialogue 3: Ownership of South Asian Symbols in the Global Marketplace
South Asian aesthetics, styles, and symbols are increasingly being commodified and integrated into global commercial trends, diluting the authenticity of our South Asia identity. This dialogue examines essential strategies for regional designers and businesses to lead these global trends, rather than merely following them. The discussion will focus on mechanisms for controlling the narrative and securing the commercial and cultural value of our heritage.
Moderated by
Imaad Majeed, Multidisciplinary artist, curator and writer
Speakers
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Aditya Dutta & Mehr Chatterjee, Partners at Improper Design and Animation (India)
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Mira Malhotra, Founder & Creative Director of Studio Kohl (India)
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Muvindu Binoy, Multidisciplinary Artist (Sri Lanka)
DAY 2 - Sunday, 23rd November
Design Dialogue Showcases
10.00am - 10.45am
Aditya Dutta and Mehr Chatterjee
Partners, Improper Design and Animation (India)
11.00am - 11.45am
Shiva Viswanathan
Director, DesignUp
Founder and CMO, Catenate.io (India)
12.00pm - 12.30pm
Praveen Prathi Theekshana
Multidisciplinary Artist (Sri Lanka)
12.30pm - 1.00pm
Tanu Sinha
Director and Head of Design for PepsiCo India & South Asia
With over two decades of experience, Tanu Sinha is a senior design leader known for applying design thinking to create impactful, consumer-centric brand experiences across India, South Asia and global markets. Her career includes leading design at Nestlé, blending strategic insight with creative rigor to drive innovation. She also serves as a global awards juror, speaker and advisor to leading design institutions, while mentoring emerging creative talent.
1.15pm - 2.00pm
Mira Malhotra
Founder & Creative Director of Studio Kohl (India)
Design Dialogues
2.30pm - 3.30pm
Design Dialogue 4:
Designing for Multilingual, Multicultural Markets
South Asia's vast linguistic and cultural diversity presents unique and complex design challenges. Sri Lanka, with its intricate history of language politics, faces many of these challenges. This dialogue looks at how to design something—a sign, an app, a book—that truly connects across different scripts and cultures. We'll share real-world examples from Sri Lankan and Indian designers on how to nail designs that speak every language.
Moderated by
Tanya George
Speakers
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Pathum Egodawatta, Type Director and Type Designer
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Tanu Sinh, Director and Head of Design for PepsiCo India & South Asia
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Kosala Senevirathne, Type Designer
3.45pm - 4.45pm
Design Dialogue 5:
Branding Cities for People, Not Just Tourists
Colombo. Jaffna. Trincomalee. Beyond geography, these names represent a critical aspect of the national identity.
As Sri Lanka grows in popularity on the tourism map, city branding is a vital, complex process where identity and local culture are paramount. This dialogue explores what city branding reveals about our national identity and who determines what our cities stand for and how they are marketed to all audiences, ensuring that we design and brand our urban spaces for the people who live there, not just those who visit.
Moderated by
Shamalee De Silva Parizeau, Writer | Co-Creator of story design studio Public Works
Speakers
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Anant Ahuja, Managing Partner at Irregulars Alliance www.irregularsalliance.com (India)
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Arch. Sithumini Rathnamalala, Senior Lecturer, Department of Integrated Design, University of Moratuwa
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Iromi Perera | Co-founder/Director, Colombo Urban Lab (@colombourbanlab @centreforasmartfuture)
5.00pm - 6.30pm
Design Dialogue 6: What Could a Unified Lankan Identity Look Like?
A powerful new Lankan identity is emerging globally, showcased in our creative work, vibrant hospitality scene, and cultural pride. Despite this forward momentum, historical divisions remain a significant challenge.
This dialogue focuses on constructing a national narrative that actively unites communities rather than dividing them. The session will explore the shape of that shared identity, identify the voices shaping it, and examine exciting pathways toward a unified future that acknowledges and celebrates our nation's unique complexity
Moderated by
Pathum Egodawatta Founder, Mooniak (Sri Lanka)
Speakers
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Dr Punsara Amarasinghe, Lecturer at Faculty of Law at General Sir John Kotelawala University (Sri Lanka)
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Shiva Viswanathan, Director, DesignUp | Founder + CMO, Catenate.io (India)
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Sandya Salgado, Strategic Communications Specialist
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Dr Dilina Nawarathne, Design Researcher and Educator, Lecturer at Department of Integrated Design, University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka)
