Kamal Ghorui
PUNE: The School of Design at Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth hosted its flagship academic event, D’KODE Summit 2026, on March 23 and 24, bringing together designers, academicians, industry experts and students for a two-day exchange on contemporary design practices.Organised by the Department of Visual Communication Design, the summit focused on typography and its evolving role in communication. The event was held under the guidance of Chancellor P. D. Patil, with institutional support from Pro-Vice-Chancellor Smita Jadhav.The keynote on day 1 was delivered by D. Udaya Kumar, who spoke on display typography and its cultural relevance. Sarang Kulkarni, co-founder of Ek Type, discussed the structure and contemporary use of Indian scripts. On Day 2, Dr. Chaitanya Gokhale explored the link between typography and design thinking, while an online session by Prof. Michael V. Testani offered a global perspective.The summit featured themes such as “Big Type, Bold Voice” and “When Letters Perform,” focusing on scale, personality and motion in typography. A series of workshops on calligraphy, lettering and cross-script design formed a key part of the programme.Students participated in hands-on sessions that emphasised composition, visual hierarchy and experimentation. “The summit gave students exposure to both academic and industry perspectives, helping them understand typography beyond theory,” Jadhav said.The event aimed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry practice while encouraging creative exploration among students.
