M&C Saatchi India has appointed Parveez Shaikh as their senior vice president and executive creative director.Shaikh is best known for building Contract’s creative reputation during the 11 years that he spent at the agency before he quit, in 2003. He has worked as a creative consultant with a few leading agencies for a few years after that.
M&C Saatchi India has appointed Parveez Shaikh as their senior vice president and executive creative director.
Shaikh is best known for building Contract’s creative reputation during the 11 years that he spent at the agency before he quit, in 2003.
He has worked as a creative consultant with a few leading agencies for a few years after that.
Shaikh has worked on premium, blue-chip clients such as Philips Audio, Franklin Templeton AMC, Asian Paints, Shoppers’ Stop, ICICI Bank and Cadbury India.
He has won over a hundred national and international awards, including two Cannes Lions and five finalists at the prestigious Cannes Advertising Festival, an entry in the D&AD, the One Show, the New York Festival and the ‘Copywriter of the Year’ award.
He has also featured in the Indian Copy Book as one of the 16 best Indian copywriters of all time. Shaikh will be based in Mumbai.
source: http://www.campaignindia.in / Campaign India / Home> Advertising / by Campaign India Team / May 22nd, 2008
It all started with cars, as Saif explained to us. His dream of becoming an Automotive Designer started early on to which point he even enrolled into an Architecture Undergraduate program near Bangalore just to be able to pursue a Master’s degree in car design. There, in college, he also joined the Formula Student Racing Team, where he acquired diverse experience in design and technical know-how. Now that’s real commitment.
But things took a U-turn when later he dropped the plan to go ahead with his Master’s, thinking that it was too restricting to be involved in just one specific field. At that point, he had discovered that only an Industrial Design course could give him the freedom to be multi-disciplinary, and to be able to work on Architecture, Product design, Automotive design and more. Then, the rest is history.
Winning design from EDIDA INDIA 2017: Qaiser Series (T) and Cork Trays (B).
“Design, in general, is what gets me going,” he said, “So it is all a playful adventure.” Since setting up his creative office in 2014, Saif had been steadily creating designs that draw heavily from his appreciation of technology and processes. But it wasn’t until he won the recent EDIDA India for furniture and tabletop with the Qaiser Series and Cork Trays that he finally caught the eyes of the global design industry.
The former is a series of side tables with tops that used a unique craft form called ‘Bidriware’. “One of its kind in the world,” explained Saif, “It uses a special mud from the medieval fort in Bidar, in South India. So it is made by us with local craftsmen.” The latter, a quite self-explanatory design, takes the shapes of typical hanging cutting boards, but with a thick border to hold objects in their place. Akin to Enzo Ferrari who used to build and sell cars to fund his racing, the trays are currently self-produced by Saif but would definitely like to be mass-produced. “Maybe by a manufacturer from Scandinavia perhaps…” he hoped. And so do we.
We talked to him about his journey so far and his future endeavours.
Qaiser Series used a unique craft form called ‘Bidriware’.
In the process of making the Cork Trays.
For people who are not yet familiar with you, tell us about your background.
I’m an Industrial designer working on Architecture, Interiors, Product design, Brand Identity, Design Development, Creative Direction, Motorcycle design, Automotive racing, Furniture, Lighting, Craft & Jewelry. I’ve always had an admiration for things and objects: their materials, beauty and how they were made. I always found it fascinating to watch a carpenter or a mason engaged in his craft. I could make stuff out of anything that was around; I used to make miniature farms with plantations and worked on irrigation, inspired by the country life I experienced during the summer stays at my grandfather’s farm. I’d also make models of scooters and bikes out of wheat flour dough. That’s one of the reasons I still love scale models so much, making them and collecting them. It was around 16 that I discovered design could be a legit career. I wanted to become an automotive designer. I’m an autodidact, and it’s quite natural for me to pick up something that interests me and pursue it with certain passion on my own, learning and doing on the way.
How do you describe your design aesthetic?
I’m an ‘ESSENTIALIST’; my focus is on sensitive, thoughtful and meaningful design. I have quite a contrasting way of looking at things; some designs are practical and functionalist while others are poetic expressions that can have certain humour and curiosity. All in all, everything has to have that beauty. Making stuff has been a huge part of the process; so much so that some of the products hardly have any drawings or detailed sketches – it’s just straight from the concept sketches to the making of the prototype.
Designing cars, including racing architecture has always been Saif’s dream.
Lots of your pieces used natural materials like wood and cork. What's your fascination with these materials?
I love working with beautiful, humble natural materials; they have great quality regarding how they age gracefully. I love exploring their properties in new and expressive ways, for instance, the Cork trays have two variations of cork, the rubberised one for the strap and the hard one for the tray body, perfectly coming together, not to mention the ecological aspects of these materials.
Where are you based now? What made you want to be here? What are the advantages?
I’m based in Bangalore at the moment; I came here for my undergraduate about 12 years ago, while doing my Architecture I was part of the Formula SAE team which mostly had Mechanical engineering students, I used to design the Chassis, Ergonomics, Suspension, Brakes, Safety and Packaging. During this time I developed a great network of vendors and suppliers. This field felt quite indispensable when I wanted to start my multidisciplinary studio. But I seem to have exhausted the potential of the city. Maybe I will shift to Scandinavia in future; you’ll never know…
What is the current design scene in India?
Its still evolving and not that refined at the moment. There is this underlying fascination with Bollywood and Kitsch with a ‘Royal’ hangover from the bygone era of the ‘Maharajas’ that I feel is quite hindering. But otherwise, there is new breed of young designers with a more progressive perspective that is doing some significant work that I feel would be worth something in the coming years.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Inspiration to me comes from a social concern, a beautiful material, an inspiring craft, a practical need, a curiosity… I look to other creative fields too. At this moment, in particular, I’m fascinated with the contemporary culinary scene. Also, it’s quite difficult not to notice the tech-innovations of late…
Another EDIDA winning design from 2016: Poise Lamp.
The new Euclid Series of candleholders.
Where will we see you next?
We have several projects that we have completed and are speaking to different manufacturers to get them in production. Among other stuff, I’m working on an electric Café racer that will host a couple of very innovative features in response to the whole Autonomous vehicle scene. Also, I’ve been approached for an electric car; it’s more on conceptual lines at the moment focussing on the future of urban mobility in developing nations like India, I’m working on the Packaging, Interiors & Styling. One important thing at the moment is we are working with a manufacturer who is looking at working with a couple of craft form to launch innovative contemporary Art-Design pieces soon, hopefully during I Salone 2018 in Milan. This is a new direction for my work; I’m quite pleased with the progress at the moment.
Mysuru girl Rifah Taskeen drives into the Golden Book of World Records.
Rifah Taskeen drives a truck in Mysuru on Sunday.
Mysuru:
Amazing though it may seem, seven-year-old Rifah Taskeen at last got permission from the state government to participate in a record breaking event and drove 16 vehicles, in a bid to become the youngest to drive multiple wheeled vehicles at Idgah ground and St Joseph’s school ground at Bannimantap here on Sunday
In her bid to enter the Golden book of world records, the tiny wonder drove a lorry, Mahindra Bolero, Tata Ace, Mahindra Scorpio, Toyota Fortuner, Maruti 800, Maruti van, Maruti Esteem, Maruti Zen, Santro, Ford, an ambulance, a Hyundai Verna, a Tata Indica and a Quad bike among others (Her father had modified and lowered the level of the seats in the vehicles to suit her height).
Mr Santhosh Agarwal of Golden Book of World records, who represents South India, participated as an observer in the event. Rifah aimed for the record after permission was granted by Primary and Secondary Education minister Tanveer Sait and Mysuru city police Commisioner Dr A Subramanyeswara Rao. Her aim now is to become the youngest pilot. Her parents are in touch with a few airlines and a firm has agreed to train her, according to her father Tajuddin.
Tears flooded the eyes of Bibi Fathima, mother of Rifah, a class 2 student of St Joseph’s school at Bannimantap after seeing her feat. Principal of her school Maria Gracilda had no words to express her happiness as Rifah stunned people at the event, with her amazing confidence.
Rifah’s father Tajuddin, a contractor of floor tiles and a former racer who has won several national level contests, has worked as stuntman and dancer in several movies while her mother is a government school teacher. They reside in NR Mohalla here. Owing to constraints, Tajuddin couldn’t fulfill his dream of contesting in races at the international level. He started training Rifah ever since she was a baby. “I used to put her on my lap when I used to drive. She learnt driving at the age of 3,” Mr Tajuddin disclosed.
Rifah has performed stunts at school during Republic Day and Independence Day programmes. She even launched Chinnara Dasara hosted by the department of women and child development, in the presence of chairperson of Karnataka Commission for the Protection of Child Rights Krupa Amar Alva, during Dasara recently. But due to lack of permission from the authorities, the event to break the record was delayed. “My only aim is to drive a Formula 1 car and also become a pilot,” Rifah said.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / by Deccan Chronicle / by Shilpa P / November 06th, 2017
The 24-year-old golfer from Bengaluru had produced amazing play over the last two days, including a hole-in-one at Nedumbassery’s CIAL Golf Club, but suddenly everything appeared to be going up in smoke.
Bengaluru golfer Syed Saqib Ahmed with the PGTI Cochin Masters Trophy, his maiden pro title, on Saturday. – STAN RAYAN
For a brief moment, as he came up with successive bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes in the final round on Saturday, Syed Saqib Ahmedfelt his title chances slipping away in the PGTI Cochin Masters.
He then found out from his friends that Delhi’s Honey Baisoya, his nearest challenger who had started half hour earlier, had finished with a seven under and realised that he had to buck up. And Saqib found his touch just in time, produced birdies in the last two holes, and lifted his maiden professional title.
“I really felt the pressure after the bogeys on the 15th and 16th because both the par fives are actually easy holes,” said Saqib who finished with a three-shot lead (total 278) over the pre-tournament favourite Baisoya who came second.
“But I had a birdie on the 17th, which I think is one of the toughest holes. And the 18th went like a dream, I really didn’t think I could handle it so well. This is really a big burden off my head.”
The title ended three years of waiting for Saqib. “I dedicate this, my first pro title, to my parents and to my grandfather,” said the young man and then turned emotional.
Another Bengaluru player, M. Dharma, and Chandigarh’s Abhijit Singh Chadha finished joint third. V.J. Kurian, Managing Director, Cochin International Airport Limited, gave away the prizes. The Pro-Am event will be played on Sunday.
The final placings (par 288, four day total, top 10): 1. Syed Saqib Ahmed (278), 2. Honey Baisoya (281), 3. M. Dharma & Abhijit Singh Chadha (both 283), 5. Ankur Chadha (284), 6. Veer Ahlawat, Maniram, Gaurav Pratap Singh (all 285), 9. Arjun Prasad & Karandeep Kochhar (286).
source: http://www.sportstarlive.com / SportStar / Home> Golf / by Stan Ryan / Kochi – February 03rd, 2018
From designing cars to designing products for your home—Bengaluru-based Saif Faisal is fast becoming a name to reckon with
Foster Memo Clip (Left). Brackett Trays (Right).
Product designer Saif Faisal who started his career designing cars has very successfully ventured into designing products for your home. Trained as an architect at Bengaluru’s RV College of Architecture, Faisal previously represented his college at Formula SAE, a student design competition, where he worked on driver safety and ergonomics. Now, Faisal’s eponymous studio has created a collection of home accessories with a markedly minimalist design. AD sat down with the designer to get a more intimate understanding of his design instincts and inspirations.
Architect and product designer Saif Faisal (Left). Loop Mirror (Right).
Architectural Digest (AD):Where did you learn wood working? Saif Faisal (SF): It was more like collaborative learning with a couple of people in the trade to understand the craft. This helped a lot in the design and product development. With my earlier design and engineering work in Formula Student racing, this brought the two extremes of craft and high-tech together. For instance, our design, the Counterpoise lamp uses the dynamics of gravity but is made in a humble natural material: wood.
AD: Did you start the brand with the intention of specializing in table-top office accessories (like lamps, trays, clips, coasters, etc)? SF: Actually it’s the contrary; initially we were more focussed on furniture. We have worked on a lot of furniture, the String Series for Godrej Design Lab, a book case, and a series of Roto-molded seating for indoor/outdoor use. The development process of larger projects take quite a while so we started doing smaller objects in between, which can be self-produced and completed quickly as well—again something which we didn’t favour much earlier. I have to admit it’s quite enjoyable doing smaller stuff.
AD:Will we see any other products—like kitchen or tableware for instance—from your brand? SF: Maybe…in 2015 we ventured into jewelry and craft that was a surprise for us. Every new thing we do is an exploration and adventure.
Counterpoise Lamp. Principle: Function and flexibity with ease.
AD: In its minimalism and simplicity, your products remind one of Scandinavian design. What/who is your design inspiration? SF: You are right; they are reminiscent of Scandinavian design, and I suppose, of Japanese design too. I would say its Essentialism and not merely Minimalism, as we try to be more honest to the design essence with no frivolous decorative elements. If you see our Qaiser series in Bidriware, it has the Zillij pattern on it—that’s not minimal but essential. On that note, Essential Design can help the world become a better place, and it’s not just with the products…my observation is cultures with a better sense and appreciation of design have holistic politics and interactions.
AD:You mention ‘poetry’ and ‘harmony’ in design (in the notes on the products) several times. Why is this so important to you? SF: It’s quite important that a design be poetic, to express to a user the object needs to communicate on a poetic level.
source: http://www.architecturaldigest.in / Architectural Digest – AD / Home> Perspective> Profile / by Leena Desai / February 24th, 2017
Lalit Kala Akademi Awardee Mohammad Ayazuddin Patel will be participating in the 5 th International Cultural-Artistic event from July 8. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
National Lalit Kala Akademi Awardee and noted artist Mohammed Ayazuddin Patel will be participating in the 5th International Cultural-Artistic Event, a fortnight exhibition of painting and workshop-cum-art camp in Greece-Kosova-Balkan in Europe from July 8.
Mr. Patel is the only artist from Karnataka to attend the event which attracted 30 artists across the world. The event, which is jointly organised by Municipality of Suva-Reka and Department of Culture, Kosovo and Greece, provides a common platform for artists to exhibit their talent and get international exposure.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Patel said that five of his digital art works were submitted online for the selection to the event. The 46-year-old artist has bagged 20 prestigious awards including 55 th National Lalit Kala Akademi Award, National Award for Photography and National Award for Digital Painting recognised by the Ministry of Culture.
Mr. Patel has also participated in international group exhibition in six countries and displayed his digital art works painting and photography during exhibitions at 34 different places and organised 20 solo exhibitions across the country.
Mr. Patel is known for digital painting and mixed media and his works adorn several walls in important State buildings.
As per the event schedule, the selected artists would be visiting famous museums, art galleries, historical monuments and old places in nine European cities including Istanbul in Turkey, Thessaloniki in Greece, Suva Reka in Kosovo, Budva in Montenegro, Mostar in Bosnia, Sarajevo in Herzegovina, Dubrovnik in southern Croatia, Tirana in Albania, Ohrid in Macedonia and Kavala in Greece during the 15 days camp.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Correspondent / Kalaburagi – June 27th, 2017
Ashwa Racing, a brand under Ashwa Mobility of RV College of Engineering, Bengaluru, on Saturday launched three new race cars on the combustion (AMF RZX8- CO), hybrid (AMF X8-HY) and electric (AMF-RZX8 -ELE) platforms for the 2018 race season.
Undergraduate students, who conceived, designed and build formula race cars, would be competing in national and global events in the coming months.
The combustion vehicle (210 kg without driver) development is headed by team captain Sweekruth Shetty, project manager Rakesh H.N, chief engineer Prateek Bhustali. The racing hybrid vehicle (300 kg) development is headed by team captain Asfan Khan, project manager Suhas B.U., chief engineer Uday Naik and chief communication officer Tarun Kasa.
The electric vehicle (200kg) development is headed by team captain Pranave Nanda, project manager Rahul S.D., chief engineer Gautam Singh and chief communication officer Srivatsa Deshpande.
The combustion and electric divisions of Ashwa Racing would be competing in Formula Bharat, which will be held in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu from January 24 to 28, 2018.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / January 15th, 2018
The spirit of sacrificing one’s life for the cause of the nation is fuelled by a high degree of patriotism, Chief Executive Officer of Kodagu Zilla Panchayat Mirza Akbarulla said here on Wednesday.
He was addressing police personnel at the police parade grounds here on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day.
It was everybody’s bounden duty to remember the supreme sacrifice of police personnel in defence of people and property, Mr. Akbarulla said. Police personnel who had laid down their lives fighting for peace in the country should be remembered always, he said and quoted examples of those who sacrificed their lives during the November 26, 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Deputy Commissioner K.H. Ashwatha Narayana Gowda, who led others in paying rich tribute to police personnel who had died in the line of duty, said society should remember with gratitude the sacrifice of the police personnel.
Superintendent of Police, Manjunath Annigeri, who welcomed earlier, read out the names of 833 police personnel who had laid down their lives in the line of duty across the nation in the last one year. Three rounds of volleys were fired in the air to pay respects to the police personnel.
Those who laid wreaths at the police memorial included president of the zilla panchayat V.M. Vijaya; Mr. Gowda; Additional Deputy Commissioner K.M. Chandre Gowda; Mr. Akbarulla; Mr. Annigeri; Air Marshal K.C. Cariappa (Retired); Col. Uthaiah (Retd.); Home Guards Commandant, Kodagu, Maj. O.S. Chingappa; Madikeri CMC Commissioner Srikanth Rao; Deputy Superintendent of Police, Madikeri, J.D. Prakash; Somwarpet DYSP M. Narayana; Virajpet DYSP Annappa Naik; Madikeri tahsildar Devaraju; president of Retired Police Officers Association M.A. Appaiah, and journalists K. Thimmappa and Anu Cariappa.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / October 22nd, 2009
An amazing collection of artefacts, inscriptions and photographs are on display at the refurbished tourist information centre and museum opened by the Archaeological Survey of India on the fort premises here on Wednesday.
The museum had been closed for two years for restoration.
The old museum housed in the Royal Bath room inside the Turkash Mahal complex has been moved to the Awwal Talukdar office near the front gate, opposite Rangeen Mahal.
It has tools used by hunters in Neolithic times that were found in 11 archaeological sites in Bidar district. Stone tablets dating from the 1st century; inscriptions that speak of the genealogy of Hassan Gangu Behman, the founder of the Bahmani dynasty; and a space saving tablet that has an inscription on one side and a design on the other, are among the exhibits.
The weapons section is full of guns of various shapes and sizes, cannon balls and thorns and grenades. Metal armour, swords, and khanjars are on display.
Of special interest are implements used by doctors in the 14th century, ornaments made from sea shells, terracotta tiles and painted wall hangings.
It also has artefacts found in neighbouring sites of Sannati, Maski, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura and Basavakalyan.
Archaeologist Prasanna Kumar took visitors and students around the museum and explained the significance of the artefacts. He spoke of sculptors used soap stone to carve female figurines to symbolise that beauty fade away over time, like the rock it was carved on. Abdul Samad Bharati read Persian and Arabic inscriptions to the delight of young visitors.
A.M.V Subrahmanya, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, pointed out that some Madanika busts found in Basavakalyan and other sites in Bidar district were older than those found in Belur and Halebid.
A 30-minute audio guide about Bidar would be prepared to help tourists, he said. He also said work would start on an interpretation centre and sound and light show in Bidar fort.
The ASI is working with various government departments to draft a proposal to be sent to the UNESCO seeking heritage city status to Bidar- Kalaburagi and Vijayapura, he said.
Hanchate Sanjiv Kumar inaugurated the museum and asked youth to take pride in their history. Prakash Nikam, Superintendent of police, asked youth to desist from defacing monuments. “If we don’t etch on the walls at home, why should we do so on the walls of monuments that are national treasures?” he said
source: http://www.thehindu.com/ The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Rishikesh Bahadur Desai / Bidar – February 05th, 2016
Historian Abdul Samad Bharati showing the stone inscription to visitors in the Bidar ASI museum.— File Photo: T. Gopichand
History textbooks in the State say that Allauddin Hasan Gangu, founder of the Bahmani dynasty, began his life as the slave of a Brahmin in New Delhi. However, other versions of history strongly claim that he hailed from Iran and served in the army of the medieval Delhi kings.
The latest evidence that argues against the slave-to-king theory is a stone inscription unveiled at the Archaeological Survey of India museum in Bidar that opened last month.
The inscription of two sets of seven lines, with neatly carved rectangular borders, starts with hailing King Ahmed Shah Bahmani and how his rule brought prosperity to the region. It speaks of how he was the ninth king of the Bahmani Sultanate founded by Allauddin Hasan Gangu Bahmani . It identifies Hasan Gangu as a descendant of the legendary warrior Esfandiyar Goshtap. It describes him as a proud son of a Bahmani village in Iran. “Experts have dated this tablet between 1350 and 1550,” said Prasanna Kumar, archaeologist with the Bidar ASI office.
“For long, scholars have argued with evidence that Allauddin was a general in Mohammad Bin Tughlaq’s army. He founded the Bahmani Kingdom in Kalaburagi, after rebelling against the Delhi kings in 1347. But, we continue to teach the legend that Allauddin was a slave who became a king by chance. This is unfortunate,” said Abdul Samad Bharati, historian and author of the book ‘Historic monuments of Bidar’. He hoped the Bidar inscription would help change the minds of history writers. “There are two other documents that refute the theory about Allauddin’s humble beginnings, a book published by University of Dhaka that speaks of the life and contribution of the hero and medieval era historian Abdul Mallik Esami, who said Allauddin was an Iranian, who joined the Delhi army,” he said.
International scholars also feel the same. “The whole story of Hasan Gangu being a slave to Gangadhar Shastri is a legend that is not supported by any primary source,” said Sara Mondini, art history scholar from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, who is on a tour of Ashtur near Bidar. Helen Philon, historian of the Deccan Heritage Foundation, says history books need to accommodate changes over the years. “Farishta, a court historian of the Bijapur Adilshahis accorded legitimacy to such legends and hearsay in the 17 th century. Most historians and writers seemed to have believed Farishta, without considering theories that offered alternative explanations,” she said.
Ashwath Narayana, professor of history in Bangalore University, and a member of the Karnataka state textbook review committee, said history textbooks should change with the emergence of new sources. “If history is an attempt at truth-telling, new research should prompt us to change the way it is written. We will study this inscription and make suitable changes to the history of the Deccan, if need be,” he said.
A stone inscription unveiled at the ASI museum in Bidar is evidence that negates the slave-to-king theory in history textbooks.
source: http://www.thehindu.com/ The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Rishikesh Bahadur Desai / Bidar – April 04th, 2016
