Kathmandu, September 3
Creative minds from different domains gathered together to celebrate the wonders of design, creativity, AI and technology at Design Disco Vol. 3, an annual design event organized by Leapfrog Technology at Islington College on August 31. Themed, “AI and Creativity”, this year’s event explored AI’s transformative impact on creativity across fields like UX design, graphic design, art, illustration, and music.
The event kicked off with a keynote speech by Swapnil Acharya, Creative Director at Leapfrog, where he showcased how far we’ve come along with AI. From designers using AI to streamline their processes, to your local momo restaurant using it for its menu— we’ve come a long way with AI.
The stage shone brighter with artists like Mrigaja Bajracharya, aka Mrigajab, and Kelsang Sherpa Pradhan, aka The Hybrid Designer, in the spotlight. Sharing her story of how she grew from an art kid to a professional artist, Mrigaja showcased her unconventional art style. On the other hand, Kelsang shared his experience of how to stand out in a crowd and build a personal brand that sells.
In his segment, “Jamming with AI”, Sunny Kumar Tuladhar, Senior AI Engineer at Leapfrog, showcased the endless possibilities of using AI as a creative partner. He used AI tools like Suno and Neural DSP to create music in new and imaginative ways.
A storyteller, Shashank Shrestha, Executive Producer at Kathaharu Productions, wowed the audience with his overview of filmmaking using the D-I-S-C-O of video production.
Sharing her experience in designing user-focused FinTech products, Hricha Sharma, Lead Product Designer at FoneNXT, emphasized how regulatory demands shape design choices. She also discussed the significance of strong UX in ensuring the success of FinTech solutions.
Two of the segments focused on market needs— one focused on bridging the gap between academia and industry, while the other focused on navigating the job market. The first segment was delivered by Pratik Man Singh Pradhan, Programme Leader for Multimedia Technologies at Islington College. He explored how teachers and students can address market needs by focusing on practical applications. The second segment, delivered by Saroj Shahi, Design Architect and Design Team Manager at Leapfrog, guided attendees through essential steps and strategies to successfully land a job as a designer.
The event wrapped up with a panel discussion on the possibilities, challenges, and ethical implications of AI in the creative field. The discussion delved into how AI is shaping the future of design and how we can leverage it without losing the human touch that makes art so special.
