Present Tense is an international design learning initiative hosted by the Unitedworld Institute of Design, Karnavati University, bringing together students, educators and practitioners for a week of immersive, place-based learning across Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
The programme celebrates the city as a dynamic learning environment where culture, ecology, materials, communities and everyday life become catalysts for design inquiry. Through observation, dialogue, field immersion and collaborative exploration, participants engage with local knowledge while developing perspectives that contribute to global conversations in design.
Inspired by the values of the Cumulus Design Declaration and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Present Tense will be a lab for responsible, regenerative and context-responsive design practice. The programme encourages participants to strengthen their understanding of place, build meaningful connections across disciplines and cultures, and explore new possibilities for shaping sustainable futures through design.
Dates: 2–8 February 2027* (tentative)
Location: Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar, India
Host: Unitedworld Institute of Design, Karnavati University, India
