This Kerala Collective Thinks Design Is the New Literacy

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Synopsis

A thriving design collective in Thiruvananthapuram is redefining design literacy and turning it into a cultural revolution.

Key takeaways

• Kerning isn’t just about letters — it’s about life
• Designers’ Community is a melting pot for future-first collectives
• Their “third place” philosophy goes beyond aesthetics
• Sketch Walks, Charchas, and more — design is becoming a mindset

A design revolution in Kerala

What started in a 102-year-old building in Vazhuthacaud as a humble co-working space has now evolved into a buzzing design movement called Designers’ Community. 

With over 250 members — including architects, creators, thinkers, strategists, and even psychologists — the collective is proof that design is no longer a siloed discipline. It’s a way of life.

“We are not just a community. We are a community of communities,” says Abrar Ali, a founding member. The names of the offshoots say it all: Mattam (sustainability), Beyond 7 (music), Neythu (fashion), Dying Art (film/media), and Olam (entrepreneurship). 

It’s a melting pot of independent collectives under one umbrella — organically grown and deeply rooted in the philosophy of design as evolution.

Kerning life: More than just a design technique

In the design world, kerning adjusts the space between letters for aesthetic clarity. But for American design strategist Justin Ahren, kerning is also a metaphor for life — a tweak here, a shift there, and suddenly, chaos finds balance. 

The Designers’ Community builds on that metaphor — design is not just visual, it’s intentional living.

And that’s what they call design literacy — the ability to see, think, and act with design at the core of everything. From how a city is planned to how finances are managed, design becomes a fundamental thought process.

Designers’ Community introduces the idea of a “third place” — where creatives can gather with no boundaries, no labels, no judgment. “This is where people walk in alone and end up becoming part of something bigger,” Abrar explains.

This “third place” hosts a wide range of interactions — from sketching walks to policy brainstorming, from textile conversations to money design frameworks. It’s the sandbox where Kerala’s most creative minds play with purpose.

Design thinking, applied to everything

The collective believes that design thinking is no longer exclusive to designers. It belongs in policymaking, finance, education, and even emotional wellness.

“Imagine if a policymaker were design-literate — how different our cities would look,” says Abrar. “A well-implemented financial design can change fortunes.”

They’re not romanticising design. They’re operationalising it — embedding it into strategy, governance, and culture.

How do they design to learn?

Twice a month, members take part in Sketch Walks — visits to random places where they draw, photograph, write, or simply interpret the space through their lens. These aren’t just creative exercises; they’re reflective design labs.

And then there’s Charcha — a discussion series that tackles everyday design issues like financial literacy or pockets in women’s clothing. “Modern problems need modern design thinking,” says Abrar. Nothing is too mundane to be redesigned.

Designers’ Community is now planning a full-fledged design festival — a gathering of enthusiasts, experts, and rebels who see the world through a design lens. The aim? To explore how design literacy can rewrite policy, reimagine cities, and reframe systems.

Because in their world, everything is by design — even the act of coming together.

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