Mumbai Design Xpress (MDX ’24): A Celebration of Colour and Creativity

06 January 2025: Pantone’s Mocha Mousse debuted in India at the third edition of Mumbai’s very own Design Festival – the Mumbai Design Xpress a.k.a MDX ’24, where Mumbai’s design community celebrated colour’s transformative power through panel discussions, workshops, and performances. A report by Vimal Parmar.

On 19 December 2024, Mumbai’s design community gathered for the Mumbai Design Xpress (MDX ’24), an event that celebrated innovation, creativity, and the transformative power of colour in design. The event was organised by the Mumbai chapter of the Association of Designers of India (ADI).

A highlight of the event was the exclusive launch celebration of Pantone’s Colour of the Year, marking the first time this global announcement had been celebrated in India. Elley Cheng, President of Pantone, unveiled the chosen hue, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a warm brown hue.

Event featured thought-provoking sessions with industry leaders:

– Animation in Colour: India and the West
Suresh Eriyat, founder of Studio Eeksaurus, explored the role of colour in Indian animation and its contrasts with Western styles. He was joined by Gerald Conn, a UK-based animator and BAFTA winner, known for his innovative sand animation. The session was moderated by Suresh Venkat, a seasoned editorial consultant and media trainer.

– Nuances of Colour in Design and Culture
A panel discussion, led by Pritha Thadani, founder of Please See, included:
– Ashwini Deshpande, co-founder of Elephant Design Studio, who discussed colour’s cultural significance in Indian design.
– Navdeep Kaur, founder of The Colour Workshop, who spoke about the application of colour research in modern design.
– Ayesha Parikh, founder of Art and Charlie, who discussed colour’s influence on urban aesthetics.
– Elley Cheng, who highlighted colour’s role across design mediums.

– The Power of Colour to Build Identity
Elley Cheng shared insights into Pantone’s selected Colour of the Year – its selection process, anticipated impact across various design disciplines and influence on identity and trends.

The event also featured an experiential workshop by Anuj Sharma, founder of Button Masala, along with a sitar performance and a poetry recital inspired by Mocha Mousse. MDX ’24 was made possible through the support of Pantone, venue partner Please See, gifting partners Gaatha and Kanchise, dedicated efforts of ADI’s Mumbai chapter team and volunteers.

As the evening concluded, there was a palpable sense of anticipation for the creative possibilities that 2025 held. One of the largest active networks of Designers, ADI’s MDX ’24 was an eventful celebration of colour, creativity, design and designers, setting the stage for changing the design landscape in 2025 and beyond.

Vimal Parmar is an independent marketing consultant and digital print evangelist.