The University of Moratuwa is setting the stage for its flagship international design event, the
Integrated Design Research 2026 International Conference, scheduled to take place from October
21 to October 24, 2026, at the University premises. Held under the theme “The Creative Wave:
Imagination, Adaptation, and Change,” this year’s event brings together emerging student
designers, local creatives, academic heavyweights, and industry leaders from Sri Lanka and
overseas to explore how design intelligence adapts to modern challenges, from artificial intelligence
to circular economies and traditional craft.
Running alongside the Department of Integrated Design’s annual Undergraduate and Graduation
Exhibition, the four-day platform serves as a massive showcase of cross-disciplinary innovation.
The event kicks off on October 21 with the official opening of the Designer Gallery exhibition,
followed by the highly anticipated Space Conclave at 6:00 p.m., featuring a keynote presentation
by renowned Sri Lankan Architect Channa Daswatte on contemporary architecture and spatial
design.
The official conference inauguration begins on October 22 with global vision addresses and keynote
speeches, followed by rigorous academic paper presentations and scientific sessions exploring
design pedagogy, society, and culture. Visitors and industry partners can also experience the Product
Pavilion, graduate galleries, and Fashion and Media and Communication Exhibition galleries.
Day 3 also opens its doors wider to the community with specialized Creative Thinker Workshops
tailored for school students and external participants and will also hold the spectacular Fashion
Alley Show starting at 6:30 p.m., spotlighting innovative student designs and lifestyle trends. The
final day will witness the “Stitches that Speak” knitting workshop and the Packaging Boulevard as
well as the official closing ceremony in the afternoon.
Organized by the Department of Integrated Design of the Faculty of Architecture, IDR 2026
emphasizes the critical link between education and real-world industrial practice and aims to
position Sri Lanka as a growing regional voice for design innovation.
The exhibition areas are open for general public and industry viewing from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
between October 22 and 24, with preview access starting on the afternoon of October 21.
For more information and full schedules, visit the official IDR 2026 Portal at idresearch.uom.lk
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