Announcing two key initiatives in line with future growth plans
Press Release
IIMA Brand Assets
FAQs
What was the reason for redesigning the website?
The website is the main entryway of the institute for the world. More than two years ago the institute decided to re-envision the way the world interacts with IIMA through the website. The idea was to make it more engaging with the prospective students, alumni, current students & faculty and reflect the institute’s voice as a global leader in research, teaching, and innovation while maintaining the bold & global image of the institute. In a digital-first ecosystem, it was important to adapt to a more user-friendly interface. New features have been added which will make the site compatible with various formats such as smartphones.
The refreshed website embodies the key tenets of Bold, Global & Simplicity right from simplifying the complex navigation structure, designing a global standards menu system that is seamless across devices, and using typeface and colours to reflect the bold image of the institute. The information hierarchy has been designed to bring out the institutes’ commitment to research & innovation.
What are the new features of the website?
The new website is a product of deep user research and traffic analysis and hence offers a global design language, ease of navigation, responsiveness to smart devices, unified calls to action, e-commerce capabilities and is built on a robust & scalable platform to make it future ready. The new website is:
- A clean and bold user interface that highlights the most important aspects of the institute
- Responsive Fluid Design for all browsers
- Intuitive User Experience (UX) like large news & publication portals
- Global design language and responsiveness to smart devices.
- Robust & scalable platform to make it future ready
- Simplified navigation & uniquely build menu navigation for seamless user journey across desktop, tablets & mobile devices.
- User portals for paperless interaction between faculty & administration
- E-commerce capability with Executive Education, Case Centre & IIMA e-store
Why is the Logo being changed?
As IIMA and its ethos shapes and adapts to global shifts, it realized the need to review and revise its visual identity which is embodied in the IIMA logo. For the digital first, 21st century communication channels, a brand has no choice but to interpret itself in a manner amenable to digital expression if it wants to reach an audience that is almost exclusively digitally oriented. In the current multiplatform world, the existing logo doesn’t translate well into new formats of media consumption online. It is very important for a brand logo to show up consistently and legibly on all mobile (small) devices and flatscreens. The refreshed logo has been crafted keeping this requirement at the forefront of the development process. The bold navy-blue colour as well as clear lines and curves in the new brand logo are much more discernible on smaller screens. The revised logo has been designed to also convey a vivid, vibrant, and aspirational brand even as it retains the elements of the current IIMA logo that evoke and channel trust, authenticity, and legacy by highlighting a clear link with Indian culture.
What are the changes being made to the old logo?
The refreshed logo has ‘IIMA’ as a single wordmark which is a recognition of the unique identity of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad as an institute of national importance that is built on the association with this city since its inception. The Sanskrit inscription vidya viniyogadvikasa (development through the distribution or application of knowledge) continues to be an integral part of the logo. The logo also has refreshed the ‘jali’ with clear and bold lines and curves in navy blue, which, while retaining the original aesthetics of the logo art, makes it digitally discernible on any device and adaptable to all formats. The ‘jali’ in the logo of the institute symbolizes the roots of the Institute in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad.
Who has designed the new logo?
Most of the work on the website has been done in -house by the IIMA website Task Force. The team was headed by Prof Hyokjin Kwak from the Marketing Area of the institute in conjunction with the IIMA Task Force on the website and a website agency Hyper Connect.
Why has the Board decided to go ahead with the re-construction of some sections of the old campus?
We are proud of our antecedents and the rich legacy of the IIMA including the iconic architecture, which were all pivotal in its growth into a premier world-class institution. However, over time, some of the buildings have been severely damaged and have become uninhabitable, posing a safety concern for the campus's residents - students, faculty, staff, and external programme participants. This is a critical issue that must not be overlooked. This was the primary reason for the Board to take the decision on reconstructing parts of the old campus. The institute has made several attempts over the years to repair and restore the buildings, but despite that the structure was not able to sustain strength for continuous usage, and more importantly any further building expansion or addition. If people's safety was addressed, the Board had stated unequivocally that they would be willing to go to any length to preserve the architecture. In the present situation choosing the safety of students, faculty and staff is the most important reason for the decision on reconstruction. Additionally, this also allows the Institute to expand its infra facilities in line with its future growth plans.
After several consultations with experts and careful consideration over the last two years, the IIMA Board decided to reconstruct some of these buildings. It began the process prior to 2020 by consulting with faculty and alumni about the decision to reconstruct the buildings that were deemed unsafe. Previously, the institute had completed a number of restoration projects at various points in time, but many of them developed issues after a while, raising safety concerns. The latest report from the IIT Roorkee team and international experts emphasises the importance of safety. The Institute recognises its responsibility for the safety of its students, faculty, and employees.
What was the rationale behind this decision?
The discussions and consultations on this matter, inclusive of nationally and globally recognized expert-led reports, have been on for almost 40 years and extensively since the last two decades. The deterioration of the structures was raised first at a Building Committee meeting in July 1982 where the growing problem of erosion of the exposed brick work on the campus and the signs of rapid deterioration of the buildings was discussed. Most importantly, the Board considered all relevant reports, especially the ones that were undertaken in the last year. This included meetings and presentations by two groups of experts who were tasked with the assessment of the conditions and structural status of the buildings and who visited campus to conduct a study first-hand. The first was a group of structural and earthquake engineers from IIT Roorkee and the second, an international group comprising restoration experts, architects, and structural engineers. The Board finalised the decision on this matter after considering the process of consultations it had initiated prior to December 2020.
Which are the sections being re-constructed?
After careful consideration, an RFP process will be initiated later for the reconstruction of the faculty blocks, classroom complex, and the peripheral dorms 16 to 18 with, the same exterior façade, a seismically safe structure, and non-major renovation of the internal space to improve its functionality to suit the needs of the users. The other dorms will be remodeled, in line with the Louis Kahn heritage and keeping in mind the functional needs of current and future residents of the campus.
When will the work commence? How long will it take to complete the restructuring? How much money is going to be invested in this exercise
The Board wishes for work to begin as soon as possible. Based on the institute's previous project completion experience, the reconstruction could take close to three years to complete. The amount of investment can be determined closer to the beginning of the exercise.
What will be the interim arrangement for the sections being reconstructed?
We built the new campus, which was completed in June 2022. We have relocated a majority of the students to the new campus, which has 384 rooms but still not enough to house all students. Dorms 1-14 are the ones which need attention and have been closed since June 2022. And we have about 60 students staying in dorms 16-18 on a temporary basis. These dorms are slightly better maintained because they were built later. We have housed the students on the lower floors to avoid any mishaps, but the risk remains. We plan to move them out by the end of November.
