Providence-based consulting and technology firm Infosys has announced a new partnership with the Rhode Island School of Design that will result in the training of 1,000 global designers within the next two years.
The move is an effort to both increase the development of Infosys' designers and find ways to tackle industry problems that straddle both the design and technology spaces.
This partnership has several different dimensions, the first being Infosys' eight-week pilot program this summer, developed in tandem with RISD. The course will help foster the skills of participating designers, "helping them acquire design- and human-centric skills in technologies used to address challenges facing Infosys' global clients," a press release states.
Then, Infosys will look to hire designers "with these specialized design skills" in an effort to continue to hire 500 Rhode Island workers.
Another element to the partnership includes the creation of a new space on the RISD campus "to further explore and incubate the insight and learning challenges that emerge from collaborative academic project," the release continued.
Additionally, Infosys will open a 25,000-square-foot Design & Innovation Hub at 75 Fountain Street in Providence at the end of the summer.
"We are excited that Infosys is doubling down on its investment in Rhode Island by strengthening the design talent available to the industries in our local market," said Gov. Gina Raimondo. "The Infosys-RISD partnership will enable industry-leading innovation in design, catalyze economic growth in the state and equip Rhode Islanders with the skills and expertise they need to tackle the design challenges of the future."
RISD leadership echoed her sentiments.
"The partnership with Infosys will help RISD apply our creative insights to assist in building research capacity in Rhode Island. This fits within our mission of making lasting contributions to global society through critical thinking and innovation," said Rosanne Somerson, president of Rhode Island School of Design. "In an increasingly complex global context, organizations that cannot understand, anticipate and embrace uncertainty will be less likely to succeed. RISD's unique model of education fosters the ability to work effectively in these environments."
The partnership will have international impacts, Ravi Kumar, Infosys president and deputy chief operating officer, continued.
"As a leader in digital transformation, we're excited about the benefits this partnership between Infosys and RISD will bring to our clients," Kumar continued. "It will help close the global design talent gap and also prepare our designers to create client solutions at the junctures of several siloed disciplines, including the humanities, liberal arts, public policy, economics and engineering."
This is a developing story. Updates will be included once they become available.
