FACULTY
William Luke Marshall
Fashion & Textile Design/Fashion Design & Marketing
William Luke Marshall brings over two decades of international fashion industry experience, combining a distinguished career in luxury fashion with a passion for developing future designers. His professional journey spans Milan, New York, London, and the United States, offering extensive insight into the creative and commercial realities of the global fashion industry.
A graduate of Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, London, William holds a BA (Hons) in Womenswear Fashion and was awarded the prestigious Best Collection in Womenswear. Following his studies, he built an exceptional career with some of the world’s most renowned fashion houses.
William has held senior design and creative leadership positions with internationally recognised brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Emporio Armani, Rebecca Minkoff, Anthropologie, and Abercrombie & Fitch. During his time in Milan, he worked alongside Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana on runway and cruise collections, before spending eight years at Emporio Armani as Senior Designer and Head of Jersey for Ready-to-Wear collections. In New York, he led design teams at Rebecca Minkoff, developing runway collections and bespoke garments for celebrity clients.
Alongside his industry career, William has extensive experience in higher education across the UK, the Netherlands, and Indonesia. His expertise spans fashion design, ready-to-wear development, luxury fashion, textile sourcing, global supply chains, and trend forecasting.
Joel Rapp
Interior Design
Joel Rapp has been involved in Sri Lankan design for over a decade, working on education, craft and rural livelihood projects in addition to starting the Interior Design degree program at AOD. Through his thirty-year career as a designer, Mr Rapp has worked in twenty-seven countries on four continents. He has worked as the Regional Design Director for resort giant Club Mediterranee, working on public space projects and installations around the globe.
At the turn of the century Mr. Rapp returned to his native United States, settling in New York and becoming Design and Fabrication Director at The Displayers, Inc., where he worked on projects for clients as diverse as The New York Historical Society, the NYPD, Maharam, and the Catholic Church. 2004 saw the opening of 315 squared Design, Mr Rapp's private studio, which produced residential design and furnishings for high-end clients in the US and Europe.
Mika Nivola
Visual Communication Design/Motion Graphics & Animation Design
Mika is an audiovisual producer, visual artist, and lecturer with a passion for storytelling across multiple creative mediums. His work spans photographic series, video essays, and more than 30 short films, many of which explore hybrid formats and experimental audiovisual techniques. His projects have been showcased at over 20 national and international festivals, including Festival Pantalones Cortos, OutFest Perú, Festival Villa del Cine, and Lift-Off Sessions UK.
Mika has taught at the Academy Quick Learning in Medellín, Colombia, while also collaborating with several film festivals including Festival de Cine de Jardín, Cinemancia, and Miradas. He studied History at the Universidad de Antioquia, completed a Diploma in Education at the Politécnico de Colombia, and also pursued studies in Visual and Performing Arts through the Malmö AmatörteaterForum.
Douglas Maclennan
Mentor - Fashion Design & Marketing
Professor Douglas Maclennan is an internationally recognised fashion educator and designer with over fifty years of experience in fashion and higher education. A graduate of Central Saint Martins School of Art & Design, his work was selected by the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, for permanent exhibition representing the best of 1960s fashion. He later worked as a resident designer for international textile companies in Hong Kong, with his work exhibited in cities including Milan, London, Düsseldorf, and Hong Kong.
Douglas has lectured at institutions including Central Saint Martins, the University of Northumbria, and the London College of Design & Fashion in Vietnam, mentoring students who have gone on to work with leading global brands such as Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Nike. He is also the Chair of the Graduate Fashion Foundation, the organisation behind Graduate Fashion Week London, and a Founder Member of the British Fashion Council College Forum.
Joanne Stoker
Fashion Design & Marketing
Joanne Stoker is a fashion and textile designer with over 25 years of international industry experience across London, New York, Italy, China, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. She holds a BA in Fashion/Apparel Design from Northumbria University and an MA in Footwear Design from the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London.
Throughout her career, Joanne has worked with leading global brands including Matthew Williamson, The Dune Group, 7 For All Mankind, and Cartoon Network Amazone, specialising in footwear and accessories design. Mentored by Jimmy Choo early in her career, she later launched her own footwear label in 2011 and currently serves as the Founder and Creative Director of Nåd. She has also worked as a Guest Lecturer at the University of the Arts London and continues to contribute to the fashion industry through design direction, consultancy, and international fashion week participation.
Tia Goonaratna
Design Foundation/Student Learning & Engagement
Tia Goonaratna is a multidisciplinary creative professional with experience spanning design, photography, journalism, copywriting, and lecturing in Human-Centred Design. She holds a BA in Graphic Design from Northumbria University and an MA in Applied Imagination from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, where her work focused on building emotional resilience in adolescents through game-based learning.
Her professional journey includes roles as a copywriter at ODEL (PVT) Ltd and Grant McCann Erickson, Senior Copywriter at Roar Global, Content Writer and Editor at Jigsaw Ensemble, journalist at The Sunday Leader, and Deputy Manager (Ladies Section) / Supervisor at Cyberdog. Tia’s work is driven by a deep interest in human behaviour, empathy, and bridging generational perspectives, translating insights into meaningful, people-centred communication.
Shiva Viswanathan
Visual Communication Design
Shiva is a communication designer and brand strategist with over three decades of experience in print, interactive design, UX, and digital marketing. A graduate of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, he has worked across branding, content marketing, e-commerce, mobile, social media, and advertising, building a strong reputation in the fields of design strategy and user experience.
Throughout his career, Shiva has held leadership roles at globally recognised companies including Ogilvy, Brand Union India, Sapient, and Ray and Keshavan Design. He founded Apparatus Media Lab in 2003, which was later acquired by WPP/Ogilvy in 2013. He currently serves as Founder and CMO + Design Head at Catenate, while also contributing as Director of the DesignUp Conference, Director at Zamstars Management Services, and Academic Advisor and Mentor at AND Academy.
Shilanthi Abayagunawardana
Fashion & Textile Design
Shilanthi is a skilled designer with over thirty years of experience in designing fabrics for interiors and commercial purposes. Shilanthi studied design at the Ontario College of Arts in Canada and was awarded the Ontario College of Arts Textile Design Award in 1983. In recognition of her exceptional work in textile design, she was also offered the Lily Maley Scholarship and the Banff Arts Centre Scholarship.
After returning to Sri Lanka, Shilanthi used her expertise in textile design to work with the University of Moratuwa and pioneering fabric studios on the island, such as Barefoot and Jewel Knits. Shilanthi teaches young fashion designers at AOD to create exquisite and innovative textiles using traditional and modern inspirations.
Damayanthi Wedage
Fashion & Textile Design
Damayanthi earned her formal education in Pattern making and grading at the Clothing Industry Training Institute. Damayanthi shared her experience at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura and National Institute of Education (NIE) and at Technology Transfer Programmes in Scientific Dress Making organised by IDB, NHA and Japan International Co-operation Agency (J.I.C.A). Damayanthi has also been part of the National Industrial Training Advisory Committee. She teaches AOD’s fashion students Techniques and Processes in Fashion, helping them to better understand the technical constructions in fashion and textiles.
Rashika Abeyawardana
Fashion & Textile Design/Interior Design
Rashika Abeyawardana is an architect and educator with experience in architecture, built environment studies, and design education. She completed her B.Sc. (Hons) in Built Environment at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, before pursuing a Diploma in Architecture (RIBA Part 2) and an M.Sc. in Built Environment (Virtual Environments) at University College London (UCL).
Rashika has worked internationally as an Architect at YRM Architects in London and currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at the City School of Architecture Colombo (CSA). She has also contributed to architectural education at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa. At AOD, Rashika shares her expertise in architecture and spatial thinking, helping students develop a deeper understanding of design and the built environment.
Prabath Samarasooriya
Fashion & Textile Design/Fashion Design & Marketing
In addition to graduating with a First Class Honours degree in Fashion Design from Northumbria University (UK), Prabath holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Kelaniya, a diploma in Jewellery Design from the Institute of Gem and Jewellery, a certificate in CAD for Jewellery Design, and a Fellowship in Teaching Practices from the Higher Education Academy (UK). With over three years of academic training in fine arts, he has established himself as a multidisciplinary creative professional and respected fashion designer in Sri Lanka.
Having been nominated for several design awards, Prabath has showcased his work at leading fashion platforms including London Fashion Week Designer Showcase, Berlin Fashion Week, Kochi Fashion Week, Colombo Fashion Week, Sri Lanka Design Festival, PReT, Hyderabad Fashion Week, and Chennai Fashion Week. Beyond fashion design, he is also a professional illustrator, textile designer, and set and costume designer for theatre.
María Pérez
Visual Communication Design
María Pérez is a Colombian designer, educator, and peacebuilder with over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of visual communication, social innovation, and community-led peacebuilding. Trained in Graphic Design at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, she has also pursued studies in peacebuilding, social innovation, and leadership at institutions including Chulalongkorn University, Università degli Studi di Verona, Universidad EAFIT, and the East-West Center as part of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Program.
Her work spans Latin America, Asia, and the United States, combining participatory design, intercultural learning, and civic storytelling through education, campaigns, and community engagement. María has held roles including International Coordinator at Peace Boat, Coordinator of Art for Social Transformation at IDARTES, and Subsecretaria Ciudadanía Cultural at the Alcaldía de Medellín, and currently works as a Creativity & Innovation Advisor at United4Change Center U4C.
Binu Wickramasinghe
Fashion Design & Marketing
Binu is a fashion and business professional with experience spanning fashion design, retail operations, and commercial strategy across international brands and platforms. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion/Apparel Design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology and an MA in Fashion Design Management from the University of the Arts London.
Her professional experience includes roles as Design Manager at Tateossian London, Project Manager at Daraz, and Chief Operating Officer at Aviraté. She is also the Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Design Collective Store, a multi-branded fashion retail store, bringing together expertise in design, brand development, and commercial management across the fashion industry.
Pathum Egodawatta
Visual Communication Design
Pathum is a type designer and creative professional with a background in graphic design and typography. He holds a BA in Graphic Design from Northumbria University and an MA in Typeface Design from the University of Reading.
His professional experience includes working as a Junior Art Director at Grant McCann Erickson and Assistant Consultant for Google Fonts. He is also a Font Expert with the Sinhala Generation Panel under ICANN and currently serves as Co-Founder and Type Director of Akuru Collective and mooniak, focusing on type design, typography, and multilingual font development.
Abhilash Jose
Motion Graphics & Animation Design
Abhilash Jose is a Creative Design Lead with over 13 years of experience across product design, gaming, media, and fintech services. A postgraduate in Animation Film Design from the National Institute of Design, he has worked with companies including Mech Mocha, Rapipay Fintech, Mobile Premier League (MPL), SellerApp, and Bullfinch Software, specialising in visual design, product experiences, and creative strategy. Alongside his industry experience, Abhilash has also contributed to design education as a Design Educator at École Intuit Lab.
Chathuri Kannagara
Interior Design
Chathuri graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture Design from the renowned Northumbria University. She began her professional career as an Interior Designer at W & W Constructions before joining DDN Design, one of Sri Lanka’s leading interior design firms led by renowned Interior Designer and Architect Dipika Dharmadasa.
Currently serving as Senior Design Executive at DDN Design, Chathuri has built extensive industry experience in interior architecture and spatial design, contributing to a range of residential and commercial design projects in Sri Lanka.
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Chethya Munasinghe
Visual Communication Design
Chethya is a creative professional with a strong foundation in graphic design and design innovation. She holds a BA in Graphic Design from Northumbria University and a Master’s degree in Design Innovation from De Montfort University.
Her professional experience includes working as an Art Director for Island Craft / Urban Island Fashion Market.LK, and currently as Creative Director at Dr. Mikel J Harry Six Sigma Management Institute Asia. She also works as a Freelance Art Director and has contributed as a Lecturer at the Shilpa Sayura Foundation, bringing together practice and teaching across design, fashion, and creative strategy.
Amalendu Kaushik
Motion Graphics & Animation Design
A graduate of the National Institute of Design with a Bachelor of Design in Animation Film Design, he is a visual designer and animator with experience across animation, motion graphics, and creative direction. His professional journey includes working as a freelance 2D animator for Philm CGI and Ghost Animation Studio, Motion Designer for Red Bull, Motion Graphic Designer for Adobe, Senior Visual Designer at The ANT (The Action Northeast Trust), and Creative Director for the National Council of Science Museums. He currently serves as Director of Studio Zeng and Visiting Design Faculty at the National Institute of Design.
Irushi Tennekoon
Motion Graphics & Animation Design
Irushi is an artist and animator based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, working with experimental materials and techniques to tell stories from Sri Lanka and South Asia. She completed her MA in Animation at the Royal College of Art, London, supported by a Chevening Scholarship (2022/23), and currently teaches animation to undergraduates at the Academy of Design (AOD) while continuing to develop work from her home studio.
Her film ‘Is this an architectural documentary?’ (2023), commissioned by the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka for the exhibition 88 Acres, explores the Watapuluwa Housing Scheme designed by Sri Lanka’s first woman architect, Minnette De Silva. The film received the SAH 2025 Award for Film and Video (USA) and has been screened at institutions including the V&A Museum in London, the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, Goethe-Institut Colombo, and MMCA Sri Lanka.
Leyanvi Mirando
Visual Communication Design
Leyanvi is a creative professional with a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design from the Academy of Design, Sri Lanka. She began her career as a Junior Art Director at Lowe LDB Sri Lanka before moving into editorial design as Art Editor at Echelon Magazine, and has since built an extensive career in advertising, serving as Creative Group Head at MullenLowe Sri Lanka and currently as Associate Creative Director at DEFY, with experience spanning branding, campaign development, and creative leadership across leading agencies in Sri Lanka.
Chani Perera
Visual Communication Design
Chani is a multidisciplinary creative professional with a strong background in graphic design, advertising, and design innovation. She holds an HND in Graphic Design and Advertising from Edexcel International (Pearson UK), a BA (Hons) First Class in Graphic Design from Northumbria University, and an MA in Design Innovation from De Montfort University.
Her professional experience spans leading agencies and studios, including roles as In-House Graphic Designer at The Bloom Room & Coco Veranda, Art Director at Little Black Book, Junior Art Director at Leo Burnett Sri Lanka, and Head of Creative at Innovation Quotient. She has also served as Lead Designer at Riot House, Creative Lead at Dentsu Grant, and Creative Group Head at Food Studio SL, building a strong portfolio across branding, advertising, and creative leadership.
Krishanth Mahendran
Motion Graphics & Animation Design
Krishanth Mahendran is a 3D animator and rigging artist with a BSc (Hons) in Multimedia Technology from ESOFT Metro Campus. His work spans animation, rigging, and 3D asset creation across film and studio environments. His professional experience includes roles as a General Graphic Designer at Jonathan’s 1924, 3D Props Artist at Zolumn, 3D Character Animator and Rigger at Thina Entertainment (Pvt) Ltd, and currently Lead Rigging Artist at Mogo Studios, specialising in character rigging and 3D animation pipelines.
Ahsam Anwer
Interior Design
Ahsan is a designer and 3D visualisation specialist with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Northumbria University. He has built experience across interior design, architectural visualisation, and animation, including roles as an Interior Designer at Space Envoy and SK Interior Solutions, and as a 3D Architectural Designer & Animator at Animeaxiom Labs. His freelance work includes projects as a 3D Artist and 3D Visualizer/Interior Architect for clients such as Plum Living, focusing on spatial design and visualisation.
Dinendri Indrathissa
Motion Graphics & Animation Design
Dinedri is a creative professional with a background in animation, digital illustration, and marketing communications. She holds a BA in Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects from the University of Lancashire and an MSc in Digital Marketing Communications from Northumbria University. Her professional experience includes working as a Development Merchandiser at MAS Holdings and as an Animation Artist and 2D Digital Illustrator in freelance practice, combining visual storytelling with digital and marketing-focused design.
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Nimna Wickramasinghe
Design Foundation
Nimna is a multidisciplinary designer whose work revolves around merchandise design and visual storytelling across multiple mediums. She holds an MA in Design Innovation from De Montfort University, a BA (Hons) in Fashion & Textile Design from Northumbria University, and a Postgraduate Diploma (Certificate Level) from The Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Her professional experience includes working as a Designer at Urban Island, Assistant Designer at LOVI Ceylon, and Senior Creative Strategist at AOD, where she brings together design thinking, visual narrative development, and strategic creative direction.
Drew De Silva
Motion Graphics & Animation Design/Design Foundation
Drew is an animator, writer, and cultural analyst with a Bachelor of Arts in Motion Graphics & Animation from Northumbria University. His work spans animation, content writing, curation, and art direction across creative and cultural platforms.
His professional experience includes roles as Head of Content Writing at Scope Creative, Exhibition Curator at the Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF), Art Director for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka, Design Intern at Dilmah Tea, and currently, Design Researcher at Critcap Labs. He has also worked as an artist with M Productions, contributing to projects across animation and visual storytelling.
