Vision Statement

To cultivate a culture of design learning that celebrates exploration, experimentation, and individuality—where learners discover their own paths, challenge conventions, and create meaningful and sustainable design solutions for a changing world.

Mission Statement

At Off Center for Design, our mission is to:

Carry forward the spirit of NID’s pioneering pedagogy, our experience - —learning by doing, thinking through making, and embracing hands-on discovery.
Encourage learners to question, explore, and experiment rather than follow prescribed formulas.
Foster an environment where multiple answers are possible, and originality matters more than conformity.
Design programs that blend rigor with freedom, equipping learners to find their unique voice in design.
Create a community of reflective practitioners who are unafraid to go “off-center” in pursuit of new ideas and meaningful impact.

Founder

The founder, Mohan Chinnasamy, from Coimbatore,

is a graduate of the Industrial design program at NID - National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

Mohan Chinnasamy
Director – Academics, Thazhal Institute of Design and Environmental Studies, Coimbatore

Alumnus of Industrial Design, NID Ahmedabad
Certified Usability Analyst (CUA), Human Factors International - HFI
Trained in Jewelry Manufacturing Arts, GIA, Los Angeles, USA (not completed)

Former Roles:

Assistant Professor, Accessory Design, NIFT New Delhi
Associate Professor, Accessory Design, NIFT, Bengaluru
Chairperson, Accessory Design, for all NIFT centers
Professor, Industrial Design, DJ Academy of Design, Coimbatore
Director at Off-Center for Design

He partnered with his colleague and started Coimbatore-based design school named TIDES -Thazhal Institute of Design and Environmental Studies.

thazhaleducation.in/faculty

He is also a design consultant at the threads design, a design firm based in Coimbatore

https://www.thethreadsdesign.com