The focus started shifting from 'social issues' to 'industrial problems' in the mid-seventies. The late seventies saw the firming up of a harmonious, symbiotic relationship between IDC and industry in the form of faculty consultancy projects, to be followed later by sponsored student projects. The awareness of design, which was brought about by Expo ID's, was unparalleled in this context. The industry was forced to sit up and take notice, recognising the important role design would play in the future. The growth in awareness was matched by an increase in resources. The IDC expanded both physically and intellectually.