• Type: Meetup
• Title: Vijay Kumar x ADI
• Engagement of Akshaya: Co-designing and co-curating the gathering.
• Period / Date: 9th January 2025.
• Organization: BITS Design School Mumbai.
• Title: Vijay Kumar x ADI
• Engagement of Akshaya: Co-designing and co-curating the gathering.
• Period / Date: 9th January 2025.
• Organization: BITS Design School Mumbai.
OVERVIEW
Event gathering titled "Vijay Kumar x ADI (Association of Designers of India)," was organized by BITS Design School Mumbai, and supported by ADI (Association of Designers of India) Mumbai, on the evening of 9th January 2025.
Event gathering titled "Vijay Kumar x ADI (Association of Designers of India)," was organized by BITS Design School Mumbai, and supported by ADI (Association of Designers of India) Mumbai, on the evening of 9th January 2025.
This gathering is thoughtfully curated for a select group of design leaders, educators, and innovators.
PROFILES
Vijay Kumar
Vijay Kumar is a distinguished figure in design innovation, renowned for his structured methodologies that have significantly influenced both academia and industry. Vijay Kumar is a professor at the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology, where he leads the Strategic Design Planning and Design Methods programs. His seminal work, 101 Design Methods: A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your Organization, published in 2012, offers a comprehensive toolkit for designers, providing structured methods to uncover innovation opportunities and develop human-centered solutions.
Vijay Kumar is a distinguished figure in design innovation, renowned for his structured methodologies that have significantly influenced both academia and industry. Vijay Kumar is a professor at the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology, where he leads the Strategic Design Planning and Design Methods programs. His seminal work, 101 Design Methods: A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your Organization, published in 2012, offers a comprehensive toolkit for designers, providing structured methods to uncover innovation opportunities and develop human-centered solutions.
Prapti Jha
Prapti Jha is a Senior Design Strategist at Cisco, where she develops research-backed cybersecurity solutions to bridge the gap between user needs and business objectives. She has a rich background in design-led innovation, having worked on projects that enhance customer experiences through deep human insights. Her work emphasizes the importance of integrating design thinking into business strategies to drive innovation.
Prapti Jha is a Senior Design Strategist at Cisco, where she develops research-backed cybersecurity solutions to bridge the gap between user needs and business objectives. She has a rich background in design-led innovation, having worked on projects that enhance customer experiences through deep human insights. Her work emphasizes the importance of integrating design thinking into business strategies to drive innovation.
Prapti has been student of Vijay Kumar, and a associate.
Harsh Wardhan
Harsh Wardhan is an Innovation Lead at Google Cloud's Solutions Studio, where he builds and leads innovation programs to assist customers in their digital transformation journeys. His expertise lies in developing strategies rooted in human insights, unlocking business value, and driving innovation through design-led approaches.
Harsh Wardhan is an Innovation Lead at Google Cloud's Solutions Studio, where he builds and leads innovation programs to assist customers in their digital transformation journeys. His expertise lies in developing strategies rooted in human insights, unlocking business value, and driving innovation through design-led approaches.
Harsh has been student of Vijay Kumar, and a associate.
Together, Prapti Jha and Harsh Wardhan have collaborated on advocating for design-led innovation, sharing best practices and case studies that highlight the impact of integrating design thinking into business processes.
STRUCTURE
Gathering
The gathering was attended by over 50 industry professionals in addition to the faculty, program team and students of BITS Design School Mumbai.
The gathering was attended by over 50 industry professionals in addition to the faculty, program team and students of BITS Design School Mumbai.
The gathering was themed on "Future of Creative Systems." This forward-looking session was designed to explore the future of creative systems, focusing on emerging trends and technologies that will shape the design industry. Attendees are to gain insights into how creative systems are evolving and what this means for the future of design. The session includes discussions on the integration of new technologies, innovative methodologies, and the potential impact on various design disciplines.
Pre-Gathering: Students Engagement
Prior to the evening "Vijay Kumar x ADI" gathering, in the morning and afternoon Vijay Kumar, Prapti and Harsh conducted sessions students, faculty and program team of BITS Design School.
Prior to the evening "Vijay Kumar x ADI" gathering, in the morning and afternoon Vijay Kumar, Prapti and Harsh conducted sessions students, faculty and program team of BITS Design School.
Session with students
1. Evolution of Design as a Field & Vijay’s Journey:
Vijay is to share his personal experiences and milestones, highlighting key developments and transformative moments in design history. This session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how design has evolved and its impact on various industries.
1. Evolution of Design as a Field & Vijay’s Journey:
Vijay is to share his personal experiences and milestones, highlighting key developments and transformative moments in design history. This session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how design has evolved and its impact on various industries.
2. AI & Design - A Tectonic Shift:
Prapti Jha and Harsh Wardhan is to discuss the profound changes AI is bringing to the design landscape. Students are to gain insights into how AI is reshaping design processes, enhancing creativity, and driving innovation. The session is to cover practical applications of AI in design and discuss the future possibilities of this powerful technology.
Prapti Jha and Harsh Wardhan is to discuss the profound changes AI is bringing to the design landscape. Students are to gain insights into how AI is reshaping design processes, enhancing creativity, and driving innovation. The session is to cover practical applications of AI in design and discuss the future possibilities of this powerful technology.
Session with faculty
1. Conversational Session with Faculties:
This interactive session, led by Vijay Kumar, is designed specifically for faculty members. It will delve deeper into the topics discussed in the morning session, with a focus on the evolution of the design field.
1. Conversational Session with Faculties:
This interactive session, led by Vijay Kumar, is designed specifically for faculty members. It will delve deeper into the topics discussed in the morning session, with a focus on the evolution of the design field.
The discussion is to include:
a. Evolution of the Field of Design: A continuation of the morning discussion, tailored for faculty, including AI adaptability and AI for educators.
b. Structured Methods for Innovation: Exploring frameworks for fostering innovation and building a culture of trans-disciplinarity. Faculty will engage in discussions on how to implement these methods in their teaching and research.
a. Evolution of the Field of Design: A continuation of the morning discussion, tailored for faculty, including AI adaptability and AI for educators.
b. Structured Methods for Innovation: Exploring frameworks for fostering innovation and building a culture of trans-disciplinarity. Faculty will engage in discussions on how to implement these methods in their teaching and research.
INSIGHTS
Future of Creative Systems – Vijay Kumar
Vijay Kumar's session focused on the evolving nature of creative systems and how they are being shaped by technological and methodological advancements.
Vijay Kumar's session focused on the evolving nature of creative systems and how they are being shaped by technological and methodological advancements.
Key insights included
• The integration of new technologies such as AI, machine learning, and digital fabrication into creative processes.
• The adoption of innovative design methodologies to address complex challenges in various design disciplines.
• The growing role of systems thinking in driving creativity and problem-solving within the design industry.
• The integration of new technologies such as AI, machine learning, and digital fabrication into creative processes.
• The adoption of innovative design methodologies to address complex challenges in various design disciplines.
• The growing role of systems thinking in driving creativity and problem-solving within the design industry.
Impact of AI on Design – Prapti Jha and Harsh Wardhan
Prapti Jha and Harsh Wardhan explored the transformative impact of AI on design processes and creativity.
Prapti Jha and Harsh Wardhan explored the transformative impact of AI on design processes and creativity.
Key insights included
• AI’s ability to automate repetitive tasks, allowing designers to focus on more strategic and creative aspects.
• Enhanced design capabilities through generative AI, predictive modeling, and real-time feedback.
• Practical applications of AI in product design, user experience, and creative problem-solving.
• Ethical considerations and challenges in balancing human creativity with AI-driven design processes.
• AI’s ability to automate repetitive tasks, allowing designers to focus on more strategic and creative aspects.
• Enhanced design capabilities through generative AI, predictive modeling, and real-time feedback.
• Practical applications of AI in product design, user experience, and creative problem-solving.
• Ethical considerations and challenges in balancing human creativity with AI-driven design processes.
CONCLUSION
• The gathering highlighted the intersection of emerging technologies and creative methodologies, reinforcing the need for designers to adapt to rapid technological changes.
• Vijay Kumar shared his perspectives on addressing complex challenges through design. He emphasised on methodical, human-centric approaches to innovation in areas such as city planning, public health, and policy-making. He also highlighted emerging technologies like AI, VR, AR, and 3D and their transformative potential in governance and sustainability. Vijay Kumar underscored the importance of systems thinking and the strategic integration of new technologies to future-proof the design industry.
• Prapti Jha and Harsh Wardhan emphasized that AI is not only transforming design processes but also opening new avenues for innovation and creative exploration.
• The sessions concluded with a shared understanding that future design practices will require a balanced approach, combining human intuition and technological capabilities to drive meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
• The gathering highlighted the intersection of emerging technologies and creative methodologies, reinforcing the need for designers to adapt to rapid technological changes.
• Vijay Kumar shared his perspectives on addressing complex challenges through design. He emphasised on methodical, human-centric approaches to innovation in areas such as city planning, public health, and policy-making. He also highlighted emerging technologies like AI, VR, AR, and 3D and their transformative potential in governance and sustainability. Vijay Kumar underscored the importance of systems thinking and the strategic integration of new technologies to future-proof the design industry.
• Prapti Jha and Harsh Wardhan emphasized that AI is not only transforming design processes but also opening new avenues for innovation and creative exploration.
• The sessions concluded with a shared understanding that future design practices will require a balanced approach, combining human intuition and technological capabilities to drive meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
A Zine on the Conference - "Care Value Place", designed by Akshaya Manoj, Atheeva Rejikumar, Pramod Priya Ranjan, and content curated by Khushboo Jogani, was presented to the attendees.
Two other Zines on 'Student Life' at BITS Design School were also presented.
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