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20 Mar 2025

Open Design Lecture 2025

The Department of Design invites you to join the Design Lecture by Prof. Uday Athavankar on 26 February 2025.
Talk abstract:
BRICS countries are in a hurry to catch up with the lifestyle and comforts of the developed countries. Part I of the presentation will start with the polarizing effect of globalization and open trade border policies using a unique two-dimensional map that segments the society along two continuums: 1] ‘rich-poor’ and 2] ‘modern–natives.’ The map offers insights into the different effects of globalization on people in the four quadrants. The presentation also shows the dangers of people in the ‘rich-modern quadrant’ willingly globalizing themselves, without being selective and discerning in adopting objects, technologies, and ideas. They are unwittingly becoming role models for other quadrants to follow. As a result, the traditions and cultural practices that were unique to these countries are erased.

Part II searches for designerly reactions. It seeks answers to questions like, “How do cultures change? Why and when do cultures resist change? And can the designer abandon the role of bystander and confront this situation through a new design approach?” It ends with documentation of the work of several designers who have explored the new approach.
Profile of the speaker:
Prof. Uday Athavankar was an adjunct faculty member of the Department of Design, IITH and a retired Professor of IDC, IIT Bombay. After being trained as an architect at J.J School of Architecture, Prof. Uday Athavankar worked in the field for 4 years with Architect Kamu Iyer, before switching over to Industrial Design in 1970. As a UNESCO scholar, he studied Industrial Design at the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. Over 45 years, he divided his time between Industrial Design teaching, Design research, and Design-related consulting for companies.

The Department of Design invites everyone to the Design Lecture by Dr. A. Saibaba Goud on 27 February 2025.
Talk Abstract:
Dr Saibaba Goud has contributed much to society through his works for the poor and the sick, especially those who are blind. He founded the Devnar School for the Blind where children who have been affected are taken up, encouraged to study and prove themselves to the world. The school today has over five hundred children who study there free of charge and some of whom have gone on to become teachers, engineers and even sportspersons. The purpose in running the school is to instill in these children a sense of confidence that they too can be contributing citizens of India.

With a strength of 500+ children from all over the Country, the school provides free education along with free board and lodging facilities to blind students from LKG to Gradual Standard who come from all walks of life. They believe that education alone can make them to live with self-esteem and reduce the burden on the family and Government. Devnar Model has helped in admission, retention and making them useful citizens of the society. It has inspired people not only in our Country but also in Sri Lanka, Combodia, Somalia, Ethiopia and Sweden. Devnar has been successful in changing the attitude of the public from Charity based to rights based approach.
Dr Saibaba Goud’s talk will be on how The foundation has transformed the lives of the visually challenged.

Profile of the Speaker:
Dr. A. Saibaba Goud earned an MS in Ophthalmology from Osmania University. He completed his Ph.D. in Ophthalmology in February 1988, becoming the first recipient of a Doctorate in Community Ophthalmology in India. Dr. Goud served as Medical Superintendent of Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, Hyderabad, and also as Professor and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad.He was honored by six successive Presidents of India, Governors of various states, and was the recipient of both the Padma Shri and the B. C. Roy Award.

The Department of Design invites everyone to join the Design Lecture by Shakul Sonker on 3 March 2025.
Talk Abstract:
In this session, we will discuss digital accessibility including web, content and social media accessibility. We will understand what accessibility really is, why do we need to create an accessible digital space, How can we make our digital space accessible, and different attributes of digital accessibility.
Profile of the Speaker:
Shakul Raj Sonker was an entrepreneur and technologist who worked to enhance the accessibility of digital infrastructure, aiming to make it inclusive and accessible for all. He co-founded I-Stem, a digital accessibility company that developed technology to address digital accessibility challenges. With over 6 years of experience in the accessibility domain, Shakul was recognized by organizations such as UNICEF, GSMA, Microsoft, and Meta for his impactful work.

The Department of Design invites everyone to the Design Lecture by Prof. Amaresh Chakrabarti on 05 March 2025.
Talk Abstract:
As stated by Nigel Cross, Design was described as an “interdisciplinary discipline.” Its roots spanned broad areas such as art, craft, engineering, and management, among others. Through an exploration of the evolution of the idea of the ‘Designer’, this talk discussed the fundamental concepts of design, design research, and design research methodology. It contributed to the complex and nuanced discourse around identifying and relating the many aspects and meanings of this multi-faceted discipline.
Profile of the Speaker:
Amaresh Chakrabarti was a Senior Professor and the Chair of the Department of Design & Manufacturing at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. He earned his BE (Topper in Mechanical Engineering, IIEST Shibpur), ME (Topper in Mechanical Design, IISc), and PhD (Engineering Design, University of Cambridge, UK). He led the Design Synthesis group for 10 years at the EPSRC Centre of Excellence in Engineering Design at the University of Cambridge. His research interests included synthesis, creativity, sustainability, and informatics. He published over 35 books, more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, and held 13 patents (granted or pending). He also co-authored DRM, a methodology widely used as a framework for design research.

The Department of Design invites everyone to a talk and discussion by Lotte Marie Allen on 17 March 2025.
Talk Abstract:
The talk will be a an introduction to the program, followed by a Q+A. Lotte will also share a few of our reels and thesis projects from the past few years.
Profile of the Speaker:
Lotte Marie Allen was an educator, curator, arts administrator, and media artist based in New York City. Her projects worked with moving images and drawings to explore alternative histories, archaeology, and imagined futures. She had a background in non-profit management and education, and at the time, was working with the MFA Computer Arts program at the School of Visual Arts. She held an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Public Engagement, and a BA in Visual Art and Human Rights from Bard College.