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WeaveDesign thinking meets circular economy 02 November 2020 Edition DESIGN Every great design begins with an even better story. BUSINESS There’s no shortage of remarkable ideas, what’s missing is the will to execute them. CIRCULAR In nature nothing is created and nothing is destroyed but everything is tranformed. SUSTAINABLE Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction. ECONOMY Globalization, arguably, is the best thing to have happened to modern-day. CREATIVE CORPORATIONS AND CONSCIOUS DESIGN AVANTIKA UNIVERSITY
From the Editor In a world of metamorphic success story of QuickHeal, and challenges, from depleting Tal Catran bringing in a fresh resources to new age consumer perspective, from Tel Aviv, on problems, it takes a designeer to Designeering. awaken and formulate conscious solutions to power enterprises Parallelly this publication also that dare to be creative. encompasses awe-inspiring leaders expressing their thoughts Design thinking companies today on design, culture, innovation have consistently outperformed. and its impact on the Indian Focusing on collaboration, continent. co-creation, empathy, design thinking, and conscious WEAVE also spotlights new talents approach are a natural fit. At and challenges the latest trends. Ishan Nakate the same time, companies are Pranay Patwardhan’s personal approaching the challenges of account takes us into the mind @nustaesthetics the world with a new creative of a young creative director at direction. Animal, while the Co-founders of Since the beginning of this universe, life Xeno Co-lab, Swar Raisinghani, systems have caused materials to flow The students of Avantika and Nikhita Ghugari, introduce infinitely in a circle, the coverpage draws University bring you the second us to Circular Design and how to inspiration from the same. Circular design is issue of WEAVE showcasing the implement it. designing of a cycle in which resources are best design, technology, business continuously cycled in various forms, following and most importantly a blended I invite you to delve into a reuse and recycle loop. These resources approach of the three. We have our second issue, Creative therefore do not go to waste. Waste indeed is an illustrious line-up of brilliant Corporations and Conscious. waste if you call it that – because one man’s minds, including Kailash Katkar Design. trash is another man’s treasure. talking about the incredible Reach out to us on theweavemagazine@gmail.com Miral Zafar
27 How To : Tal Catran Table Of (Accelerators Guru, International Keynote Speaker, Professional Moderator and Startup Ecosystems Builder) Go Hybrid Go Designeer Contents 31 Thought Leadership : Disha Kaushal (Design Thinking Consultant and Educator) Designer Mom Under House Arrest 05 Thought Leadership : Ankur Sardana 35 Inspiration : Anjan Biswas (Head of Design, OLX Group) (India Innovation lead, Amdocs) The Curious Case of Business v/s User Goals A Culture of Innovation 09 Feature Article : Kailash Katkar 39 Thought Leadership : Siddharth Ganguly (Founder and CEO Quickheal) (Co-founder and Principal Creative at Uriel Design) Customer-oriented Innovation and Quickheal Nurturing the Profession of Design in India 13 How To : Swar Raisinghani and 43 Infographic : Bridging the Gap Nikhita Ghugari Bridging the Gap between Industry and Academia (Co-founders of Xeno Co-Lab) The Future is Circular 45 Young Achiever : Soham Mohanty (4th Year Industrial Design Student at Avantika University) 17 Comic Strip : Tanvi Dev Things to do while Photoshop grills your laptop 47 Thought Leadership : Julian Thadathil (Chief Operating Officer, JTBrandlabs) 19 Case Study : Vishal Kapoor Democratizing Designeering (Chief Design Officer (Group), Future Group India) Design and Culture 51 Campus Talent Celebrating budding designers 23 Infocus: Pranay Patwardhan (Creative Director, Animal) 53 Team Weave & Special Thanks Frames per Second, Changing Every Second The people who brought this issue to life Avantika University | November 2020
@theweavemagazine Thought Leadership The Curious Case of Business v/s User Goals If a company identifies 1. Lead and Evangelize, 2. Support and Wait, where that the gap between where user goals are business goals are primary their business goals and primary fuel for survival their users’ expectations is “User-centered thinking “We are a startup; we need always widening, it needs is not just for the design to show growth.” to rethink their business team” strategy. Ideally, if the Agreed, especially if the company provides an This is the best place a company is bootstrapped. experience that its users designer can be. This Investors are salivating need and appreciate, they is an organization that over proven models will pay for it, and that is believes in forming long and growth metrics like the best way to achieve term relationships with DAUs (Daily Active Users) business growth. Netflix is their users rather than and MAUs (Monthly Active an excellent example of short term gains. Designers Users). This does restrain this. No one would have should look at making the the startups from focusing thought people would new product deployment only on user goals. pay for content, but Netflix design by being inclusive. Designers at this stage stuck to its commitment need to be nimble and towards content. They Looking at co-creation with still keep refocusing the never tried cutting corners business, product and tech founders. Hopefully, when by introducing advertising teams, designers should the money finally comes or low-quality streaming. show how (User-centred in everyone is ready to And we are happy to pay Design) UCD could be change the focus more Ankur Sardana them. No wonder their part of the new product towards users. Head of Design, OLX Group yearly revenue is $6.44 development process. billion. Not all companies have the DNA and deep He is a design leader, startup mentor and improv coach. pockets to sustain user “If a company identifies He has had an opportunity to work with some of the best centric thinking at all that the gap between companies across the globe, including Honeywell, Philips, Samsung, Zomato and Amazon. times Here, are a few their business goals and different approaches we their users’ expectations could take as designers LinkedIn: Ankur Sardana in different situations (in is always widening, it software product/services needs to rethink their organizations) business strategy.” Avantika University | November 2020 06
3. Negotiate and Push, 4. Pushback and Correct, where Business and User where Business is blind Goals conflict sighted with growth focus “We cannot always look at “Sometimes it is fine to hide user’s convenience.” what’s not needed; users won’t get to know.” This is where most designers might find There is a fine line between themselves. Data and an experience which user testing are the best nudges the users to try ways to move forward in new options provided this scenario. Designers by the business, and when must use data through A/B the patterns become dark. testing to prove their point or push for user testing We have seen UX where “Ideally, if the company through prototyping where CTAs (Call to Actions) are testing is not possible and then speak about provided to confuse and get more clicks or when provides an experience how users have voted for/ against something till your extra money is added to the bill at checkout. Here is that its users need and voice is heard. when we need to put our foot on the ground and appreciate, they will pay Furthermore, when you keep up to the ethics of cannot stop something irritating for the user, try UCD. At Amazon, whenever there is a conflict between for it, and that is the best softening the blow. Fake Door testing is something UX and PM / Business folks / Tech, the tenet of way to achieve business like that. It is done usually ‘Customer Obsession’ is to see if the users want this invoked. It is not surprising growth.” feature (without building that the evaluation of that feature). Say, the user Amazon recently hit clicks on a link - ‘Press here $1.6 trillion. to download the PDF of this form’, and nothing really happens, maybe a pop-up ‘We don’t have it available, “Design can definitely will let you know soon’. Why play an important role not change the text to - to maintain balance, but ‘Download a PDF when it’s when it comes to available’? Always better a face-off, we are with the to be transparent. users and so should be you.” 07 Avantika University | November 2020
@theweavemagazine Feature Article 1. Starting from scratch 2. What has been an of shareholders in the in a competitive industry inspiration for you to grow business was a whole segment, the challenges the company having it new experience with you faced must have still transforming with more accountability and been paramount. How did the industry’s times and convincing. you find the strength to demands? persist on the journey of 3. Where does design Quickheal? My main objective is to thinking principles keep my customers happy, (problem-solution based QuickHeal truly sprouted this way I draw inspiration approach) come in? from a pure passion from them, and the for solving consumer technical problems they Problems are imperative, problems. Unaware of the face, itself. Always finding they bring challenges and Kailash Katkar terminologies or the details ways to help society with ultimately give you life. Founder and CEO Quickheal of running a business at my skills and if it demands, Let me tell you how the beginning, my brother learn some new ones too. scaling up has worked and I collaborated in an QuickHeal, we think from 10 attempt to fill this gap in Parallelly, there is a consumers how to enable the established software/ constant analysis into 100 then 1000 and more to virus protection softwares. where the market and the now tending to consumer In 1994-95 my brother digital world is moving, demands from around the Customer-oriented Sanjay developed the first antivirus tool which was to anticipate future challenges concerning world. received very well by our cybercrime with trial and Customer satisfaction is Innovation and QuickHeal consumers. Still, we never intended on achieving error. where the focus should be, success and ROI comes any major monetary gains Everyone is unique and automatically. Humble beginnings, with simply a thirst for knowledge from it.I have experienced there is always something and a drive to solve consumer problems, is the genesis failure too, and the trick is to learn from everyone. It Nevertheless, this has of the QuickHeal empire. In conversation with the making the right decision is key to do so because become particularly founder, Mr. Kailash Katkar, he starts by admitting, “I am at the right time. One people from their difficult because, now not from a business background.” must not get stuck and experience can educate there is a new generation Kailash Katkar started by repairing calculators, and as be bogged down by an you on dealing with new of consumers sprouting the consumer demands changed with the emergence unsuccessful venture. challenges as the business every 3 years itself, of computers, he identified that is where the need would Being able to let go and grows. challenging previous be and taught himself to repair computers. His focus move on is essential to generations’ beliefs and has always been, even now, entirely customer-oriented. enable innovation. We wanted to make sure systems. QuickHeal was not driven “Problems are imperative, they bring challenges and by family, and instead, be It is essential to keep ultimately give you life.” an institutional business. changing, moving, and sensing areas that may LinkedIn: Kailash Katkar Therefore it was public need QuickHeal solutions, Website: QuickHeal listed so that it could to keep ourselves on top of run somewhat on things. autopilot. The inclusion Avantika University | November 2020 10
We encourage investing in promptly. relationships and genuine “We aim to provide emotional connection We also have a zero-day attack, with with our partners and behavioral-based customers. Moreover, protection approach. the incorporation of we always think Win-Win Here if QuickHeal finds machine learning and AI where both parties, the suspicious activity in your the process is super fast partner and us should be device, it immediately now.” able to generate revenue. quarantines and sends a message to our security 5. How do you keep the research labs to decipher. innovation culture going, This lab comes under especially creating our R&D department 4. Could you share the solutions to the ever- evolving cybersecurity that also houses our solution function, product “Machines especially those ‘QuickHeal Culture’ and how you implement it in your workforce? threat? development, cloud, and networking teams all not functioning always get me inquisitive, and I find Innovation runs the collaborating to keep the business, we cannot innovation alive. Culture comes from expect yesterday’s values and integrity, with products to solve today’s - Written by Miral Zafar a large workforce, this can be set by putting proper problems. It takes continuous creativity and unlearning as a process of processes and policies in place. We have two key aspects of our culture here. problem solving to combat new viruses with solutions re-learning, so naturally, to new systems and data Firstly we, as an privacy. Our work does not stop at just the solution, I have a tendency to keep organization, believe that quality speaks for itself and customer satisfaction. we have teams that are responsible for digging upskilling.” deeper into the source and Thereby there is no need cause of the attack such to mislead or initiate that it can be eradicated comparison with the at detection itself. competition to attract consumers, always best to We aim to provide zero be transparent and frank day attack, with the for true consumer loyalty. incorporation of machine learning and AI the process The second aspect is that is super fast now. Once we stay grounded to our a solution is formulated, roots and true selves. My it can efficiently be team will always reflect tested over a multitude an aura of simplicity and of operating systems humility. and reach consumers 11 Avantika University | November 2020
@theweavemagazine How To The Future is Circular There is a growing unlocks profitable business share some actionable urgency to combat the channels. Predictions steps to help companies highly flawed current show that economic build a regenerative model economic linear model opportunities related to through design — of take
Design for Extended Human-Centered Circular Leveraging Technology for Lifecycle Design Circular Practices Principle of modularity Design circular design to reuse, replace and solutions that are relevant Advancement in refurbish to increase the to the user’s needs technology has product/service lifecycle led to paramount Consumers today do opportunities, it should Modularity can be pay more for sustainable be used intentionally and reflected through products, but if the purposefully. Instead of hardware and software. solution does not fit digital transformation Extending product into their lifestyle and being the end-goal, think lifecycles needs to be is not as convenient as of why and how you systematically designed its alternative, then that may use it in the process & implemented. It is the switch to circular choices to serve real needs, to “Designers need to work with companies that need is very difficult. Tom Szaky, accelerate the transition to to build the necessary infrastructure and means the CEO and founder of TerraCycle, tackles the a circular economy. the early adopters of circular to facilitate desirable actions from users and challenges of consumer behavior change by As it will take time for all companies to design solutions to help them implement them across addressing the question truly understand and value chains. Ultimately ‘Why did disposability begin to operate in a shift, reducing the negative the responsibility and win?’ — why do consumers circular model, it is the ownership of the product lifecycle lie with the choose it over other environmental-friendly designers who need to lead this transition. outcomes of a linear model, and companies and not the user. alternatives? How can we create a model that is as Service designers do have the power and the demonstrate the impact for the convenient and cheap? tools to design circular Conscious Choices solutions and create an followers. ” Making mindful and We need to design a ecosystem for a company intentional choices of model that is aligned with by solving organizational materials and resources consumers’ lifestyles and challenges and facilitating across the supply chain motivations. By building collaboration across silos an understanding of this to design truly innovative It is important to reflect on through research, we solutions that have the choice of material or create an experience a positive impact on resources required during that adds value over their humanity, the environment, the design process itself, current experience and is and the economy. not any later. Smarter and easier for users to adopt. creative decisions need To dive deeper here is a to be made across the link to the full article: supply chain to ensure ‘The Future is Circular’ that it is more efficient and reduces negative impact compared to the conventional value chain. 15 Avantika University | November 2020
COMIC STRIP “Things to do while Photoshop grills your laptop” While Photoshop is a God-blessed tool, we all have experienced it 'overheating' our devices, here's an exaggertion of things we can all do while it turns the device into a heated pan. May all devices rest in peace. - Tanvi Dev Website: Tanvi Dev Avantika University | November 2020
@theweavemagazine Case Study Design and Culture Culture — a derivation word culture, both in the of the Latin word organizations’ performing ‘colere’ signifies growth markets and within internal and change. It is an systems, would need to be amalgamation of wisdom, aligned seamlessly. This knowledge, art, and beliefs. alignment of context is my These rituals eventually notion of Culture Design. become our way of life, Ultimately design designs making us a part of a culture. larger group we call communities. Each of Design coming full circle these rituals has a certain way of thought, planning, Design generates a and execution with a repetitive reaction that purpose. can be coded as behavior. These behaviors then Likewise, an organization shape our collective is a social unit of people experiences through designed and managed culture. We all agree that to meet a need or pursue design is omnipresent: in collective goals. This the products we consume, group of people coming the space we live in, together for a common our mobility. Everything goal from different is designed such that backgrounds would need outcomes influence to be integrated towards our habits, which in turn Vishal Kapoor a common notion. This influence our behavior, our Chief Design Officer (Group), harmonious gravitation behavior becomes our Future Group India “ The design attitude is towards growth is what way of life and becomes more attuned to striking I would call Designed our cultural showcase. Systems. Thus design comes a full an emotional chord He has been associated with retail design space for over two circle. decades of experience with Future Group & Shoppers Stop, with its outcome while Organizations can differ leading retail business companies, India. He is a firm believer being collaborative and in terms of some being in the role of integrating creative and analytical thinking for visual in the process of chaotic, while most striving sustainable organizational growth. transformation.” for military-like precision. Each of them is better LinkedIn: Vishal Kapoor suited to its context. In this context is where the Avantika University | November 2020 20
Design in everyday life & a specific problem or cultural outcome viz; exploring possible future “ Everything is designed problems. A designer’s As an example of design such that outcomes capability to think with coming a full circle, influence our habits, hands brings in a sense of the advent of push- action while thinking, and button mobile phones which in turn influence thereby a lot of honesty to today’s smartphones our behavior, our and transparency in the has tethered us to a new behavior becomes our process. Design thinking kind of obsession; literally way of life and ultimately is a value-add while stimulating our physical our cultural showcase. approaching with a with and psychological Thus design comes a full a solution-driven mindset, sensibilities, creating a new by envisioning new ‘what if’ circle.” way of our reaction to the scenarios. environment around us. This is the power of design Finally, the ‘design mind’ created culture, which naturally works towards will mutate into a new What is with Design resolution with empathy, design need! Separate Attitude? rather than increased lanes for mobile users on pathways in China or an The role of designers environmental tension. I believe the design “Ultimately design integrated traffic signal on lies majorly in the skill attitude is more holistically the footpath on a street periphery of organizational receptive to ‘pro-sumers,’ designs culture.” crossing in Netherlands needs that evolve into in our ever growing to avoid accidents of the thinking and strategic collaborative economy immersed mobile users platforms. Here design where consumers are extended design can become very potent, now directly influence examples. naturally getting fluidity producers. and comfort with chaos, In today’s markets, the not compromising on With the economy speed of this cyclic user-centricity. changing from industrial, movement of creation, to the service-driven operation, and destruction The design attitude is experience economy, has been most rapid. With more attuned to striking where a product is the advent of technology an emotional chord hygiene, design attitude and empowered with its outcome while would be looked upon as a consumers, the power being collaborative and key trait. This will be in the equation has shifted visual in the process form of creative leadership towards the consumer. of transformation. This that balances the left and The traditional models works psychologically, right brain as necessary of organization design, in a fragmented yet for growth. processes, and behavior interconnected formation, are all getting refreshed and links various dots to stay contextual to the of diverse constituent changing consumer. disciplines while solving 21 Avantika University | November 2020
@theweavemagazine Infocus Article Frames per Second, Changing Every Second The music swells up as two worldview, and with all the Shikara boats drift apart, things we watch and how slowly floating away from we perceive them. SWAT the camera towards the Kats episodes over sunset. An ornate THE END childhood summers. slate appears, much to my The ridiculously catchy “What we create as confusion. I am at the ripe old age of seven, opening melody of Take on Me. Political debates at peeking in to see the dinner tables. Sore thumbs artists is a perpetual end sequence of a 1960s classic my parents are from an all-time Tetris high score. Witnessing a Sachin watching on our bulky TV. cover drive for the first evolution, shifting I gaze in complete denial that the movie has ended. time. with our changing What was all this Everything that we see and interact with, consciously despair? The longing, the or subconsciously, shapes worldview.” heartbreak? Where was the perfect ending with our curiosity, broadens our horizons, and makes the two protagonists us truly unique observers. embracing and dancing to That’s the whole reason peppy music? A long time nostalgia exists. We emote By Pranay Patwardhan before I had heard of film differently to the same Creative Director, Animal noir or the hero’s journey, things at different times or felt melancholy; my in our lives. The more we “Everything that perception of the see and feel, the more we He is an acclaimed Illustrator and Animation Filmmaker. He is also the Director on the Alumni Advisory Board for NFFTY. In we see and interact film—and the world by fall in love with the poetry the past, he has worked with Tata Elxsi, Green forest animation with, consciously or extension—was absolute. around us. Black and white. The & founded his startup in direction and animation for music subconsciously, shapes nuance, the intricacies, the I’d like to take you through videos & visualization. our curiosity, broadens faults, the appreciation, it some of my most beloved our horizons, and all came eventually. animation memories. LinkedIn: Pranay Patwardhan Website: PataPanda makes us truly unique Long-form, short films, Instagram: OinkOink observers.” What we create as artists commercials, indie is a perpetual evolution, projects, and everything in shifting with our changing between. Be warned, we Avantika University | November 2020 24
On a lighter note, who can Yet another ode to the influences into one fluid forget the quirky Simpu painstaking tenacity and form of storytelling. Not on Channel V, or even the dedication of the craft is just reserved for children’s catchy ‘Amaron Lasts Long, stop-motion animation. A cartoons, this medium Really Long’ jingle with the subgenre in itself with its captivates, inspires, and retelling of the rabbit and countless iterations, from surprises even the most tortoise fable? the DIY ‘Lego shorts’ all jaded of us. From discrete over YouTube, all the way phone notifications to Moving into the bizarre to long-form epics like flashy sci-fi visual effects, it realm, these next few Wes Anderson’s Isle of surrounds us all. aren’t for the faint-hearted. Dogs (2018) and Laika’s The shock of first coming ParaNorman (2012). across Don Hertzfeldt’s crude yet influential gory Finally, a special shoutout “To get briefly profound stick figures. The suspense to a modern-day classic for a moment, animation of Bambi Meets Godzilla in Spider-Man: Into the is your brain making (1969). The trippy wizardry Spider-Verse (2018). up an imaginary visual of Cyraik and his ever- Dazzling in its beauty, between two consequent looping worlds (that even stirring in its soul. static images to complete McDonald’s plagiarized the story, and that must in a commercial). These Animation and film-making were all rebellious game is a way for me to merge have a larger meaning.” changers. my myriad passions and are only scratching the Inevitably, Hayao Miyazaki Closer to home, India’s surface here, but I do hope is next. The master animation boom began that it is the beginning of storyteller brings alive in the early 2000s, and your personal journey into enchanting worlds mythological sagas this mesmerizing rabbit almost too beautiful to proved a popular theme hole. imagine. Even in these with the industry. But one mystic realms, his stories of the most strikingly Let’s begin with the obvious never shy away from well-made renditions of ones. Chances are these intense themes like a mythological story had are the ones you’re already environmentalism and come and gone more than thinking of—the dazzling, war examined through a decade prior. This was free-flowing, hand-drawn the very real lens of the Japanese-produced Disney classics. The magic human emotion. Coupled Ramayana: The Legend of the carpet ride in with unique pacing and of Prince Rama (1992), a Aladdin (1992); the horror of dynamic characters, sublime blend of anime the stampede in The Lion this is a radically unique and the Indian aesthetic. King (1994); the musically approach to the medium. Years later, Nina Paley’s Sita genius adventures of The Recommended watching: Sings the Blues (2008) was Jungle Book (1967). These Spirited Away (2001), My a more contemporary and spectacles transcend Neighbor Totoro (1988), comedic approach. generations. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004). 25 26
@theweavemagazine How To Go Hybrid Go Designeer COVID-19 The greatest Galilei, Leonardo da Vinci, equalizer mankind has and Thomas Edison. encountered! The rules of Demonstrating that a the game have changed, confluence of engineering rich or poor, central or and design skills, with a remote, it is clear that the touch of genius, a strong ‘New Normal’ is here. drive for success, and some crazy can make us All inperson services, fit and be disruptive, including medical, to create an impact. educational, financial, food, Remember that, like and shopping, have gone today’s startups, they all digital almost overnight had to first identify a need, by computerized, and develop a creative solution automated technologies. (engineering design), and The need to evolve, be finally figure out funding. versatile, responsive, flexible, and adaptable is A startup is a high risk the key to sustaining our commercial enterprise, jobs and as a result our especially for the first families. timers. Understand that a startup is first people, and It is easy to sink into then technology. You are despair and laziness. Wake not born an entrepreneur, up at noon, overweight, nor do you have to be because we cannot one. Those who try, fail to “It is the era of ‘Hybrid’ By Tal Catran leave home, and blame deliver the technology or Accelerators Guru, International Keynote Speaker, with physical and digital, everyone else for our product for which they Professional Moderator and Startup Ecosystems Builder on-premises and remote, miserable state. Yet, there signed up on this journey. combining professions; are plenty who take, Rather enjoy the ride, while Designeers.” almost invent, a different working hard. 96 percent He is a prominent figure in the global innovation ecosystem approach, they refuse to of entrepreneurs do not & has founded 14 startups accelerators since 2012. He is a succumb to ‘it is what it is.’ survive their first year of business partner with Haier Israel Innovation Center, Hubspot They are the Hybrids. operation, for various for startups, Microsoft for startups & more. reasons, but in most Unsurprisingly, they share cases, the reason is Website: Tal Catran the same gene as our liquidity or “running out of brilliant entrepreneurs fuel.” Inability to raise the and inventors, Galileo required capital. The initial Avantika University | November 2020 28
investment will, in most the availability of scientists cases, come from the and engineers, the number founders themselves, but a of start-ups per capita, major chunk is raised from and per capita investment private investors called in venture capital. angels. Ask yourself, when did you last see an angel? Most likely would be from It is clear that education venture capital funds, or stands at the foundation companies interested in of Israel’s success, as a product. Angels are a well as the realization capable yet lean team since establishment in of founders, versatile, 1948, we can rely mainly technological, and ready on ourselves and have to do what it takes, in a to meet our needs world of Supermen! independently. Israeli startups generate billions Israel is considered a world of dollars annually through leader in the field of start existence while improving ups. Overall, there are over the lives of millions of “Do not wait for fortune to 8,000 start ups in Israel, and about 1,000 new start people around the world. All in all, do not wait for fall on your lap, go out and ups are launched each fortune to fall into your year. The number of Israeli lap, go out and grab it! It is companies trading on better to be well equipped grab it. ” NASDAQ is larger than with sufficient education, the total number of professional hunger, and companies from Europe loads of motivation to combined. OECD published succeed lucratively too. a list of the most educated The more versatile, agile, countries in the world, and sharp you are, the based on the number of greater are your chances adults between the ages of reach your targets, and of 25 and 64 who received potentially standout. tertiary education: A two- Don’t Hesitate, Accelerate! year or four-year degree, or education through a vocational program. Based on this information, Israel ranks 3rd with 50.92 “ The digital world has percent of adults meeting leaped forward light- OECD criteria, Japan years.” (2nd) at 51.44 percent, and Canada (1st) at 56.71 percent. Israel ranks 1st in 29 Avantika University | November 2020
@theweavemagazine Thought Leadership Designer Mom Under House-Arrest The pandemic has done Most successful teachers enough damage to our do not only love to speak lives. But what we don’t and educate, but also realize is the goodness it understand that teaching has brought out in us. Most is not “one-size-fits- of us have taken it upon all domain”. Thereby, ourselves to do at least depending upon the one small act of kindness aptitude of their student, during these tough times, one has to keep in mind for reasons as varied as, that he/she is more making us feel good about responsive towards the ourselves to making sure one need to change their those who help us can approach and outlook. continue to be in our lives, From personal experience once the worst is behind let me share that I was us. For me, it was a year of trying to teach my many realizations. daughter, one who has not been to any regular I have a newfound respect school, how to hold a for nursery teachers; this piece of chalk. She felt year a learned what a too much pressure on the major leap it is for a child fingers and moved away. to hold a crayon to write So a couple of days later Disha Kaushal something that makes as I was painting an old Design Thinking Consultant and Educator “Design is the ability sense. With the schools container, my daughter shut, my 3 years old joins in and asks if she to get to the crux of a decided she would not could paint too. Turns Disha is a postgraduate in Strategic Design problem and bring about study on a device. Kids out she enjoys using the Management from NID, with special interest in visual a solution that solves are too smart these days brush. Now she loves using narratives, human behavior and cultural studies. She it, and simultaneously, to be told what to do with the brush a lot and writes has worked as a design strategist for IOS apps, graphic creates an experience a device, so I took it upon letters, draws using pens, designer and as a copywriter for Grazia India & more that’s beyond the myself to teach her at crayons, and paints in just projects. fundamental brief. Design home. It has been a much a matter of a few weeks. bigger struggle on my part, LinkedIn: Disha Kaushal is the art of storytelling!” that any homeschooling parent will tell you. 32 Avantika University | November 2020
Another incident that Thus, I got myself into and needs of people, I often mention, in my curriculum redesign for the so when my daughter design thinking classes, pre-K segment. Focusing started asking questions is when my daughter more on practical skills, like, “Mumma why do we figured out that I would not which would stay with the need to bury the batteries hand over our precious child lifelong, I wish I had in mud and not throw glass bangles to her. She been told this when I was them in the trash?” It got then got a rubber band that age. me thinking that for far too and cello tape rolls to long we as a community use as a bangle instead. I wanted to make it have focused on ‘Human Understand, the biggest accessible to children from Centered Design”, maybe challenges in teacher all backgrounds, thereby now is a time to go beyond readiness are to gauge making it technology- that and ask ourselves when to step in, and when dependent and more some tough questions. to back off and let the teacher-focused. Consider What am I making? How student solve the problem herself. It can be almost the knowledge that your and where will it end up at grandparents would share the end of its life cycle? Will “I think now is the time impossible to curb this with you, in the form of it make the world a better urge as a parent, but over these months I see that I stories or small chores around the house. Since I place? Yes. For that, I think the pandemic has made for ‘Humanity Centered have more to learn from her than vice versa. come from a background in design, I tend to be more us ready. Design’, one where we receptive to the behavior I feel that our education system focuses only on think beyond just our literacy and numeracy in the early years when there is so much else to learn. As users” a member of the Global Shapers Community, I took it upon myself to help my child pick up on a more sustainable lifestyle right from this age. We have together been sorting and segregating our waste for the past 2 years. Every evening I would take her with me to feed the wet waste to the cows in a neighboring park, serving the purpose and also teaching her to care for the species. 33 Avantika University | November 2020
@theweavemagazine Inspiration A Culture of Innovation The Need for a dedicated Need for Focus As I like to call it, being team to create a Culture unstructured within a of Innovation? Prioritizing and working structured framework, on important and urgent to create that optimal In the current times, which tasks, will take you closer to experience. Mihaly we usually refer to as achieving your vision. Csikszentmihalyi talks VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Ensure to say a ‘NO’ to about this in his book FLOW. Complex, Ambiguous), short-term attractive I keep reflecting on a opportunities (Business/ Beyond Obvious statement by Steve jobs Personal) in favor of the “…focus wasn’t about one thing needed for My observations made willpower. It was about achieving the VISION or me realize the power of the courage to abandon the DREAM. ‘imperfections.’ For Robots 1,000 great ideas to meet When it was on me to to have relations, they one big goal — even if that choose between adhering need to be programmed made people mad in the to the best practices of with certain imperfections process.” innovation to achieve and allowed to learn from supreme perfection, each other. Similarly, the What Steve Jobs had versus, putting in the time vulnerability of an expert brought to this world is to understand each allows us to reach the now a repository of true element deeper, to tweak actual needs of the user. inspiration. Beyond great or replace it; the choice products, he showed us had always been to focus For the success of the how to believe, evolve, and on experimentation. Trying Design Thinking Process, constantly innovate! out the unconventional; we must really connect taking those small back to our humanness By Anjan Biswas calculated risks and as imperfections and India Innovation lead, Amdocs learning from them. vulnerabilities enable us to approach solutions closer With over 15 years of experience, Anjan is Responsible “ Imperfections are Exposing the teams to to real user needs. actually more beautiful parts of a concept or for building and nurturing a Culture of Innovation at methodology (like the For this to happen, a Amdocs India. than perfect. It allows us Design Thinking dedicated and focused to be humane, opening Process) and allowing team is needed. It has to LinkedIn: Anjan Biswas possibilities to appreciate them to experiment, be a team that not only and value connections.” becomes more important understands the imperfect compared to following a ways of humanity but also structured process to do appreciates the joy in what is conventional. those imperfections. Avantika University | November 2020 36
“Remember that this value curve has periodic crests, Simply leaving the task to and creating essential mother nature to handle, is not enough. Teams can value. Remember that this value curve has periodic troughs, and sections of easily return to old habits, back to a structured mode crests, troughs, and sections of plateaus. We plateaus. We need to tide of thinking, if there is no need to tide over them mechanism to maintain with patience to witness over them with patience to focus on the ‘beyond the bloom. obvious’ installed. Culture also needs periodic witness the bloom.” Constraints Help maintenance and top up. As leaders, sensing the At the start of a journey, opportune time to identify we fear constraints and constraints and leverage find help to combat them. them, helps to enthuse the It is when we look beyond team, keep them focused, these constraints and and trigger innovation. “A form of curiosity embrace them with open Thereby building to know more, active arms, and realize that the antifragility in the larger participation in everyday solution is simple. Here the ecosystem. moments of life, innovation happens. observing nature with Every iteration in the a solid focus, must be innovation journey, built on encouraged.” the strengths of a diverse and focused team, helps in embracing constraints 37 Avantika University | November 2020
@theweavemagazine Thought Leadership Nurturing the Profession of Design in India A decade ago an ex- media, apparel, or approach we use to solve colleague in advertising entertainment, people fail a problem, but about asked me, “What is in to realize that “Design” is a creating an experience design, that you plan to broader picture and is at that is ownable and has a quit advertising? All just the core of everything. tale to carry. pretty brochures and invites!” I just smiled. Now, So what is Design? In my Design thinking is not only ten years later, as I write opinion, it is the ability applicable to design but this article, it gives me a to get to the crux of a to any field, because it sense of achievement problem and bring about a isn’t a just methodology, being a designer. It didn’t solution that solves it, and but a tool. A tool to look take me long to discover simultaneously, creates at things differently, the power of design. an experience that’s systematically, and bring beyond the fundamental about innovation. I would not say that the brief. Design is the art of concept of design in India storytelling! is at a nascent stage. The difference is that design Design for me is looking takes the lead in the west at a problem as if it were and unlocks its strength a human. It requires in every aspect and empathy to look deeply considered as an integral into the backstory and part of every business gain insight. Thereafter By Siddharth Ganguly plan. They acknowledge have meaningful Co-founder and Principal creative at Uriel Design mavericks like Milton conversations to come “Design is the ability Glaser, Saul Bass, Paul up with a solution and Rand, and Paula Scher; all finally, bring that idea to to get to the crux of a With over 17 years experience in the design field, Siddharth of who have changed the life through meticulous problem and bring about is an independent design consultant, industry mentor and way design is perceived in execution. a solution that solves design coach. the contemporary world. it, and simultaneously, In contrast, try looking for Over the years, many creates an experience LinkedIn: Siddharth Ganguly such names in the Indian methodologies have that’s beyond the design industry. Since been referred to provide fundamental brief. Design design has always been solutions to problems, overshadowed in India today it is ‘Design Thinking.’ is the art of storytelling!” by terms like advertising, I feel it is not about the Avantika University | November 2020 40
Super-companies that complex and beautiful truly respect design, like world? “Dimensional Thinking Apple, have stood the is rapidly gaining test of time. They have We need to prove that importance, but it is understood the customer we are not mere service psyche and built an providers and make imperative to know how experience around it. people realize that our to apply it.” That is the power of lives are intertwined, in design thinking and that’s innumerable myriad ways precisely why I coined with design. We need to a fitting term for it- embrace design in order to Dimensional ThinkingTM. emulate and consecutively compete with the world. So I ask myself, how can As designers we need to I bring about a change reinforce the significance in the way design is perceived in India? How of design, through path-breaking work, “We need to embrace do I bring awareness clutter-crushing innovative amongst students, about how significant a role they ideas, and one very important thing; treating design in order would be playing once they graduate? How a problem or idea as if it were human, by nurturing to emulate, and do I educate educators, it. that design is a far more consecutively compete with the world.” 41 Avantika University | November 2020
@theweavemagazine Young Achiever Young Designers Circle. I have always loved working on user-centered problems to address design dilemmas. However, competing and winning the awards brought me immense exposure to the exciting world of design. I simultaneously gained confidence in my abilities, sure that I am heading in Soham Mohanty the positive direction as 4th year Industrial Design student a learner. I understand that design is indeed a at Avantika University I hold a patent on my sold every year in India, huge industry, and that product Accufill. With India, giving Accufill a massive being creative needs a one of the world’s largest market potential. My great deal of research two-wheeler markets, innovation won the award and experience, in order to Accufill is as relevant as it in the Student category develop a sense of design gets. and will be one of the two philosophy. designs, presented at It is a sensor-based the Lexus Design Event at Having had a sculpting hand award the finest works of innovation, capable of Milan Design Week, 2021. since my childhood, I love indigenous industrial design. detecting adulteration The design award brought engendering things. It helped The award seeks to identify along with the quantity me a wealth of exposure “Design cannot really me discover my passion and honor members in the of fuel being loaded at and I was extended a change the world, but and pursue an education in Indian design community petrol stations. The device mentorship by Lexus a change of attitude it. I am Soham Mohanty, a who anticipate potential is installed in the fuel at Desmania designs, towards solving worldly 22-year-old undergraduate challenges and innovate design student at Avantika to tackle those obstacles. filling cap of the fuel tank. (awarded as India’s finest problems while thinking University, born and raised in Thereby captivating the It comprises ultrasonic Product Design Studio) for a sustainable world sensors, designed to under Anuj Prasad to Bhubaneswar, Odisha. hearts and minds of Indian can have a large impact.“ consumers. inform the consumer advance my project. 2019 - 2020 has been a about fuel purity, ensuring remarkable year for me, greater clarity between In addition, I completed winning both, the YUJ the vehicle owner and the my summer internship UXplorer 2019 award and service station. This device at Big Basket. Here I Lexus design award, India is vastly pertinent in the was responsible for 2020. Lexus Design Award Indian industry, considering developing the design India, aims to recognize and its long time struggle system, and design library, with adulterated fuel. for the company’s daily LinkedIn: Soham Mohanty According to the Society application. Currently, of Indian Automobile I am nominated as an Manufacturers, about 20 ambassador for World million two-wheelers are Design Organization™, Avantika University | November 2020 46
@theweavemagazine Thought Leadership Democratizing Designeering On a rainy evening on circle. Our first opportunity June 2020, I received a in design came in the form message, “Sir can I have of redesigning the brand your number? I am manual for the newly Neelesh from Sydney, formed Birla AT&T Australia. Need to get in Communications Ltd touch with you.” I hesitantly in 1996. Though not a shared my number. He complete corporate called almost immediately identity programme, we “Sir, I was a trainee at gained valuable Artistree-Pune in 1997 experience in the process. (Ogilvy’s design vertical in the ’90s), I still remember Today, design is a vital the indoor cricket we component of everything played. I am writing a book around us, in products and about my life experiences. services that we utilize. One thing you said then, An interesting fact; one had a profound impact; I of our best designers did was not good in English, not cut his teeth in art and you said it was more school, but by making important to get the job Ganpati idols and self- done right than to be learning technology. So fluent in English.” Neelesh in a way, technology also heads a leading telecom democratizes design. I group in Australia. If it were have even heard of this not for design, engineering, musician who uses AI to By Julian Thadathil technology, creativity, and perfect his songs so he Chief Operating Officer, JTBrandlabs a community spirit that has better chances of Facebook provides, I delivering hits! would not have stood a Communication too is now He is known as a brand doctor, business growth chance at connecting with Designeered. Moving from consultant, digital-social strategist and creative Neelesh or many others. one-to-many to one-to- “The challenge today is, in facilitator. He comes with an extensive work experience one, it has exploded into in advertising and branding domain with companies like From those days in 1995, new forms and avatars. a world where attention Ogilvy, DDB and running his startups. where clients turned us Social media has a design spans are hardly seconds, down saying we do not component, a technology how do we inspire and LinkedIn: Julian Thadathil need Corporate Identity, factor, and a reach engage with people?” the importance of design dispensation. One needs to and identity has come full perfect all these elements Avantika University | November 2020 48
to stay on top. We when the pandemic struck. often forget about Extremely low profile, we prospect fatigue and let our work speak for itself. brand aversion in our We have no employees, social euphoria. only off-site affiliates who are domain experts. At JTBrandlabs, we have had success with There is only one cardinal companies, large and rule we have for our small. Technology plays a affiliates; do not work on vital role in levelling the our projects when fatigued. competitive landscape This comes from my for us. Some of our clients personal practice of being have come to us after an early riser who prefers failing to get the right to sleep off very early, even results in international hotspots of Designeering. if I have deadlines looming. Your best work comes “In the At JTBrandlabs, we have when your mind is rested, been doing what the world is doing now, for the past 3 calm, clear, and when work is not really ‘work.’ A bit end, all your prospects years- interacting digitally. That is why we were ready unconventional, but that is me and us! are human first whose and running from day one without any disruption brains can only take on so much.” 49 Avantika University | November 2020
@theweavemagazine Campus Talent Shivam Singh Rathore Aman Soni Avantika HSM Jrogues are traditional (Housekeeping and brogue shoes, made from Security Management upcycled leather and System) is a mobile naturally obtained jute, with application developed to a twist of prevalent Indian provide a consolidated craftsmanship known as digital connectivity solution Tarkashi. Jrogues are made for all the housekeeping and strung entirely by hand departments, security and are rather eco-friendly. teams, and campus hostel residents, at Avantika LinkedIn: Aman Soni University. Website: Shivam Singh Anaghaa Chakrapani Hetvi, Vibhuty, Mrunal, Avantika This project aims to help Almost all cuss words Taco Bell expand its we use, offend a gender. operations in India by Fuss About Cuss is an driving sales through the art movement which digital application created addresses the issue of the specifically for an Indian underlying sexism in the audience.Through design, cuss words used today. psychology, and business For people to realise the strategies, the launch of a same, abstract visuals of digital app can help boost the literal meanings of the their revenue, and acquire cuss words were depicted. repeat customers through Cussing cannot stop. exclusive discounts. Hence, we also introduced a new set of gender Behance: Anaghaa C neutral cuss words. Behance: Fuss about Cuss Avantika University | November 2020 52
Team Weave Editor Miral Zafar Marketing Team Design Team Special Thanks Sriram Ajith Aayush Bidkar Dipanshu Singhall Anush Nadkarni Yashi Pareek Niharika Gupta Shubhankar Nandapurkar Devashish Boralkar Rutal Deshmukh Ananya Dey Ishan Nakate Rishabh Kiran Saumya Kharkar Esha Mehta Sarthak Shambhatnavar Simmran Khanna Writer Research Team Content Team Madhumitha Balasubramanian Surabhi Bajaj Zeel Modi Riya Katariya Priyanshi Katiyar Guided By Saurabh Dhankhar Avantika University | November 2020
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