Aditi Deshpande is currently working as Associate Professor of Industrial Design, and Head of International Cell at Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune. Having a dynamic experience in Architecture and Design Practice for over 20 years, she has worked on residential, public, institutional and retail projects. She is a design thinking and sustainability proponent and currently researching in the area of products for inclusivity. She has been a design educator for 15 years and has contributed her time and efforts in developing the International Cell at SID.

Symbiosis Institute Of Design

What are some of the biggest challenges you see for Design education in India?

“Propelling the necessary skills and strategies in the design industry”

Design being a global profession and with the changing global trends in Design, we still have some way to go in finding a level field for our own designs in an international scenario. The biggest challenge I see for Design education is how to stay ahead of the industry and always produce designers for the future. We may be incorporating all the industry best practices of today but the challenge lies upon the educators to imagine and envision the future of design and then prepare and train the students as future designers. The next biggest challenge would be how to make sustainability and inclusion a naturalised process in design. Sustainability and inclusivity are as much intrinsic to design as functionality and aesthetics. And lastly, this is most specific to my institute; that is how to make internationalisation reach to each and every student. This is a real challenge as access to internationalisation involves mobility and funding.

What best practices are offered by SID to help students gain necessary skills?

“Alliance with major industries at national and international level”

We believe in industry-institute partnerships to give the students the exposure that they need to succeed in their design practice. We always strive to bring the best industry experts to mentor our students and sponsor the projects. Also, we strive to set up better and better infrastructure each year in terms of workshops, digital labs and libraries. International Cell at SID has been aggressively pursuing international industry and university partnerships and collaborations for students to acquire global competencies.

How do you strategize the curriculum to make it befitting for the students?

“Different global yet local aspects to design education”

I work extensively on internationalisation of curriculum; our curriculum draws references from that of the best design schools and universities’ around the world to keep it relevant. But at the same time, we try to keep it rooted in Indian design methods and innovations. Our curriculum is rooted and forward thinking, global and local. Our students work on global projects but bring an Indian perspective to the design solutions. We do upgrade our curriculum every alternate year to accommodate the innovation, social and technological advancements around the world.

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What challenges do you face to uplift the quality of education of your department?

“Setting international perspectives in the academic process”

Changing the perspective of students and faculty towards internationalization of education and its importance is a real challenge. And then setting the internationalisation processes at organisation level is another. Also, finding the international industry experts to actively collaborate with us on projects has been a tough task especially with budget and infrastructure constraints. Even getting noticed for academic excellence in the international arena, we still have a long way to go.

What do you see as Symbiosis Institute of Design’s greatest strengths?

“Dynamism and multifold amenities to develop skills”

I see the interdisciplinary nature of our studies as one of the biggest strengths as it enables rather empowers students to pursue any type of career in design and allows them to experiment and even shift gears. Here they develop holistically as a designer. We have a good balance of technological and conceptual studios. Research is an important part of the design process and we make sure students receive experiential learning from working with people. Apart from improved infrastructure, we have great industry-institute collaborations. And above all, internationalisation at SID is the greatest strength that sets us apart and we strive to make it accessible for each and every student who studies with us.

What approaches do you bring in apart from curriculum to train the students?

“Global collaborations and exchange programs”

Our International cell works in the areas of international internships and exchange programs. We have been in tie-ups with reputed foreign universities for custom made internship or summer/winter school programs for our students. We have been sending students on exchange and study abroad programs to reputed universities like Leeds Beckett University, UK., Western Sydney University, Australia., Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, Ryerson University, Canada to name a few. The international cell under collaborative initiatives organises joint studios, international guest lectures, Master studios etc. Our students have availed international mentorship and juries for their capstone projects through many of our collaborative initiatives.

What plans are you currently designing for SID’s international affairs?

“Meaningful associations benefiting students to the fullest”

Internationalization for me doesn’t only mean bringing home the best practices of the world, but also spreading the wisdom of Indian traditional design to the world. Initially, it was quite difficult to get foreign universities to collaborate with us as they were more interested in our students progressing into their universities or at the most take up their semester study abroad programs. I had to work hard around making the exchange programs at our institute attractive for their students by way of creating value through Indian design innovation and methodologies. Now we have foreign students interested in learning about our indigenous arts, craft and design. I hope to build long term relationships with these universities for the betterment of the Design profession through mutual exchange of knowledge and innovation. Apart from the usual exchange programs and collaborative activities, I am working on Masters Programs in design as well, which are very unique for a future of disruptive design; and will have a very high level international industry and university collaborations.

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What are your thoughts on the education system and what can an inbound student learn at your institute?

“Source of creative exchange of culture, ideas, design and innovation”

The methodologies and exposure levels for students are quite different in India and abroad. When our students are taking up programs in foreign universities, they are looking for their facilities, their methodologies and the international industry exposure etc. When the students from foreign universities come to study with us, they are looking for cultural and social experience. And we give them exactly that and more. We organise live demonstrations/workshops of our traditional art forms and visits to heritage sites, craft clusters and contemporary studios. Inbound students gain a lot of insight into how our designers operate with local arts and crafts that impact our society, environment and economy. 

What valuable advice would you like to give to the students?

“Do not remain confined and follow your heart”

One thing very important for a successful designer is to be open. Be open to ideas, changes, challenges, contexts, environments and people. Second would be, do not fall in too much love with your designs, or else you will not push your envelopes to be disruptive. And lastly, follow your heart; because that is the only place you can find your calling in life.