Ahmedabad – 15 February 2025:- Ahmedabad Design Week 6.0 celebrates collaboration, creativity, and multidisciplinary design, highlighting the power of design to transcend boundaries by merging cultures, technologies, and ideas for sustainable solutions. This platform fosters engagement and co-creation, shaping a future where every signature is shared, and every creation reflects unity in diversity.
The event commenced with curtain raiser on February 14, 2025, across the expansive Karnavati University campus in Gandhinagar and the Hutheesing Visual Arts Center in Ahmedabad, where student work—ranging from typefaces to clay installations, AR/VR projects to immersive exhibits—showcased their evolving design journeys. The Craft Mela, featuring over 20 artisans from across India, celebrated the country’s rich legacy of traditional crafts, bringing artistry and storytelling to life.
The prestigious lamp-lighting ceremony and exhibition inauguration were graced by eminent personalities:
- Ken Nah, renowned designer from Korea
- Umang Hutheesing, President, Hutheesing Design Company
- Ritesh Hada, President, Karnavati University
- Col. Surojit Bose, Head of Institute, Unitedworld Institute of Design
- Niraj Shah, Co-founding Partner & Design Director, IDO Design Solutions, and Curator-Mentor at Ahmedabad Design Week
A major highlight of the day was the Dome-Ain of Dreams, an immersive 3D projection mapping exhibit paying tribute to Ahmedabad’s rich design heritage. Curated by Knownsense Studios in collaboration with students of UID, this visual spectacle transported audiences into mesmerizing digital realms, blurring the lines between art, technology, and imagination.
Adding to the historic significance of this edition, Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID) proudly hosted the World Design Organisation’s (WDO) Board Members for their board meeting—marking a moment of history in the making at Ahmedabad Design Week.
The day unfolded with insightful speaker sessions, workshops, and panel discussions, bringing together design visionaries and industry leaders:
Key Sessions & Workshops
Uday Dandavate & Dr. Rohini Dandavate showcased their collaborative work that merges dance, poetry, and video art, blurring the boundaries between disciplines and cultures. Uday, founder of Sonic Rim, also shared excerpts from his book Being & Belonging, emphasizing curiosity, compassion, and imagination as essential elements of a designer’s journey.
Ajay Saran Sharma, Senior VP of Design at Mahindra, compared the evolution of car design to cell phones, explaining how modern vehicle aesthetics draw inspiration from the cat family—bold, powerful, and instinct-driven.
Gajesh Mitkari, founder of Studio Modak, blended personal narratives with design philosophy, emphasizing perseverance, adaptation, and creative exploration. He highlighted the importance of iteration, cultural sensitivity, and unlearning as key to staying relevant in the evolving design landscape.
Kadambari Mishra, co-founder of Adira Thoughtful Gifting, explored storytelling through design, AI-driven mythology, and brand transformation. Her session culminated in a discussion on her Iconic Women Podcast, where she embodies historical women through styling, igniting conversations around cultural appreciation and legacy.
In a candid conversation, Dhishti Desai shared her transition from UX writing to product strategy, founding Pineapple Design Studio. She explored client insights, India’s non-minimalist design mindset, and the influence of Steve Jobs on her approach to innovation.
Workshops by Nidhi Sah & Binoli Patel delved into publication and print design. Nidhi’s session emphasized typography, layout, and material choices to enhance storytelling, while Binoli’s session encouraged participants to transform everyday inspirations into intricate print patterns, blending tradition with contemporary aesthetics.
Studio Walks – Learning Beyond Classrooms
IDO Design Studio opened its doors for an immersive multidisciplinary interior design experience, allowing participants to interact with industry professionals and gain practical insights.
Clay Club Studio offered a deep dive into the ceramic-making process, showcasing how handcrafted ceramics merge tradition with modern architecture.
Studio Carbon provided a cutting-edge learning experience, aligning advanced 3D modeling software (Plasticity) with industry standards, offering participants a glimpse into the future of digital design and fabrication.
Jhankhi – Holy Glimpses: Stories of Rajadhiraj
The Nathdwara Pichwai painting exhibition, curated by Priya Adhyaru Mehta, was a visual treat, featuring iconic artists including Monal Shah, Vaidehi Shah, Amit Shah, Gaurang Shah, Joly Patel, Jigna Dave, Zankhana Desai, Nirali Patel, and Koshali Sanghani. This exhibit beautifully traced the roots and reforms of the Nathdwara Pichwai style, capturing its spiritual depth and intricate artistry.
Panel Discussion – “Design: Where is the Heart?”
A thought-provoking panel discussion at HVAC explored the emotional and intellectual depths of the creative process. The discussion revolved around problem identification, research, prototyping, consumer experience, and the emotional connections each designer fosters at different stages of their journey.
Panelists:
Moksh Thapar Designer, Artist & Co-Founder, SmitaMoksh Studio, Ira Gosalia, Interior Architecture Photographer, PHXINDIA, Jwalant Mahadevwala, Founding Partner & Principal Designer, andblack design studio, Ishita Sitwala, Architecture Photographer, The Fishy Project &Vyom, Sculptor & Artist
Moderator:
Niraj Shah, Co-founding Partner, IDO Design Solutions
The session questioned how each designer’s journey is uniquely shaped, and where their ‘heart’ lies in the process—whether in ideation, execution, storytelling, or impact.
Ahmedabad Design Week 6.0 set the stage for groundbreaking conversations, collaborations, and cultural exchanges. By bridging traditional wisdom with cutting-edge innovation, this edition reaffirmed its commitment to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and pushing the boundaries of design thinking.
As the event continues, the spirit of “Shared Signatures” will inspire and redefine the future of design, proving that when creativity is shared, it transcends disciplines, borders, and generations.
The event began on February 14, 2025, at the expansive Karnavati University campus in Gandhinagar and the Hutheesing Visual Arts Center in Ahmedabad, both of which are dotted with diplays of student work- from typefaces to clay installations, from ARVR to immersive exhibits- showcasing their learning curve across the various design domains. The Craft Mela with over 20 artisans from across the country celebrates the vibrant legacy of traditional craft forms.
The day saw an array of designers sharing their journeys & experiences. Designer Uday Dandavate & Odissi danseuse Dr. Rohini Dandavate shared their collaborative work of dance, poetry & video art that transcends boundaries, blurring lines between design as well as between cultures, giving us a fresh perspective and appreciation for traditional art forms. Founder of Sonic Rim, Uday Dandavate also shared excerpts from his book, ‘Being & Belonging’ emphasizing the ethos of curiosity, compassion & imagination in a design journey. Ajay Saran Sharma, Senior VP of Design at Mahindra, compared car design evolution to cell phones, emphasizing bold, powerful designs inspired by the cat family. Gajesh Mitkari blended personal narratives with design philosophy, emphasizing perseverance, adaptation and creative exploration. He shared insights from his studio, Studio Modak, highlighting iteration, cultural sensitivity and the importance of unlearning to stay relevant. Co-founder of Adira Thoughtful Gifting, Kadambari Mishra’s session explored storytelling through design, AI-driven mythology and brand transformation, culminating in her Iconic Women Podcast. She discussed embodying historical women through styling, sparking conversations on cultural appreciation and their lasting impact. In a candid conversation, Dhishti Desai discussed her journey from UX writing to product strategy and founding Pineapple Design Studio. She shared client insights, India’s non-minimalist mindset and Steve Jobs’ influence.
Nidhi Sah’s workshop on Publication Design explored layout, typography and material choices, emphasizing their impact on reader experience. Using her own book designs, she demonstrated how thoughtful design enhances visual flow and storytelling. Binoli Patel’s workshop explored print design, guiding participants in transforming everyday inspirations into intricate patterns. Emphasizing storytelling and experimentation, the session fostered creativity, blending tradition with contemporary aesthetics.
The day also included studio walks to IDO design, which provided an immersive learning experience, allowing participants to explore the multidisciplinary nature of interior design and interact with industry professionals. The studio walk to Clay Club Studio allowed participants to explore the ceramic-making process, gaining insights into its role in architecture and the blend of tradition with innovation. The visit highlighted the beauty and functionality of handcrafted ceramics in modern spaces. The last visit to Studio Carbon provided insights into aligning advanced 3D modeling software, like Plasticity, with industry standards.
