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D-SESH is a student-led event by NJDC, hosting engaging sessions around design. It's a space to share ideas, spark conversations, and explore diverse perspectives within the design community.
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Presents:
A real look at what gets designers hired today, combining skills, inclusivity, and AI to stay relevant and actually stand out.
Venue: Room 18@NIFT Chennai, Taramani - 600113, India
Time: 4Pm onwards
Head of Industrial Design, Royal Enfield
Sivakumar S is an industrial designer with over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry. An MDes graduate from IIT Delhi, he began his career at Hero Honda before joining Royal Enfield in 2005. He currently leads Industrial Design, contributing to the development of key motorcycle models with a focus on design and product development.
Head of Design, Development and Production, VBJ
Anupam Karmakar is a jewellery design professional with over 20 years of experience across design, product development, and production. At VBJ, he leads end to end processes including trend direction, manufacturing, and team development. His work also includes contributions to skill development, WorldSkills, and setting up large scale creative and production systems.
Executive Design Director, BFSI Interactive, TCS
Kavitha Kalyan is a design leader working at the intersection of business, technology, and user experience. At TCS, she leads design for BFSI Interactive, driving strategic and scalable solutions. She is also a speaker, mentor, and fiction author with a strong interest in storytelling and history.
Creative Director, Dakshinam Sarees
Ramya Mohan works at the intersection of handloom, craft, and contemporary design. As Creative Director at Dakshinam Sarees, she focuses on building systems that foster innovation in handcrafted textiles, working closely with traditional techniques, materials, and evolving design practices.
Visual Designer, Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Limited
Anushka Anand is a NIFT alumna and visual designer with over 3 years of experience in visual merchandising and fashion communication. Currently working at Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Limited, she has progressed through roles from intern to Area Visual Merchandiser, managing regional retail experiences across Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry with a focus on in-store storytelling and brand expression.
Senior Creative Strategist, Cognizant HFI
Harshitha Srinivasan is a creative strategist with experience in interaction design and video development. At Cognizant HFI, she focuses on crafting user centric digital experiences through storytelling and design, exploring the intersection of creativity, technology, and AI driven approaches.
Anchor • Accessory Design, NIFT Chennai
I am an accessory design student at NIFT Chennai with a strong interest in automotive and product design. My work focuses on combining functionality with thoughtful storytelling, often exploring how traditional materials and emerging ideas can come together. I am also a musician, and I bring a sense of rhythm and composition into my creative process. I am always experimenting, whether through design projects, material exploration, or new concepts beyond the brief.
Host • Accessory Design, NIFT Chennai
Hello! I specialize in Accessory Design at NIFT Chennai. I enjoy dabbling in photography, and exploring dystopian narratives across books and films. I’m generally easygoing and selectively social, with a tendency to occasionally fall into conspiracy theory rabbit holes. I’m almost always working on or thinking about something new, even if it’s just for fun. I also believe that creativity often works best just close enough to deadlines.
Co-Host • Accessory Design, NIFT Chennai
Currently persuing Fashion & Lifestyle Accessories Design course at NIFT Chennai, I find myself navigating the space between observation and interpretation. My practice leans towards understanding how ideas emerge and take form through process, iteration, and intent. I’m interested in work that is not just seen, but felt and reflected upon.
• Accessory Design, NIFT Chennai
Hello, I’m Devika, a 3rd-year accessory design student at NIFT. As a keen observer, I draw inspiration from everyday life, and my hobbies include sketching and listening to music. I take my time with my work, but I’m consistent and make sure everything is in right direction.
• Accessory Design, NIFT Chennai
As an active daydreamer and a student of NIFT Chennai currently pursuing the third year of my course, my sources of inspiration come from the little things in life. My creative practice is a blend of songwriting, character building, and product exploration, all tied together with my love for storytelling. I believe in the beauty of a creative dialogue and strive to weave that connection into every project I touch.
• Accessory Design, NIFT Chennai
Third-year at NIFT Chennai, usually found with my earphones in listening to music and coffee in hand. I read books, quietly observe the world around me, and once you get me talking, I’m a full-on yapper. I somehow do my best work only when the clock is stressing me out, and in between, I’m either planning my next trip or romanticising the idea of it.
• Accessory Design, NIFT Chennai
I am a student at NIFT Chennai who prefers working at her own pace. I am calm and adaptable, I work well in different situations and enjoy being part of a team, contributing ideas and seeing them come together. I’m also a sportsperson, which adds to my team spirit and discipline. I take my time with my work, but I’m consistent and make sure everything in right direction.
• Accessory Design, NIFT Chennai
Hi, I’m Adhwaitha, a third-year design student. I’m a curious individual with a strong interest in exploring different perspectives. I enjoy observing, scribbling ideas, and engaging with people to understand diverse viewpoints. To me, design is about making sense of these perspectives and shaping them into meaningful outcomes.
• Accessory Design, NIFT Chennai
I’m a curious and passionate designer, currently in my third year at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Chennai. I learn through experience and exploration, believing creativity grows from observation and questioning. Travelling and engaging with diverse people and places inspire my perspective, helping me approach design with empathy and adaptability. I’m driven to continuously learn, experiment, and transform real-world experiences into meaningful design solutions.
• Accessory Design, NIFT Chennai
Hello, I am a third-year student at NIFT Chennai. I enjoy sketching and painting as a way to express my ideas and spend my time creatively. I am observant, thoughtful, and generally quiet, with a preference for meaningful interactions and a calm environment. I am continuously working on understanding myself better and building confidence in both my personal and professional life.
Associate Professor & Head – VisioNxt, NIFT
Dr. Kaustav Sengupta is a design academic, researcher, and trend forecaster with over two decades of experience across fashion, lifestyle, and consumer insight domains. As Associate Professor at NIFT and Head of VisioNxt - an academic, research, and innovation unit on trend insights and forecasting, he leads interdisciplinary work at the intersection of design, data, and future thinking. He is also the Lead Color Forecaster for Nippon Paint India’s ColorVision initiative, contributing to one of India’s key color forecasting platforms.
His practice spans academia, industry collaboration, and policy engagement, with roles across Boards of Studies at multiple institutions and advisory panels for craft and cultural organizations. He has contributed to design evaluation as a jury member for the India Design Mark and continues to engage with evolving design systems, forecasting methodologies, and innovation frameworks within both educational and professional contexts.
Non Judgemental Design Club (NJDC) is a student led initiative at NIFT Chennai built on the idea that meaningful design conversations thrive in open, inclusive spaces. Founded by a team of ten Sushrut Maral, Tanvi Tiruveedhula, Samyukta S, Devika Sunil, Srutti Singh, Savi Agarwal, Rythasri Mahendran, Sruthilaya Prabhu, Shanmitha Saravanakumar, and Adhwaitha N, the club brings together diverse perspectives across design disciplines. NJDC organizes seminars featuring expert panelists from industry and academia, creating a platform to discuss the future of design, real world practices, and emerging ideas shaping the field.
At the heart of NJDC’s initiatives is D SESH (Design Sessions), its annual flagship event. D SESH brings together exhibitions of student work alongside panel discussions and seminars, creating a space for dialogue between academia and industry. The event is designed not just as a showcase, but as a statement, highlighting the capability, creativity, and relevance of NIFT Chennai’s students. It aims to present student work in a professional context while fostering meaningful connections with the design industry.