In a year where the world was thrown for a spin with the continuing pandemic, inspiration was hard to come by. But that’s what Kyoorius Designyatra does best. And we came back with another online edition with the leaders of the global design industry to provide it. Between 2nd and 3rd December, our delegates joined us online for numerous design sessions and embraced the theme of doing good with design.
Designers As Citizens
A skilled designer possesses a keen eye for patterns, shades, and hues. Yet, their true strength lies in a heart that cares for both the Earth and its inhabitants.
These qualities converge to produce designs that not only look good but also do good. But, the foundation of being a great designer goes beyond technical prowess. It starts with being a responsible citizen.
In essence, a designer’s ability to create impactful designs is magnified when paired with an understanding of societal and environmental issues. This synergy of creativity and responsibility defines the path to becoming an exceptional designer, one who crafts aesthetics with ethics and leaves a positive mark on the world.
So, the first step to being a good designer? Being a good citizen.
The Distinguished Speakers of #KDY21:
- Anthony Cissell
Chair of Architecture & Urban Design, SCAD
Leading SCAD’s Architecture Department, he’s an Urban Designer/Architect at Savannah’s Sottile & Sottile, specializing in historic civic design, architecture, master planning, and community engagement. - Aporva Baxi & Simon Dixon
Co-Founder + Creative Executive Director & Co-Founder, DixonBaxi
Founded in 2001, DixonBaxi is a forward-looking brand consultancy focused on future-proofing brands amidst rapid change. Trusted by Netflix, IMAX, Audible, and more. - Ayaz Basrai
Co-Founder, The Busride Studio
Ayaz, an ’03 Industrial Design NID grad, co-founded The Busride Design Studio ’06 with his architect brother. Their indie studio merges design, storytelling for built environments. Ayaz explores illustration, immersive media, and research. - Bruno Maag & Lukas Paltram
Chairman & ECD + Board Director, Dalton Maag
Bruno Maag is an expert typographer with over 40 years of expertise in his field. He founded and led Dalton Maag Ltd, the world’s leading studio for typeface design. Lukas Paltram studied graphic design in Austria where he discovered his love of calligraphy and typography. - Chrissa Amuah
Founder + Creative Director, AMWA Designs
London-born, Chrissa Amuah, Founder/Creative Director of AMWA Designs, blends Ghanaian heritage with luxury homeware. AFRICA BY DESIGN founder, she earned 2021’s Product Designer of the Year by Interior Design’s HiP at NeoCon Awards. - Geetika Kambli
Managing Partner, Future Factory
Geetika’s blend of business, design, and tech expertise shapes exceptional user experiences. She heads Future Factory’s Centre for Behavioural Research in Asia, guiding tech and design with user insights for impactful products and services. - Hanif Kureshi
Creative Director, Guerrilla
Hanif Kureshi, a street artist and advocate for traditional type artists, co-founded Guerrilla Art & Design, an underground agency driving impactful, anonymous creative work to transform India’s visual urban landscape. - Iwo Borkowicz
Architect + Sculptor, JEJU.studio
Iwo Borkowicz, architect and sculptor, won the 2016 Young Talent Architecture Award and EAAE Prize. Recognized by Design Indaba, he leads JEJU.studio, renowned for diverse projects spanning sculpture to urban plans. - Jane Bowyer
Designer + Director, A Studio Called Jane Ltd.
A Studio Called Jane is the creative outfit of Manchester-based designer and illustrator, Jane Bowyer. Jane is where play meets purpose, meaning meets impact, craft meets graft and, you get the idea. - Joe Hollier
Co-Founder, Light
Joe is a multi-disciplinary artist and entrepreneur living in Brooklyn. He likes to work in illustration, collage, patterns & painting, film, photography and animation. He’s the co-founder of the Light Phone, a phone designed to be used as little as possible. - Madhav Raman
Co-Founder + Principal, Anagram Architects
Madhav, architect and urbanist, co-founded Anagram Architects with Vaibhav Dimri post their 2001 School of Planning and Architecture Delhi graduation. Since 2004, Anagram is acclaimed for contextual designs that encourage sustainable lifestyles. - Matt Alagiah
Editor, It’s Nice That
Matt joined It’s Nice That as editor in October 2018 and became editor-in-chief in September 2020. He was previously executive editor at Monocle magazine. - Morihiro Harano
Creative Director + Founder, Mori Inc.
Morihiro Harano, a versatile creative director excelling in advertising, new business, strategy, and product design, founded Mori Inc. in 2012. His notable works include ‘OK Go’, ‘NTT Docomo’, ‘Honda’, ‘Eight’, and ‘Menicon’. - Moulshri Joshi
Architect + Founding Partner, SpaceMatters
Architect and educator, Moulshri Joshi heads New Delhi’s award-winning Space Matters. Her practice mirrors urbanism’s environmental, social, and political aspects. She teaches at the School of Planning & Architecture and Norwegian University of Science and Technology. - Neha Tulsian
Founder + Creative Director, NH1 Design
After honing her craft at London College of Communication and a global design career, Neha founded NH1 Design in Gurgaon in 2013. Marrying design, logic, and magic, her studio collaborates with renowned clients like Bira 91, Godrej, and Intuit. - Otto Ng
Co-Founder + Design Director, LAAB Architects
In 2013, Otto co-founded LAAB Architects — a collective of multidisciplinary experts specializing in spatial innovations. Notable projects include transformative micro-homes, time-capturing galleries, and acclaimed art destinations. - Paul Priestman
Designer, Co-Founder + Chairman, PriestmanGoode
Paul Priestman, Co-Founder and Chairman of PriestmanGoode, drives human-centric design in transport, infrastructure, and consumer products. He champions innovation, inclusivity, and addressing societal and environmental concerns. - Priya Shree
Founder + Production Designer, Priya and Satya Designs
From being an almost reluctant engineer to graduating from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi, Priya Shree finally landed on the uneven bumpy roads of Bollywood. From carrying a briefcase full of colors as a kid on a vacation to struggling with laptops, charts and software on sets, this girl never looked back. - Sarah Boris
Creative Director, Graphic Designer + Artist
Sarah Boris, an artist, graphic designer, and creative director, established her studio in 2015 after a decade with Phaidon, ICA, and Barbican. Her achievements include ICA’s identity overhaul and ‘JR: Can Art Change the World’ design. - Dr. Susmita Mohanty
CEO, Earth2orbit
Susmita Mohanty, spacecraft designer and entrepreneur, co-founded space companies on three continents. Previously with Boeing and NASA, she launched India’s first space think tank and earned recognition from BBC and Fortune. - Thom Newton
CEO, Conran Design Group
Thom leads Conran Design Group’s global offices, shaping the agency’s business strategy. With 20+ years in design, he advises global accounts like Reckitt, Shell, and Freshfields, driving brand strategies and growth. - Y Tsai
Principal, Tsai Design Studio
Tsai Design Studio, based in Cape Town, is an innovative architectural practice with a diverse portfolio spanning South Africa and Africa, driven by architect Y. Tsai’s pursuit of impactful, beautiful architecture.