“The INDEA Debate 2024” was held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi by the Indian School for Design of Automobiles (INDEA) in association with XLRI-Delhi NCR. Experts in design management and automotive design were able to explore the future of mobility design in India at this event.
“Does India Need a Design DNA?” was the subject of the first debate, which examined the significance of developing an automotive design language anchored in Indian culture and ethos as the nation becomes a major global automotive powerhouse.
Avik Chattopadhyay, Chairperson of XADM and Founder of INDEA, Dr. Fr. K.S. Casimir, Director of XLRI Delhi-NCR, retired Justice Indira Banerjee, and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Shri Sasmit Patra launched the event. INDEA’s efforts to advance thought leadership in vehicle design began with this.
Anand Sharma, co-founder of Studio 34 Designart Pvt. Ltd.; Saurabh Singh, head of design at Maruti Suzuki India; Sathiyaseelan G, vice president of design and styling at Ashok Leyland; Sudhir Sharma, founder and CEO of IndiDesign; Bikash Jyoti Biswas, head of design at Ather Energy; Ravi Bhatia, president and director of JATO Dynamics India; Gautam Sen, a journalist and automotive expert; and Jean-Paul Oyono, inDEA’s Academic Council member and industrial designer. Avik Chattopadhyay moderated the session.
Young designers and seasoned professionals contributed to the event, which promoted a fruitful interchange of ideas. A white paper including the talks’ insights will be produced to direct next projects meant to strengthen India’s automotive design identity.
A wide range of people, including students, design experts, and vehicle enthusiasts, joined the debate. To reach more people, it was also live-streamed on YouTube.
Determining India’s automotive design DNA is crucial for creating a distinctive brand in the global automotive market, according to the INDEA Debate 2024.