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School of Design and Creative Arts

Vedatya Building Facade
The School of Design and Creative Arts (SDCA) is among the best design schools in Gurugram as it has been established after extensive feedback from the industry on the skill set deficit that they are seeing in the current graduates. This feedback – lack of broad-based design skills, lack of design thinking, and lack of business skills – form the foundation for the unique course offering.
 
The contemporary design courses in Gurugram offered by SDCA include the first two years as Interdisciplinary Design Studies (IDS) programme to provide maximum exposure to students in various disciplines and help them specialize in a Major of their choice in the subsequent years. This broad exposure helps students to align their professional goals with their personal choices.
 
In the final two years, students are encouraged to deep dive into their specialized Majors design courses and choose from among different Minors to build a career path that aligns with their goals. Continuous mentorship by industry experts supports this academic pathway, along with internships and project-based learning.

> 50%

Faculty With Degrees From 
U. S. and U. K.

16

Acre Campus Space With Student Led Design Installations

5

Design Specializations

3

Industry Required Skill Set

(Design Thinking, Business Skills, Diverse Design Training)

School Highlights

Industry internships and placements with global brands including international locations in France and Dubai

An international approach of offering Major and Minor subjects coupled with Electives that provides a wide canvas for learning while being closely connected with the industry and profession

Focused on developing “design acumen” in a learner through design thinking and applied learning – building installations on campus, field trips, design competition and live projects

Best in class design infrastructure through studio based delivery, adjunct faculty who are working professionals, material lab, and cutting edge software

Two year interdisciplinary design studies that allow students to learn broad based design acumen and practical experience through an industry internship before they make an informed decision about the specialization to pursue

Project-based learning coupled with industry presence on campus to help students gain confidence in professional practice and become all-rounders in their chosen fields of study, leading to career pathways that include both employment as well as entrepreneurship

On-campus residential facilities that provide the flexibility for students to use the facilities at their convenience

Focus on sustainable design practices based on Vedatya’s practice ethos as practiced through other means (farm-to-fork, organic farming, rainwater harvesting, etc.)

Interdisciplinary approach to design through its application in the business world and the broad service industry that includes hospitality, retail, healthcare, financial services, etc.

Award-winning industry speakers on new Product Development, Service Industry, Visual Design, Graphic Design, and more

Design and Creative Arts Courses

Academic Mentors & Faculty

Mentorship throughout the study period is a cornerstone of the teaching and learning philosophy at Vedatya. We believe that interaction with industry professionals is one of the sure-shot ways in which students can get prepared for their careers. With our project-based curriculum and applied learning methodologies, we believe that mentors can help shape the future of students rather than merely a teacher-centric approach. To this extent, we associate with mentors who are established professionals in the industry and who have committed to spend time with the students for shaping and guiding their projects on a regular basis.

Parul MunjalDirector, INTACH Heritage Academy, New Delhi
Shiv MarwahaPrincipal Architect at Shiv Marwaha and Associates
Shantanu ChatterjeeCreative Leader-Advertising, Branding and Marketing Communication
Nain LullaInterior + Graphic Designer at Nain&Nick Lulla
Swati RaoFounder of SENSES PLAY
Saumya AymuasFounder - The Aymuas Project
Taral ShahProduct Designer & Educator

Parul Munjal

Director, INTACH Heritage Academy, New Delhi

Dr. Parul Munjal is a conservation architect with experience of being an academic at School of Art and Architecture, Sushant University for 10 years and Senior Conservation Architect at Development and Research Organisation for Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH) prior to that.

With a strong orientation towards interdisciplinary research, Munjal has edited books and published widely in journals of repute, in the areas of heritage conservation, community based approach and heritage tourism. The focus of her doctoral research was on the heritage of small and medium towns in Gurgaon District. Currently, she holds the position of Director, INTACH Heritage Academy, New Delhi.

Shiv Marwaha

Principal Architect at Shiv Marwaha and Associates

An Architect and Planner from the prestigious School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi , Shiv Marwaha established a design studio, Shiv Marwaha and Associates (SMA) in January 2000 for excellence in design, planning and engineering after having worked closely as an associate architect on the IIT Guwahati Project and BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus, handling housing and other buildings independently.

Over the last twenty three years, he has been working as a principal design consultant for various kinds of educational institutions ranging from private sector schools to rural schools and university campuses in India. Designing schools for CSR initiatives has been a hallmark in the professional journey. More than 150 educational projects have been completed for the under-privileged, weaker and rural population of India. These were highly challenging projects where the buildings needed to be student centric, functional and highly cost effective; yet inviting and engaging enough for students to keep coming back. In addition to educational architecture, he has been actively involved in the field of infrastructure planning, industrial parks, transport based design, feasibility studies, urban & town planning, and interior design.

As former consultant with WWF India as an Advisor – Landuse and Planning, he has been advising and dealing with issues related to urbanisation and landuse change, in and around the critical habitats and priority landscapes. He was also part of the group developing Rapid Infra Impact Assessment Model (RIIAM) that would help quickly assess the impact of proposed linear infra works in the landscapes. Currently consulting with WWF-India on the USAID funded ALIGN Project on Environmental safeguards in the infrastructure development sphere. The experience with the WWF-India has added another layer of conservation and sustainability to the practice.

He has been associated with academics as a visiting faculty at the Sushant School of Art and Architecture Gurgaon and GD Goenka School of architecture. Also been engaging with institutions like Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, Jindal Law School and IILM University as a guest speaker. To be able to give back to the system and mentor students to become sensitive and thorough professionals gives him immense satisfaction. This also aligns perfectly with the mentorship roles he plans to undertake.

On personal front, travelling, technology, automobiles and aviation are major avenues of expenditure.

Shantanu Chatterjee

Creative Leader-Advertising, Branding and Marketing Communication

Since graduating in 1992 from College of Art Delhi, Shantanu has spent several years honing his skills in advertising, design and communications. He spent seventeen years in advertising working with Mudra, RK Swamy BBDO, Lowe, Rediffusion Y&R on a range of brands like Airtel, adidas, Idea Cellular, Maruti Suzuki, Singapore Tourism, Woodland to name a few. He has travelled extensively across India and many places across the world collaborating with filmmakers, photographers, 3D artists, Artists, voiceover artists, music directors, printing experts and other professionals.

In 2009 he joined Unitech Ltd as a General Manager, Marketing Communications understanding the business side of design by working closely with the sales and marketing team.

From 2017 to 2022 he taught at GD Goenka University as an Associate Professor, leading the Communications Design program. While not an academic in true sense, he discovered the need to bridge the gap between the current industry expectations and the course curriculum. He was successfully able to witness the graduation of three batches and guide many students to build their careers with TCS, Ogilvy, Dentsu, Arun Verma design, UX Reactor and World Wildlife Fund amongst others.
Since 2009 he has been a consultant Creative Director with select few Delhi NCR based design and advertising firms with projects on advertising, digital, packaging, OTT Apps, office branding and films.

Nain Lulla

Interior + Graphic Designer at Nain&Nick

Nain is a passionate Interior Designer with 8 years of experience in the industry. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of design principles, she has worked on a variety of projects ranging from residential to commercial spaces.

She has been awarded a gold medal for both her graduation and post-graduation in design, which is a testament to their dedication and commitment to the field.

In addition to their industry experience, she also comes with more than 2 years of teaching experience in design. During this time, she has been able to impart her knowledge and expertise to students and help guide them towards successful careers in design.

She believes that design is more than just aesthetics, it is about creating spaces that are functional, sustainable, and enhance the overall quality of life. She is excited to be a part of the Vedatya Institute and contribute to the growth of the School of Design and Creative Arts as a founding academic mentor.

Swati Rao

Founder of SENSES PLAY

A design graduate from National Institute of Design Ahmedabad with rich and extensive experience, Swati has worked with various brands, museums, and events to bring out insights and implement innovative solutions.

She has extensive industry experience, having worked with studios such as EDC, Design Factory, NH1 designs, 100 Watts studio, and many more.

As an educator, she has played multiple roles such as Associate Dean at WUD, and taught at prestigious institutions such as Pearl Academy, UID & GD Goenka University.

She is a people leader who has helped students unleash their strength and motivated them towards growth.

As the Covid 19 pandemic gripped the world, she saw a deeper need for sustainability. She recognized that the transition to a sustainable future can drive post-pandemic recovery, by providing job creation and increasing economic and environmental resiliency for the long term.

Senses Play, the brand, was born from this need for sustainability. With collections that promote slow living and sustainable choices, Swati has brought joyful yet ethical décor to you.

Saumya Aymuas

Founder – The Aymuas Project

Saumya is a spatial and furniture designer. She set up the ‘The Aymuas Project’ in 2009 as a space where she could explore sustainable design. A restless creative at heart, Saumya’s 15 years journey shaped her into the designer she is today. She has worked at esteemed institutions such as McCann, NDTV and Oxfam.

While juggling many creative hats, in 2013, Saumya designed Moustache Jaipur, a backpacker’s hostel leading to redefining the importance of spatial design for hostels across India. Her projects since then have ranged from designing residential spaces to commercial spaces.

She has not only been designing spaces but her deep passion for design has led her to set up design teams for start-ups across sectors in India. She founded OYOxDesign a multidisciplinary design team & mentored young designers. OxD focused on design at scale and designed over 1000 spaces.
‘Design is Saumya’s happy place.

Taral Shah

Product Designer & Educator

Taral Shah is an accomplished professional with nine years of experience in both industry and academics. With a bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics Engineering and a master’s degree in Product
Design, Taral has cultivated a diverse skill set and expertise in various areas.

Throughout Taral’s career, he has thrived in multidisciplinary design studios, where he has made
significant contributions to Industrial Product Design, Packaging Design, UI/UX, and Automobile Design.

Their creative approach and attention to detail have resulted in the successful development of
innovative and aesthetically pleasing products.

In recognition of his inventive contributions, he has earned the distinction of being named as an
inventor on three patents. His ability to translate ideas into tangible solutions demonstrates his
proficiency in problem-solving and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of design.

Currently, Taral is making valuable contributions to an Ed-tech startup, leveraging his expertise to create engaging and effective educational experiences. His passion for merging technology with education enables him to develop innovative solutions that enhance the learning process.

Think Tank

Because our goal is to provide placement to our students, we have a multi-tudinal industry engagement effort that includes a think tank (listed below) for advising us about including contemporary design practices in our curriculum. In fact, we have a structured approach of engaging with industry professionals every two years

to ask them specific questions about the industry’s evolution and the skill gaps that they are seeing in the graduate profiles. We then incorporate appropriate changes to our curriculum.

Members of the think tank also act as adjunct faculty that provide a practical perspective to our students.

Saurabh GargCo-Founder at Crossed Design
Akila SeshasayeeFounder/Chief Designer at Toile Indienne
Arunkumar H.GFounder, Managing Trustee
Smita AnandHead of Apparel Design, Production and Business Development at Sanspareils Greenlands Pvt Ltd.
Amit Krishn GulatiFounder Partner at Incubis Design Consultants
Chandni BediDirector at Navjyoti India Foundation

Saurabh Garg

Co-Founder at Crossed Design

An advocate of Human Centricity in Design, with years of experience in spearheading multidisciplinary team and driving design led innovation across various sectors like healthcare, education, finance, development, Saurabh has helped organisation to push their boundaries and take bold decisions. Saurabh understands what the user needs, and with brutal honesty, he questions the orthodox doctrine to make sure that businesses, instead of following benchmarks, become a benchmark for others to follow.

Saurabh is Post Graduate in Automotive Design from NID with a rich experience working with Honda, TATA motors, TinkerLab & TurianLabs. He has sharpened his focus on research and strategy. He has a strong expertise in design thinking and frequently speaks at various places training young minds for Innovation.

Akila Seshasayee

Founder and Chief Designer at Toile Indienne

Akila’s latest entrepreneurial venture is Toile Indienne (TI), a textile design firm, started in 2017, with a belief that Indian textiles do not have any one style. It is through TI that Akila and her partner, Pankaj Kehr, seek to tell wonderful stories about who we are. Toile Indienne has already won accolades as the winner in the textile design category at the prestigious Lexus Design Award India 2018.

TI is born out of Akila’s love of textiles. It is also a realisation that the Indian textile story has become so centred on Jaipuri prints alone that it was up to Pankaj and her to explore and showcase the vast wealth of stories, histories, myths, legends and culture that is India.

Akila also founded in 1998 and is a partner in a graphic design studio called Designosis. Over the years Designosis has built a stellar reputation for handling a broad spectrum of projects (ranging from branding and corporate communications to magazine design) as well as providing excellent client servicing. It is one of the few handful of studios that has the skill and experience to work on projects as diverse as website design and newspaper design. Some of its corporate clients are amongst India’s top 100 companies, and include banks, real estate companies and auto component makers.

Before starting her entrepreneurial journey with Designosis, Akila’s experience spanned as an Associate Producer in a TV channel, as an Art Director for the Indian Express Sunday Magazine and also for a magazine called “Down to Earth”. She started her career as a designer at Times of India.

Akila is passionate about typography and her work features in India: Contemporary Design: Fashion, Graphics, Interiors published by the V&A. She has also taught typography at the National Institute of Design.

She believes that good edi¬torial design doesn’t mean merely pushing bits of text and pictures around to create a layout, but it truly needs to engage with content to create pages for people to read.

Akila has a degree in Visual Communication (Graphic Design) from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, where she was strongly influenced by Bauhaus and designers like Saul Bass, Adrian Frutiger, Paul Rand, Milton Glaser, and so on. These designers, and the privilege of working with an incredibly talented bunch of people in editorial, art and photography have influenced the work that she does today.

Arunkumar H.G

Founder, Managing Trustee

Arunkumar H.G completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Fine Arts (Sculpture) at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, 1993 and 1995.

In 2014 he has set up the Centre for Knowledge and Environment (www.saracentre.org) in the Western Ghats region of Karnataka, India.

Arunkumar’s solo shows include: Con-struction at Gallery Espace New Delhi, In-site, Aicon Gallery New York, 2018; Seed of Reckoning Mumbai Art Room, Mumbai
, 2012; Tract, Nature Morte, New Delhi, 2010; Feed, Nature Morte, New Delhi, Sakshi Gallery Mumbai 2006.

He has also participated in numerous group exhibitions in India and abroad, most importantly: New Natures: A Terrible Beauty is Born, at MMB Mumbai, 2022; Kochi Muzris Biennale, 2018; BAT at Bhubaneswar, 2018; ‘Embrace Our Rivers’ Goethe-Institute / Max Mueller Bhavan Chennai, 2018; Sculpture by The Sea, Sculpture Biennial Aarhus Denmark, 2015; The Eye and The Mind: New Interventions in Contemporary Indian Art, part of Festival of India in China, 2015 (sponsored by the National Gallery of Modern Art). Beyond Limits at San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, 2014; Aesthetic Bind Citizen Artist: Forms of Address, Chemould, Mumbai, 2013; Crossing Space, Kunsthalle Faust, Hannover, Germany 
2013; Art and Activism in India Since 1989, The SAHMAT Collective, Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago
 2013: Zones of Contact, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Noida, India 2013; Cosmopolitan Stranger, Open University of Diversity, Hasselt, Belgium,
 2012; The new vanguard, Saffron Art, & Guild Gallery, New York, 2009
; Shifting terrains/Altered realities, Shrine Gallery, Delhi & Singapore, 2008; Here There Now, Gallery Soulflower Bangkok, 2007
; Indian Colour, Gallery Keumsan, Seoul, 2007.

The artist has additionally participated in several national and international artists’ residencies some of which include: Art Omi international Artist Residency, New York, 2011; Artist in Residency, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 2007 & 2002; Public Art Residency at JNU Campus, New Delhi, 2005; International Artists Camp, George Keyt Foundation, Colombo, 2005; CHROMA, Public Art Project, Bergen, Norway, 2003; KHOJ International Artist-in-residence, New Delhi & Modinagar, 2000.

Smita Anand

Head of Apparel Design, Production and Business Development at Sanspareils Greenlands Pvt Ltd.

Smita’s journey into design started at a very early stage in life, her earliest memory being of playing with mud when she was four or five years old. She recalls making patterns in sand using both her hands simultaneously and the immense gratification it brought her. Having both parents as doctors in a small town, it wasn’t easy for Simta to choose and further her education in design. She eventually did manage to get a design degree in ceramics and then went on to hone the skill of high fired hand thrown studio pottery.

Smita trained under well known ceramic artist and creator Ray Meeker in Pondicherry and Kodaikanal and eventually set up her studio called MuddyWatersStudioPottery. She started supplying to stores and cafés and hotels with a few breaks in her career owing to family ways, but continued on and off for almost 20 years till the family business needed some hand-holding in apparel design and development.
Currently, Smita heads apparel and footwear design and product development for Sanspareils Greenlands (SG), a well-known cricket and sports equipment brand.

She believes that the education and knowledge of principles of design surpasses the medium they are implemented in. She also believes that design is communication, an expression and it’s a solution to problems and in every medium the same progression can be followed as long as it originates from the central idea of making the experience better!

Amit Krishn Gulati

Founder Partner at Incubis Design Consultants

Amit Krishn Gulati is an award winning industrial designer, entrepreneur and design educator with a multifaceted oeuvre encompassing New Product Development, Healthcare, Hotels & Hospitality, Branding, Built Environments and Retail Experiences.

Amit completed the post-graduate programme in Industrial Design from the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad in 1995 and is the co-founder of Incubis, one of India’s leading architecture and design companies with several Fortune 500 clients.

Incubis is known for its path-breaking ’frugal innovation’ projects, exemplified by the creation of a range of affordable maternal infant-care devices for GE Healthcare, modular polyclinics for the Delhi Government and Ginger, the ‘smart’ hotel chain for the Tata Group.

Amit is passionate about mentoring entrepreneurs and works closely with many start-ups. He is one of the founding investors at Barista, India’s pioneering espresso retailer, Abisko, a solar solutions venture and Eye-Q, a successful and fast-growing chain of affordable eye hospitals. Amit, and the team at Incubis, designed and helped execute the iconic 100 meter ‘Mudra’ installation that has become the celebrated symbol of the International Airport at New Delhi. Amit is actively engaged in creating design awareness and has served on the CII National Committee on Design for several years and is the Vice President-National Executive Council of the Association of Designers of India (ADI).

In addition to leading the design team at Incubis, Amit teaches at The School of Planning and Architecture – New Delhi, Ambedkar University – Delhi, Anant National University – Ahmedabad and at his alma-mater, NID- Ahmedabad.

Chandni Bedi

Director at Navjyoti India Foundation

Chandni is a social sector professional engaged in nurturing communities in rural and urban set-ups by developing collaborative and result-oriented models. She works towards co-creating and implementing practical solutions to complex social problems, monitoring, and evaluation of interdisciplinary projects, curating and delivering high-quality training and learning content.

She is a development sector practitioner for the last 19 years, a researcher, and a life-long learner with a purpose to create a social impact. Her interests are in projects that foster policy change. Being a Vipassana student, an ancient technique of meditation, and having a background in environmental sciences, her affirmation is that humans can co-exist with their fellow inhabitants on this planet earth.

Chandni is a TEDx speaker, received awards in social and water leadership, and has contributed research papers and articles in journals, magazines and newspapers. She is also the State President, Haryana – Water Resources Council at Women’s Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (WICCI)

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