Design is more than dreaming; it is teamwork, discourse, and making the future better. This thought took form at the Design Summit 2025, a great event organized by DPUSOD, the leading and best interior designing colleges in Pune. This was the third time it's being held at the colorful Tathawade campus on the 13th and 14th of May, and it was about innovation, ideas, creativity, and definitely a sense of the future.
Design Summit 2025 was even more than an event. It was a place where creativity reigned supreme, but discussions around sustainability, technology, market trends, and even the designer within the ever-changing role of design were a majority of the discussions.
The event started with a formal opening ceremony attended by the esteemed dignitaries of DPUSOD, including the Hon’ble Chancellor, Dr. P.D. Patil, Pro-Chancellor Dr. Bhagyashree P. Patil, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. N.J. Pawar, and Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr. Smita Y. Jadhav. It is these commitments from all of the dignitaries present that showed the institution is dedicated to having an academic vision of design as a revolutionary force in preparing us for a future-ready and innovative society.
A key feature of the summit was the panel discussion on, "The Use of AI & Automation in Design" moderated by Architect Shivani Pandit. The panel consisted of eminent personalities from the design industry. Mr. Suhas Bendre - Vice President of Design at LTIMindtree, Mr. Atul Apte - Head of Design at ColorPlus & Raymond Ready to Wear, Mr. Dhruva Paknikar - Founder & CEO of Dominix Global Design.
They discussed the changing relationship between creativity and technology, in shared experiences detailing how AI is changing the way design is done, changing what roles professionals take on and how to think about new possibilities. The session was eye-opening and much-like a rallying cry from the panel, for emerging designers to adapt, create and take the lead in the rapid world of technology advancement.
A key highlight of the summit was a panel discussion on “The Use of AI & Automation in Design,” which was moderated by architect Shivani Pandit. This session brought together prominent voices from the design industry, such as, Mr. Suhas Bendre - Vice President of Design at LTIMindtree, Mr. Atul Apte - Head of Design at ColorPlus & Raymond Ready to Wear, and Mr. Dhruva Paknikar - Founder & CEO of Dominix Global Design.
They explored the evolving relationship between technology and creativity, while examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping design processes, redefining professional roles, and pushing the boundaries of innovation. The discussion served as both an eye-opener and a call to action, encouraging emerging designers to adapt, innovate, and lead in an era of rapid technological advancement.
Workshops: Hands - on, Minds - on Learning
At DPUSOD, design education is an experience, and this spirit was clear in the diverse department-led workshops that were available at the summit.
Fashion Design: Students dive into sustainable creativity through jewellery crafting with Ms. Mansi Saraf, using materials like jute and ribbon to transform iconic artworks into wearable expressions of sustainability
Animation, Graphics & VFX: Two sessions stole the spotlight—’The Art of Compositing’ with Bhaskara Hari Komaragiri, where students explored the building blocks of professional VFX, and ‘Careers in Animation, VFX & Gaming’ by Sarathi Krishna (Technicolor), offering insights into one of today’s fastest-growing creative industries.
Product Design: Mr. Samar Naik (ZF India) conducted a Speed Forms Workshop, which introduced students to industrial prototyping, pushing them to think about 3D design in contexts like automobiles and aerospace.
Visual Communication: Dr. Girish Charwad led a Relief Typography Workshop, a sensory exploration of typography, that transformed plates and textures into storytelling tools.
Interior Design: With Mr. Bharat Pathak taking charge, the students crafted miniature models of furniture like study desks and centre tables– learning to blend function, form, and feasibility. Each workshop was more than just a session—it was an experience, merging curiosity with craftsmanship.
Student Showcase: A Canvas of Creativity
The student exhibition was one of the most fascinating aspects of the summit. It displayed an impressive collection of concept-driven projects, installations, models, and design prototypes from all five departments, scattered throughout the campus.
The visitors navigated through a maze of concepts, including furniture that combined accessibility and style, images that conveyed compelling stories, and objects that addressed issues in the real world. ‘This is the future of design in action’, was the overwhelming reaction from both academic peers and industry guests.
Bridging Design and Industry: DPUSOD Signature
The summit was a meeting of industry and academia. Students were exposed to market realities, creative entrepreneurship, and innovation-driven thinking through expert presentations, live workshops, and face-to-face interactions with design professionals.
The occasion also served as a demonstration of DPUSOD's interdisciplinary philosophy, which holds that — design works in collaboration with business, technology, and culture to address challenging issues rather than operating independently. The idea that education should educate students not just how to design but also why to design was emphasized by the event.
Looking Ahead: Tomorrow’s Designers, Today
As the Design Summit 2025 came to a close, it became evident that the Dr. D. Y. Patil School of Design is not just training students for professional careers, but also developing leaders who will influence the next wave of design.
The summit summarised the evolving aspects of the design profession, ranging from sustainability to artificial intelligence, from storytelling to social effect. It restated the school's goal of providing education that is current, forward-thinking, and fundamentally human.
Final Thoughts: Design as Experience, Design as Impact
Design Summit 2025 was an event that was more than just a gathering. It was a movement. It served as an active example of how academic settings can serve as change-inducing environments. Events like this one are more valuable now than ever given the expectation that design should engage important issues, elicit emotion, and add value. The two days reminded the students, faculty and industry collaborators that at the end of the day, design is not only what we do, it's who we are.