Minding the world: Pune Design Fest 2025

The two-day-long Pune Design Festival, themed Mind the World, focused on exploring emerging perspectives from India, next-generation challenges, and the creation of a responsible future. It featured over 35 speakers, interactive forums, hands-on workshops, and the Battle of Projects – Student Design Awards.

Dick Powell, co-founder of Seymourpowell, shared insights on the changing paradigms of design, the role of innovation, and how design can shape the future. A key theme of his talk was the importance of asking “Why not?” instead of simply accepting the status quo. “Our role as creatives is not to accept things as they are, but to challenge them,” he said. This mindset has driven many of the innovative solutions Powell’s team has produced, from the first cordless kettle to cutting-edge concepts for space travel.

One of the panel discussions, titled From Insights to Impact, explored how design research drives transformative change. Experts Uday Dandavate, Manoj Kothari, Navdeep Kaur, and Shipra Bhutada discussed the evolving role of research beyond aesthetics. Dandavate emphasised that true innovation originates from human curiosity, not solely from AI, and warned against blind reliance on technology. Bhutada focused on purpose-driven research, while Kaur discussed pattern recognition and CMF (Colour, Material, and Finish) trends in shaping design decisions.

The discussion highlighted that research is a tool for cultural transformation, not just efficiency, with the key takeaway being that design research must centre on people, behaviours, and future impact to create human-centred solutions that drive meaningful change.

Another panel, discussing the World Design Organisation’s Protopolis Model, focused on urban design, mobility, and collaboration between design professionals and the government in cities like Pune. Panelists Jacob Mathew, Shekhar Singh, and Siddharth Shirole highlighted key topics such as promoting non-motorised transport (walking, cycling), improving public transportation, and balancing the preservation of historical architecture with modernisation. The Harit Setu project, aimed at creating a “15-minute city” and raising green bonds, was also discussed. Speakers encouraged designers to collaborate with the government in reshaping public infrastructure and cultural spaces.

Other notable speakers included Varun Grover, the acclaimed lyricist and filmmaker; Shipra Bhutada, founder of User Connect Consultancy (UCC); and Anirudha Joshi, head of the IDC School of Design at IIT Bombay.

The festival also featured workshops, offering attendees the opportunity for hands-on learning and in-depth exploration of key industry topics. In addition to the main sessions, PDF25 hosted open-house workshops at design agencies such as Elephant Design, Lemon Design, and MIT Loni, giving attendees the chance to engage with industry leaders and participate in creative activities.

Sustainability was a central theme throughout the festival, with several sessions dedicated to exploring how both companies and individuals are driving change through design.