XLRI Delhi-NCR in collaboration with the Indian School for Design of Automobiles (INDEA) hosted the INDEA Debate 2024 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The event brought together some of the influential voices in automotive design and design management to deliberate on the theme “Does India Need a Design DNA?” The discussion addressed the need for a unique Indian automotive design identity rooted in the country’s culture, heritage, and aspirations. As India emerges as a global automotive hub, the debate underscored the importance of creating a design philosophy that reflects its distinctiveness.
The event was inaugurated by Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, alongside Retired Justice Indira Banerjee, Father Casimir, and Avik Chattopadhyay. The panel featured a line-up of industry stalwarts, including Jean-Paul Oyono, Anand Sharma, Saurabh Singh of Maruti Suzuki, Sathiyaseelan G of Ashok Leyland, Sudhir Sharma of IndiDesign, Bikash Jyoti Biswas of Ather Energy, Ravi Bhatia from JATO Dynamics, and renowned automotive journalist Gautam Sen. Moderated by Avik Chattopadhyay, Chairperson of XADM and Founder of INDEA, the debate brought out rich perspectives from design veterans, academics, and industry experts.
Dr K S Casimir, Director of XLRI Delhi-NCR, highlighted how the debate encourages innovation and critical analysis, fostering a deeper understanding of design’s impact on industry and society. I V Rao reinforced the timeliness of the discussion, stating that automotive design must move beyond functional aspects to represent India’s culture and ambitions on a global platform.
Avik Chattopadhyay explained the significance of the theme as a transformative call to introspection. He emphasised the need to question India’s role in the global automotive sector, advocating for a design approach that aligns with its values and aspirations. The event’s proceedings will culminate in a white paper to act as a reference for advancing India’s automotive design narrative.