ATLAS hosts Mumbai Design Xpress: A Celebration of Mumbai’s Creative Spirit

ADI (Association of Designers of India)’s Mumbai Chapter, in association with ATLAS SkillTech University, recently organised the Mumbai Design Xpress (MDX), a one-of-a-kind design and creative event aimed at empowering Mumbai’s creative spirit. The event took place in Mumbai, on the high-tech campus of ATLAS SkillTech University, and brought together a team of designers, entrepreneurs, artists, and creative minds who shared a vision of bringing together diverse design approaches and uniting the industry, student bodies and the design community at large.

The MDX event was a power-packed day filled with various sessions, including Xpress talks, fireside chats, panel discussions, studio talks, and indie talks, all featuring speakers from different fields, sharing their personal experiences and insights. The aim of the event was to co-create meaningful experiences that spark cross-pollination and celebrate success stories.

Xpress Talk with Katik Shah

The day kicked off with an Xpress talk by Katik Shah, co-founder of Maati Baani, who shared his musical journey from co-founding Maati Bani with his wife to working with several national and international musicians connected to their roots. He also shared some interesting experiences with different musicians he met along the way. The audience was inspired by his passion for music and his journey of success.

Discovering the Wonder of Ancient Indian Board Games

Next up was Aman Gopal, the founder of Khol Khel, who spoke about discovering the wonder of ancient Indian board games, getting inspired by the rich history, and correlating these games with life. He emphasized that board games are a great source to discover, exchange, and learn, so play to interact, play to grow, and play for thrill. He also explained how what we learn with joy, we never forget.

Journey with Food

Later, Nitin Tondon, a celebrity chef and food stylist, spoke about his journey with food spread over 40 years, from being a cook, chef, hotelier, food caterer to fine dining. He talked about how a cluster of people gets converted into a community through food and the challenges and excitement he experienced along the way. Nitin also shared his thoughts on food as a ceremony, food as art, food design thinking, and emotions that go behind the design. He emphasised that if you cannot invoke emotions through design, you are in the wrong room.

Fireside chat with Kartik, Aman and Nitin

The sessions were followed by a fireside chat with all three of them – Kartik, Aman, and Nitin – wherein they discussed creative insecurity, album art and social media changing the dynamics of their respective fields.

Studio Talk with Rajeev Raja

Next up was a studio talk with Rajeev Raja, Founder & Soundsmith of BrandMusiq, who shared how he combines the world of branding with the world of music, the power of music, demo on how sounds can take to places without any visuals attached, designing sound based on our rich heritage of Indian ragas and equivalent western scales. His talk was a fascinating insight into the world of music and branding.

Panel Discussion on The Business of Creativity

The event also featured a panel discussion on The Business of Creativity, with Sonal Dabral, Ali Fazal, Lulu Raghavan, Suresh Eriyat, and Suresh Venkat. The panel discussion was an eye-opener and gave the audience a glimpse into the minds of industry experts. According to Ali Fazal, scaling up is being heard on the other side of the world and filmmaking is not just actors; it is all about teamwork – a whole orchestration. Lulu expressed that there are no bad agencies or bad clients, but most of the time, it is a bad fit. Suresh emphasised that design shouldn’t be taught in a glass house situation, and design schools need to be in touch with reality to make an impact. Sonal said that really good work comes out of the mistakes that you have done and that’s the beauty of creativity.   

Studio talk- Please See with Pritha Sahai

During the Studio talk, Pritha Sahai, the Founder of a state-of-the-art branding company called Please See, emphasised the importance of connecting brands with our memories, culture, and traditions. She urged the audience to move beyond trends and create their own unique approach. According to her, it is essential to envision the entire experience, rather than focusing solely on the visual aspect. She encouraged the attendees to think outside the box and use their imagination in unconventional ways to make their brand stand out.

Indie Talk with Mehak Mirza Prabhu

During her talk on Indie Talk, Mehak Mirza Prabhu emphasized the power of storytelling for designers, conveying her message through an engaging story. She stressed the importance of connecting with your audience by using your own personal gestures, expressions, and voice to show compassion. As she explained, “Storytelling is not a performance, it is a conversation.” By adopting this approach, designers can create a powerful connection with their audience and make a lasting impact.

Studio Talk on Analogy Design with Vyas Teja Rao

Vyas Teja Rao spoke about the importance of designing products that people preserve, combining physical and digital is the future, and that products should have soul, personality, identity, and solve real problems.

The Human Connect with Manoj Gursahanani

Manoj Gursahanani, the author, philanthropist and business coach, shared his personal experiences and insights on networking in a way that many of us don’t know in his session on “The Human Connect”.

Studio Talk- Ektype with Sarang Kulkarni

In the Studio Talk, Sarang Kulkarni from Ektype highlighted the importance of fonts in design, and how it can impact the overall look and feel of a project.

Indie Talk- Rising to Comfort with Harshpreet Kaur

Harshpreet Kaur, the founder of Design Habitat, spoke on “Rising to Comfort” and discussed the different aspects of interior design like mood, aesthetics, creating sensory experiences for clients, and combining nature-inspired aesthetics with the client’s style and functional needs to create a room full of contentment.

Graffiti and Beatboxing with Avantika Mathur & Roshan

Avantika Mathur & Roshan, in their session on “Graffiti and Beatboxing,” discussed the self-expression, collaboration and experimentation aspects of hip-hop and art, emphasizing its impact on mental health.

Mumbai Design Xpress was an inspirational event that showcased the power of design and brought together a diverse range of speakers from various fields. It provided a platform for exchanging ideas and carving a niche with some thought-provoking conversations. The event was a resounding success and is sure to inspire many in the future.