Design Sector: India & the World

As India solidifies its position as an economic and technological powerhouse, the spotlight on design’s transformative potential across industries is intensifying. The outdated notion of design merely enhancing aesthetic appeal has been convincingly debunked. In today’s dynamic landscape, design-led innovations, businesses, and technological advancements are reshaping the world, emphasizing inclusivity, sustainability, ethical values, and social impact. 

In the dynamic realm of design, staying attuned to the ever-evolving global trends is paramount, shaping the narrative of innovation, sustainability and inclusivity. With advancements in technology contemporary design is experiencing massive shifts that are redefining the innovation landscape on a global scale. 

Evolution of the Design Sector in India 

India’s design industry has witnessed a remarkable transformation over the past few decades. While historically, design in India predominantly revolved around manufacturing and textiles, recent years have witnessed a surge in the adoption of various design disciplines. This organic shift indicates a changing perception of design within the country. 

Emerging Global Trends in Design and their Impact on India 

Sustainable Design 

Aligned with national commitments, India is moving towards a circular design to create a sustainable ecosystem. 

India’s commitment to sustainable design is exemplified by its proactive shift towards circular design principles, emphasizing a closed-loop approach that minimizes environmental impact and promotes resource efficiency. 

Inclusive Design 

Governments are actively promoting inclusivity and equitable access across various design subfields. 

In response to a global call for inclusivity, governments in India are actively fostering environments that encourage accessibility and equal participation across diverse design disciplines, ensuring that the benefits of design reach every segment of the population. 

Ethical Design 

Safeguarding consumers against misleading and manipulative design practices, such as Dark UX and deceptive promotions. 

India is prioritizing ethical design by implementing measures to protect consumers from deceptive practices, with a focus on transparency and accountability. This ensures that design serves the users’ interests while maintaining trust and integrity in the industry. 

Privacy Centric Design 

Ensuring optimal data architecture design to uphold individuals’ right to data privacy. 

Recognizing the paramount importance of data privacy, India is emphasizing the integration of privacy-centric design principles into its technological landscape, safeguarding individuals’ rights and fostering a secure digital environment. 

Culture of Design 

Major technology companies are increasingly incorporating designers into the workplace, emphasizing the growing importance of a design-centric culture. 

The evolving landscape sees major technology companies in India recognizing the pivotal role of designers in driving innovation. By integrating designers into their workspaces, these companies are cultivating a design-centric culture that prioritizes creativity, user experience, and problem-solving as integral components of their operations. 

Indian National Design Policy 

Governmental interventions, such as the Designs Act of 2000 and the National Design Policy (NDP) established in 2007, underscore India’s commitment to fostering design. The former protects industrial designers through patents, while the NDP focuses on incorporating design into the education sector. Notably, the design field has undergone significant transformations since the introduction of these policies, transitioning from consumer-focused design thinking to embracing technological advancements like generative AI. 

A closer look at global design policy developments reveals the integration of inclusive, sustainable, and ethical design philosophies into laws and policies worldwide. This underscores the need for India to revisit its current design policy, addressing gaps and aligning with the rapidly evolving design landscape and future trends. 

Integrating Design: Enhancing India’s Core Policy Strategies 

India, with its rich heritage and burgeoning modern industries, is embracing these global design trends. Initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan reflect sustainable design principles, while programs like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana showcase the potential of inclusive design in financial solutions. Incentives for intellectual property and the emphasis on data privacy align with the global shift towards ethical and privacy-focused design. 

However, despite commendable progress, there remains untapped potential in further integrating design trends into policies and initiatives. Design, with its user-centric approach and problem-solving ethos, can amplify the impact of policies, resonating more deeply with beneficiaries and achieving desired outcomes more efficiently. As India continues its journey towards global leadership, design stands as a potent catalyst, enhancing policy effectiveness and ushering in a new wave of innovation across the nation. 

To know more download the CII BCG report on “Designing the Future”