SIAM hosts 19th Styling & Design Conclave alongside 17th Automotive Design Challenge

In his keynote address, Teofilo Plaza Garcia, Industrial Studio Head, Hero MotoCorp, said, “We must move people sustainably, but we must also move them emotionally. It was once believed that competing in motorsports required importing expensive, heavy-capability vehicles. Today, we are changing that belief with our affordable, well-designed, and highly functional machines. To compete at the global level, we have to start investing in the young talent so that the Heroes of tomorrow are riding today.”

Anuj Prasad, Founder & CEO, Desmania Design, noted, “We are at a threshold, and we are ready to cross it very soon. In the last two years, we have witnessed MNCs  coming to India, looking for designs created by Indians and for Indians. We have a diversity of talent and thoughts. Now, with over 1,500 design schools, we are creating an ecosystem of design in India, building on our long-standing legacy. When we talk about sustainability, designers can bring in solutions right from the inception level. My recommendation is that we need to transform from being mere stylists to becoming thought leaders in design.”

In his closing remarks, Nilesh Kirtane, Co-Chairman, SIAM Styling & Design Group & General Manager – Strategy Planning, Honda R&D India, added, “Like scientists, innovation too emerges from design. We have a big responsibility when it comes to innovation. The whole concept needs to evolve in terms of how we change the lives of common people. We need to think creatively to drive the future of mobility””

The first session, themed “Technology Innovation as an Enabler for Design,” was chaired by Ms Akansha Hakhu, Sr. General Manager (CMF), Maruti Suzuki.

D r Kaustav  Sengupta, Professor, NIFT Chennai said, ”India aims to become a global leader in colour trends by 2030. Every mile we travel in this country, the colour palette changes. Unfortunately, many traditional Indian colors have lost their significance simply because they were inherently Indian. I strongly believe that Indian OEMs should incorporate indigenous colours into their vehicle designs to celebrate our cultural identity."

Samarth Gupta, Senior Technical Specialist & Mobility Lead APAC, Autodesk said,” "We are mindful of the fact that design trends are evolving rapidly, and so are customer expectations. Everyone wants to own a vehicle because it is an expression of independence. New developments in geopolitics and the evolution of consumers’ trends and preferences are impacting the mobility landscape. We will need to evolve our auto design thinking amidst disruptions.”

Rajesh Gogu, Vice President (Design), Maruti Suzuki said,” The trends on the road are changing, as demand for sedans have reduced while that of SUVs have grown. Designing can reinvent declining segments or products to make them popular again. India’s unique preferences can only be met through refreshing designs that evolve with consumer expectations and remain relevant over time. We can design our vehicles that can reduce the carbon footprint offering better fuel efficiency and value to customers.

Akansha Hakhu of Maruti Suzuki, said, "Through collective discussions on style and design, we can create an ecosystem with a broader and improved vision. These discussions are essential for shaping the future of automotive design."

The session featured insights from Rahul Pandita, Regional Head, Stratasys where he talked the integration of new-age technologies in automotive design and their impact on user experience.

The second session, “Designing for Global Aspirations,” was chaired by V S Deka, Group Manager, Royal Enfield amongst other leading experts.

Ferdinand Klauser, Global Partner & Managing Director Asia, KISKA Shanghai said,” Design is a crucial factor in a customer’s decision to choose a particular automotive brand. We hear a lot about India’s potential, but the key is to understand where to play and how to win."

Pravin Gaikwad, Head of CV Design, Tata Motors said,” India is on the path to becoming a global leader in sustainable mobility. Design plays a pivotal role in this journey, as it will shape the future of how mobility is envisioned and experienced."

Dinesh Raman, Director Transportation Design, KISKA Shanghai and Harikrishnan AK, Delivery Manager, TCS Design also shared their insights in the session and explored the influence of global trends on Indian automotive design and the need for innovation in the sector.

The third session was a panel discussion on “Fostering Industry – Academia Interaction,” moderated by Anuj Prasad, Founder & CEO, Desmania Design. The discussion included perspectives from G Sathiyaseelan, Chairman, SIAM Styling & Design Group & Vice President (Design), Ashok Leyland;  Namit Sharma, Professor, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad; Dr Kaustav Sengupta, Professor, NIFT Chennai; Dr Sumer Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Design, IIT Delhi; Jayant Sankrityayana, Professor, UPES; and Ms Alka Madhan, Director (Strategy),MIT Institute of Design. Panelists emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the industry and academia to nurture young talent and drive innovation in automotive design.

SIAM also organised the 17th edition of Automotive Design Challenge (ADC), an esteemed annual design competition, that provided a platform for aspiring automobile designers to showcase their creativity and vision for the future of mobility. Followinga rigorous selection process, the top ten students were chosen to present their innovative concepts during the conclave, with their designs put on display for attendees to explore.

The conclave concluded with the ADC 2024 Award Felicitation Ceremony, where the intense competition resulted in two second runners-up  Rajat Sisodia, National Institute o Design and Anurag Ramteke, Strate School of Design, first runner up being Naga Karthik Jonnala,  Strate School of Design and the winner Vedant Barve, MIT Institute of Design bringing the total number of winners to four, all recognised for their outstanding contributions to automotive design.