MUQEEM KHAN – KARACHI
In 1996, Muqeem Khan became the first Pakistani to start working in the Hollywood visual effects industry. His motion picture credits with Walt Disney and Square USA include Deep Rising, George of the Jungle, Flubber, Armageddon, and Final Fantasy. His research interests are in the areas of multidisciplinary design, emerging interactive technologies, and Intangible Cultural Heritage. Through empathic design framework and augmented reality, he is currently investigating, documenting, and transmitting the ancient pulse-reading practices in South Asia. He has taught Virginia Commonwealth and Northwestern Universities in Qatar and is currently an associate professor at Habib University in Pakistan.

SERTAÇ ERSAYIN – ISTANBUL
Founder re/form/ist design strategies. President of Industrial Designer Association of Turkey. Board member of Design Turkey.

ANTHONY LOPEZ – NEW DELHI
Anthony Lopez, founder of Lopez Design is a cross-disciplinary visualizer and thinker. Ultimately for him, designing is by, for and about people and they matter the most. A valued mentor to NIFT and NID students, Anthony has given talks at the Kyoorius Design Yatra, The Sri Lanka Design Festival, Design X Design Forum and Pecha Kucha’s ID 2014 Symposium. Amongst his accolades, are the American Design Award and The Business World Excellence Award.

HARI NALLAN – NEW DELHI
Hari Nallan is the founder and CEO of Think Design, a design studio with five offices in the United States and India. Hari works as a designer, philosopher, author, trainer and strategist in the field of user experience. He works with people from various cultural, geographic and linguistic backgrounds, and with individuals with varying levels of education, and is able to share his profound understanding of design-relevant connections. Hari has a vision of an ecosystem of design studios connected across the globe, whereby design results from a process of applied thinking and collaboration.

ROBIN KO – NAGOYA

VIKAS SATWALEKAR – MUMBAI
Vikas Satwalekar is the Partner at Satwalekar Design Studio.

Dr. ARAFAT AL-NAIM – DUBAI
Dr. Arafat Al-Naim BFA, MFA, PhD in graphic arts and MST in art teaching. Academic Leader, graphic artist, designer, and the moving spirit behind international art and design projects. Lectured and presented at international conferences and exhibitions in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Italy, North Ireland, Macedonia, Germany, Bulgaria, USA, Canada, Cyprus, South Africa, Tunisia, the Netherlands, Brazil, Japan, Egypt, South Korea, Syria, Turkey, Jordan. Graphic works of Dr. Arafat can be found in Spencer Museum of Art, Kansas (USA), Portland Art Museum (USA), Museum of Modern Art Wales, Machynlleth (UK), Wrexham Yale Memorial Gallery, Wrexham (UK), State Museum Gyõr (Hungary), University of Wales Collection, Aberystwyth (UK), Nord Art – Kunstwerk Carlshütte (Germany) and others. Outstanding Contribution to Education (The Middle East Education Leadership Awards 2016), Best Professor in Design (Asian Education Leadership Awards 2014, 2017) and “Rhea Baily” Art Award (IBC, Cambridge, UK, 2008) awards Dr. Arafat has received in recognition of his contribution to global visual design, education and professional practice. Dr. Al-Naim is the Dean of College of Design at American University in the Emirates, Member of ICOGRADA (Education Network), Curator of the International SYMPOSIODESIGN – Amman, Chair of International Design Conference, and executive director of the United Designs Alliance.

TARUN DEEP GIRDHER – AHMEDABAD
Tarun is a design educator and graphic designer currently teaching graphic design at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India’s premier design institute. He has over 20 years of experience in design education and professional design practice including symbols of RTI and NOTA. He has served as a juror in several international and national competitions and design including Poster for Tomorrow, Campus Diaries 25 under 25 Talent hunt, Typography Day etc. Banasthali University, Calorx Teachers University, IIT Kanpur, University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka).

VITALY STAVITSKY – MOSCOW
Owner of Stavitsky Design & Branding, Vitaly is the Vice-President of Association of Designers of Russia. During his carrier, he received more than 40 awards and prizes at international and Russian competitions and festivals in the field of advertising and design, such as the American GOOD DESIGN Award (existing from 1950) in 2005 and twice in 2008, annually reward since 1950 in Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design for outstanding achievements in design, multiple awards at the Moscow International Advertising Festival (1st place in 2002, 2004 and 2007, 2nd place in 2004, 3rd place in 2005 and 2011, special prize in 2001 and 2002), the Russian National Prize “Victoria” in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2016, “GRAPHIS Poster Awards” in 2004, Silver Award in “GRAPHIS Poster Annual” in 2014 and 2018, Gold Award in GRAPHIS Poster Annual 2017 (USA), Diploma of the “Academy of Graphic Design” for contribution to the development of design, “Special prize” at the international triennial of the Ecological Poster “the 4th Block”, rewarded by the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation for his great contribution to the development of the Design and long-term fruitful work.

SAURABH SINGH – MUSCAT
Design Lead, Ras Al Hamra Development Project, PDO. Over 25 years experience in Architecture, Urban Design, Design Management and Project Management with organizations in India and the Middle East region (Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, and UAE). Skilled in Concept design development with a sensitive approach to context, environment, and Design Vision. Proficient in Masterplanning and Architectural design development of a variety of building types.

SHRIKANT NIVASARKAR – PUNE
Renowned furniture designer. Founder and Owner of Nivasarkar Consultants, Pune.

Dr. REN HE – SHANGHAI
Prof. He Ren, is the Acting Chief Engineer, the Acting Chairman of Science and Technology Committee, the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the Head of Industrial Design Institute of Shanghai Aircraft Customer Service Center, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Co. Ltd. (COMAC). He is the winner of Reddot award, Chinese Red Star award, TIA outstanding Designer Award. He has 100 papers, and 5 books published.

S. BALARAM – COIMBATORE
Balaram is a Designer, Writer, and Dean of the D J Academy of Design. He founded the Craft Development Institute. He has 4 patents to his name, and has won the honorary fellowship of Society of Designers of India, Helen Keller award and international Ron Mace ‘design for 21st century award’ for Universal Design – the only Indian to win this award. His publications include “Thinking Design”(reprinted and translated).

ANIL SAINI – BANGALORE
Director of Design for General Motors, Anil has 30+ years of professional experience in designing Automotive/Consumer Products and managing various aspects of NPD (New Product Development).

KRITY GERA  – NEW DELHI
Krity Gera is an Architect, Industrial Designer and an Academic based out of New Delhi. With over a decade long experience in academia and industry, currently, she is associated with School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. She has worked with IDEA Product Design (LUMIUM), Videocon Industries and has designed products for Indian and International clients. Krity was a part of Professional Advisors’ team for Global Design Competition for the National War Memorial, launched by Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Her research interests are in the area of facilitating social innovation through the application of design in various socio-cultural contexts.