I am the result of my cumulative experiences.
Being lost for words, I asked my loyal friend ChatGPT to tell me, in four words, who I am based on what it knows about me. I think it knows me more than anyone!
Reflective / Identity-based: Shaped by lived experience
Creative / Professional: Designing meaningful human experiences
Personal / Grounded: Curious, reflective, quietly driven
In summary, I am a creative technologist enthusiastic about exploring and designing rich and meaningful human experiences driven by technology.
It’s always great to reflect on all the key events in my life that have brought me to where I am and who I am. Currently, I am in yet another stage of transition, which I am super excited about and grateful to be able to experience.
My journey so far…
I have fond memories of the end of high school, when I had to make crucial decisions about my future. A few key memories stand out. I used to watch Orange County Choppers, a TV show in which they would build, refurbish, and give makeovers to motorbikes, choppers specifically. I would spend hours sketching them. I knew all the parts, their shapes, and how they fit together. Home makeover shows were fascinating too. I knew I wanted to be some sort of designer, but I wasn’t sure what. Industrial designer? Product designer?
I came from a family of engineers. My father founded the first successful automated brick manufacturing plant in India. I would say he is a visionary, always looking into the future. My sister started studying robotics in Melbourne, and I was fascinated by the possibilities and potential of designing robots.
I completed my Robotics and Mechatronics degree and worked in mining as a mechanical engineer, but I decided to transition into design. This led me to a Master of Interaction Design and Electronic Arts at the University of Sydney, where they were making art with robots.
This led to working in product development in health, which brought together engineering, industrial design, and interaction design. I loved it. What I learned most here was being comfortable with uncertainty and continuing to move forward.
Curiosity then led me to Copenhagen, where I conducted research into museums, cultural identity, and conversations between people.
I came back to Australia and started my art practice, exploring interactive technology and bringing it to people in public spaces to explore and understand. My art aims to bring joy to everyday people, while also addressing more serious topics and exploring the identity of place.
At the same time, I started teaching, which was very rewarding. Inspiring students, helping them push boundaries, and getting them excited about design, and understanding the importance of process, energises me. In addition, I love working with them on their projects. I get to experience so many different ideas and approaches.
A new twist post-COVID was a design project I never thought I would do. I opened a cocktail bar. Suddenly, I became the designer, the investor, the chef, the accountant, the marketing team, HR, and the host. The experiences I have had are hard to summarise.
So where am I right now? Managing a bar and designing its future, educating future designers, and conspiring about my next move in the design world.