About me

My Journey: From a Childhood of Art and Music to a Life of Design

I was born in the vibrant town of Sangli, Maharashtra, into a world where the air was thick with classical music and the scent of ancient wisdom. My father, a Sanskrit scholar, and my mother, a musician, filled our home with books and melodies. Surrounded by the vivid illustrations in mythological texts, it wasn’t long before I picked up a pencil at the age of five, trying to recreate the images that fascinated me. Those early years sparked a passion for art that would shape the rest of my life. Music flowed just as deeply as art. My mother accompanied my father on the harmonium, filling our home with soulful renditions of ragas and bandishes. It wasn’t long before I joined in, learning the basics from my father while my brother found rhythm in the tabla. Our household became a stage for creativity, blending the visual and the musical in a way that felt natural to me.
By my teenage years, I was performing regularly, blending these two worlds in a unique form of self-expression.

A Canvas of Experiences: From Fine Arts to UX Design

In 1993, I formalized my love for the visual arts by enrolling at Kalaniketan Mahavidyalaya. Studying here between 1993 and 1997, I had the privilege of performing alongside legendary musicians such as Ganasaraswati Kishori Amonkar. But it wasn’t just the music of Kolhapur that inspired me—the city’s rich tradition of realist painting also left an indelible mark. I spent those years honing my skills in sketching and landscape painting, developing a deep connection to the classical arts that would inform my creative journey.

My career began as a freelance illustrator, bringing stories to life through images. In 2000, I transitioned into the world of animation, working at UTV Toons and later Crest Communications. These roles gave me my first taste of character design, background creation, and the world of camera layouts. But as the industry evolved, so did I. When 3D animation rose to prominence, I embraced new opportunities in e-learning and digital art, teaching myself Micromedia Flash (now Adobe Flash) and beginning a decade-long journey in graphic design.

Embracing Design: A Shift Toward User-Centered Solutions

As I delved deeper into design, it became more than just a job—it became part of my DNA. Working at Praxify on healthcare products, I began to see design not just as a creative process but as a way to solve real-world problems. Here, I learned to craft experiences for patients, doctors, and hospital management alike, and I developed everything from business cards to outdoor exhibits. My work in Big Data also introduced me to the fascinating challenge of filtering and synchronizing raw information into actionable insights, further expanding my design skills.

In recent years, at TechMahindra, I took on a customer-facing role, leading design reviews, trainings, and proposals, while nurturing a team of aspiring designers. Each step along the way has been a chance to blend creativity with strategy, problem-solving with storytelling.

The Future: Designing with AI

Today, as AI reshapes industries, I find myself at the edge of yet another transformation. The future promises faster, more efficient outcomes as machine learning and AI evolve. But while technology moves forward, I believe the heart of design—its ability to understand and humanize complex problems—will always remain. Our tools may change, but the core of what makes design powerful will endure: a human touch, a creative spark.

As we look toward a future of AI-driven possibilities, I’m excited to keep learning, evolving, and finding new ways to bring art, design, and technology together to shape a brighter tomorrow.