Shows
Animals & Us - Voices of a New ParadigmEpisode 39: Avantika's PhD update!In this episode, Barbara and Avantika talk about how Avantika's PhD program in Belgium is going. She started working with the ANICOM project in February 2025 and is about to start her research fieldwork in Canada and India. ANICOM stands for Animal Communicators: Intuitive interspecies communication as a key to dialogic multispecies methods. For more information, visit the project website here. There was also an earlier podcast episode with Avantika's PhD supervisor and the person behind this project, Dr. Vanessa Wijngaarden. Listen to that episode here.NOTE: This research is funded by...
2025-08-0141 min
StaccatoPsychadelics & Psychiatry ft. RodThis week's guest is another one of Avantika's classmates, Rod! Tune in this week to hear Acacia, Avantika, and Rod discuss psychadelics as a medicinal treatment, passion projects, and the different manifestations of Carnaval around the world!
2025-06-2636 min
Animals & Us - Voices of a New ParadigmEpisode 32: Starting my PhD focused on animal communication!In this special episode of Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm, Avantika shares a significant life change—her move to Belgium to pursue her PhD. This marks the beginning of a new academic chapter, one that aligns closely with her personal aspirations and her grandfather’s legacy. Avantika reflects on the excitement and challenges of this new adventure and the personal significance of this step in her journey.Her upcoming research will be with the ANICOM project—a groundbreaking study on intuitive interspecies communication (IIC), funded by the European Research Council. The project, led by...
2025-01-0127 minStaccatoA Jack of All Trades ft. ShreyaThis week, Acacia and Avantika are joined by Avantika's classmate, Shreya, to talk about med school and all of her ~many~ hobbies turned businesses!Check her out: @hennabyshreya @stchbysc @medhabibtis
2024-12-0934 min
Animals & Us - Voices of a New ParadigmEpisode 31: On the Academic Journey to Study Animal Communication with Avantika Mathur on the Dani Fankhauser PodcastIn this episode, we share a conversation with me (Avantika Mathur) on Dani Fankhauser's Spirit Doggies Podcast. Here's a little bit more about the episode, from that podcast:"If your first thought was that animal communication doesn't exactly sound science-based, you wouldn't be alone.This week's guest combined her drive for a purposeful career with her academic roots to become a leader in the field of animal communication research. She set aside her own initial doubts and put on her researcher hat to find out.This interview absolutely blew my mind...
2024-12-0148 minStaccatoWe're Back in Band!Avantika and Acacia got to be back in the ASU Marching Band this weekend as alumni! Tune in to this week's episode to hear all about tailgating, Avantika leading the band, and more!
2024-11-1230 minStaccatoAvantika's Peruvian AdventureSchool is over and Acacia and Avantika have already started their summer adventures! Tune in this week to hear about the beginning of Avantika's month in Peru and Acacia's trip to Montreal.
2024-05-2727 minStaccatoAvantika Saves Lives ft. VishnuThis week, Acacia and Avantika are joined by Vishnu to talk favorite college memories, the time Avantika called 911, and summer plans!
2024-04-2942 minStaccatoAvantika Delivered a Baby?!In this week's life update, Avantika talks about her visits to UofA in the lead up to her starting med school and what else she and Acacia have been up to.
2024-04-1527 minStaccatoAvantika is a Moocher ft. AnushkaIn part two of the "sister series", Avantika's sister Anushka is on the podcast this week to talk about her first semester of college, whether or not she's going to study abroad, and how Avantika uses her for her meal plan and dorm on campus.
2022-12-1929 minStaccatoGetting Grilled by Acacia ft. JacksonTwo out of three SDMB drum majors have now been on the podcast (Avantika being one of them) as Acacia and Avantika are joined this week by Jackson. Tune in to hear about all things saxophone, West Virginia, and KKPsi.
2022-10-1036 minStaccatoAvantika Is Failing School This week's episode is a life update to catch you up on what Acacia and Avantika have been up to over the past month or so, including why Avantika has the worst grades of her life at the moment.
2022-09-2624 minStaccatoWe're Basically Cupid ft. CaitlinAnother one of Acacia and Avantika's many talents is matchmaking and here to stand as proof is this week's guest, Caitlin! Listen in to hear about how Acacia and Avantika set up Caitlin and her boyfriend, band (of course), and exciting life updates.
2022-08-0825 minStaccatoAvantika Has Had EnoughHaving a job usually comes with some sort of drama and Avantika has no shortage of stories from work! This week she spills all the tea on her boss and Acacia talks about what she's been up to since being home from Italy.
2022-07-1130 min
Animals & Us - Voices of a New ParadigmEpisode 4: How animals feel about human consumption of their byproducts, practicing more mindfulness and gratitude, the prey/predator relationship and an excerpt from Dr. Linda Bender's book about consumption, a solocast with your host AvantikaOne of the things I was most curious about when I started learning about animal consciousness and communication was how the animals felt about us, humans, consuming them and their by-products. In this episode, I (Avantika) share my thoughts on animal perspectives on our relationship with them as food. I share what I have learned, through my research and my own personal experience in communication with them. Humans can have a very special connection with animals, and this extends well beyond just our companion animals - we can also connect deeply with all animals we interact with...
2022-06-1627 minStaccatoAdventures in ItalyAcacia is in Italy for the month so this week she and Avantika talk about how it's been so far and what Avantika has been up to.
2022-06-1328 min
Animals & Us - Voices of a New ParadigmEpisode 1: Introducing Ourselves and Why We Created This Podcast, with Barbara & Avantika, your Podcast HostsIn this first episode, we invite you to get to know us as we embark on an amazing journey into the inner life of animals and nature. Both of us, Avantika and Barbara, are extremely passionate about this topic and we are more than excited to introduce you to the world we care so much about: the world of animals, nature and our beloved Mother Earth.We will talk about our own personal backgrounds and how we came to know one another and then enter into the creation of this podcast. And we will let you know...
2022-05-1431 min
Animals & Us - Voices of a New ParadigmTrailer: Animals & Us with Avantika Mathur & Dr. Barbara ShorJoin us, your hosts Dr. Barbara Shor, veterinarian and animal communicator, and Avantika Mathur, public health professional and researcher, as we learn about animal perspectives, question our current paradigms, explore spiritual concepts and work together to raise the collective vibrations of humanity. Our hope is to help YOU better understand, appreciate and connect more deeply with all the beings with whom we share this beautiful planet.
2022-04-2602 minStaccatoAcacia's Six Day BenderAvantika is finally back from her study abroad to Costa Rica! In this week's episode Acacia and Avantika talk about how she's been feeling being back and what Acacia has been up to over the past week.
2022-04-1823 minStaccatoAvantika’s Double Life ft. TylerIn this week's episode, Acacia & Avantika are joined by Tyler, one of Avantika's friends in Costa Rica to talk about all things study abroad as well as relive some of their funniest memories from the semester so far!
2022-03-0759 minStaccatoThe Boomers Need to Go ft. NoahThis week, Avantika and Avantika are joined by Noah, Acacia's former peer mentor and friend where they talk about everything from the future of the Thunderbird School to growing babies in bags?!
2022-02-0745 minStaccatoWhat Happens in Vegas. . . Doesn't Stay in VegasAs the first month of 2022 comes to an end, Acacia and Avantika recap how they spent New Year's and Avantika's first week in Costa Rica!
2022-01-2434 min
Beautiful You Podcast3. Why I Love BirthdaysIn today's episode, the host talks about why she loves birthdays! Growing up, birthdays were supposed to be magical days. As we grow up, we often realize that they are not always the best days. But to Avantika, they have always been beautiful. Tune in to our episode of the podcast Beautiful You to know more about it!
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2021-12-2114 minStaccatoAvantika Is NOT Boring ft. TarynThis week, Avantika and Acacia catch up with a friend from band who's also quite the party girl. Listen to this week's episode to hear about yet another drunk Acacia story and why becoming a doctor as a woman is so difficult.
2021-11-2935 min
Avantika Designeering SeriesDesign Thinking: Innovation and Beyond with Sourav SarkarEvery designer aims to craft products or experiences that cater to the evolving and expanding market. But to deliver well-rounded products and consistent experiences to such a diverse audience, designers need a thorough understanding of the market backed with solid customer research. It can provide crucial insights into the real-world problems faced by the users, which can help create inclusive and innovative products. So how can designers develop a customer-centric design thinking and problem-solving approach? In this episode, we interact with Sourav Sarkar, Head of Design at Airtel, to know more about this theme. With over a decade of e...
2021-08-0345 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe DNA of Design with Mayur ChaudharyEvery company aims to take on a design challenge and create a successful product that can be inclusive and accessible to all its users. But managing a team of designers and aligning their mindsets to achieve that single goal needs an empathetic approach towards the team members and the users. It can help understand the problem from the user's perspective and keep the team on the same page to craft a solution efficiently. So how can designers lead large teams to achieve one common goal? To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Mayur Chaudhary, VP, U...
2021-07-2847 minAvantika Designeering SeriesStriving Towards Perfection by Design with Kadambari SahuA service design approach can help designers gain a deep and detailed understanding of the system as a whole and all the different levels of operation. Each stakeholder in a system is interconnected and works together to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience to the end-user. Understanding these interconnections can help designers craft consistent and emotionally positive experiences that may lead to positive emotional connections, trust, and customer loyalty. So how can designers strive to perfection and create seamless experiences for the users? To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Kadambari Sahu, Senior Vice President-Design...
2021-07-2152 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDesign: Certainty in Uncertainty with Ayan PalIn the midst of a highly competitive and volatile marketplace, brands need to efficiently carve out their way to keep up with the trends and create relevant solutions. To achieve this, every brand aims to create an adaptable brand strategy that can function along with the fluctuating scenarios while maintaining the trust of the users. This can be ensured by having an emotional connection with the users based on empathy along with a consistent brand experience cementing customer recall. So how can designers have a systematic design approach to provide consistent and impactful experiences?To know more about this...
2021-07-1344 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDesign Thinking: Innovate, Integrate, Impact with Dipankar MukherjeeA passion for problem solving can drive designers to create innovative solutions for even the most complex problems. Having a design thinking mindset and the ability to adapt according to the problems as well as the ability to consistently learn are some of the most necessary skills to foster innovation. This innovation can then be taken to execution with a strong business strategy and with a good brand experience, brand loyalty. So how can designers create innovative solutions and successfully execute them? To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Dipankar Mukherjee, Vice P...
2021-07-0746 minAvantika Designeering SeriesFrom Depth of Design to Breadth of Business with Victor OngA meaningful solution with an effortless user experience can help businesses survive in a disruptive marketplace. However, a carefully constructed business model with a design mindset is also necessary for concepts to stay. It helps take an idea from concept to market, makes it easily accessible for the users, and can lead businesses to achieve extraordinary results. So how can designers create successful strategies and business models to cement their place in the market? To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Victor Ong, Director, Head of Product Design (APAC) / ADAPT, Design Lab at Bain & C...
2021-06-2344 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDesigning Experience for Services with Manali MitraDesign has the ability to not only contribute but amplify the customer experience provided by a service. Observing customer interactions can give valuable insights into the mindset of the users. With a strong understanding of the user behaviour and their sensibilities, designers can create a consistent brand experience and an overall integrated customer experience for their services. So how can designers provide the best experiences for the services they provide?To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Manali Mitra, Chief Design Officer at udChalo. With over two decades of professional experience, she...
2021-06-1642 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDesign-First Approach in Business with Suhas BendreIn-depth knowledge of a problem and a deep understanding of the user's needs and desires can help designers create a better product strategy and roadmap. The right strategy can take an idea from concept to scalable new business while also ensuring the best possible experience for the user. It can help designers create innovative products that are easily accessible, reusable and adaptable. So how can designers create an incremental strategy to amplify business value?To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Suhas Bendre, Director - Cognizant Interactive at Cognizant Technology Solutions. With...
2021-06-0943 minAvantika Designeering SeriesSafe Fail and Fail Safe with Anirudh NatuuDesigners have the means to shift human behaviour to complex problems and make a significant impact on the lifestyle of the consumers by creating unique solutions. Simultaneously, empathizing with the users and understanding their needs and desires plays a crucial role in shifting behaviour and accelerating customer acceptance. It can help create seamless experiences that can have a long term effect and amplify the business value through integration. So how can designers anticipate users' needs and desires and create functional and innovative products?To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Anirudh Natuu...
2021-06-0242 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe Missing Piece: Market Research with Manjari DwivediNowadays, every designer aims to capture the user’s attention by providing meaningful and effective solutions to problems; and the first step to do so is user research. Understanding the behaviour of the users and the environment around them can provide better clarity about the problem as well as the needs of the users. It can help create usable products that provide an integrated, inclusive and overall enjoyable experience. So how can designers conduct user research to understand the problem better and create the best possible solutions?To know more about this theme, in this episode, we in...
2021-05-2636 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDesigning Beyond Frameworks with Ashok ShettyA deep understanding of the user base is required for creating an inclusive solution that also simplifies the customer's lifestyle. With an in-depth knowledge of the ecosystem and the context of use, designers can create seamless and unified experiences that are immersive and innovative while also being inclusive. These solutions help in improving the lifestyle of the user, which later leads to customer satisfaction. So how can designers create inclusive and seamless solutions for diverse user contexts and ecosystems?To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Ashok Shetty, Vice President and Head...
2021-05-1940 minAvantika Designeering SeriesNurturing Brands: From Values to Experience with Sanjay BhatnagarIn an increasingly complex business environment, all organisations face the challenge of delivering consistent, connected and meaningful brand experiences. Brand experience is not just about finding the value exchange and surpassing customer's expectations, but it can also help you in establishing a long-term brand value. And to understand the importance of brand experience for brand value, in this episode, we get into a conversation with Sanjay Bhatnagar, Design Director at ShopX-10i Commerce Services Pvt Ltd. He is an award-winning Competency Area Mentor with over two and a half decades of professional experience as an artist, a mentor, a t...
2021-05-1239 minAvantika Designeering SeriesExperience- Unifying Innovation and You with Abhimanyu KulkarniWith a deep understanding of the users, design thinking can help designers create better and more inclusive customer experiences. Keeping the users at the centre provides better insight regarding their buying decisions and helps identify patterns in user behaviour. It also helps build a customer-focused mindset and an inclusive skill set, leading to designers creating more effective design solutions. So how can designers translate a deep understanding of users into a better customer experience? To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Abhimanyu Kulkarni, Studio Director at Philips. He has over two decades of professional e...
2021-05-0541 minAvantika Designeering SeriesInternational Design Day Special With Somdutt SarkarThe best way to keep up with the changing trends is to have a continuously evolving design mindset. Designers need to evolve and adapt to the changing needs and demands of the users to create better user-centric experiences. It can also help understand the psychology of the newer generations and create innovative customer experiences that may foster long-term loyalty. So how can designers create innovative experiences and thrive in the changing design environment?To know more about this theme, in the 53rd episode, we interact with Somdutt Sarkar, Design Director at India Babycare & Brand Operations at Procter...
2021-04-2744 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe Experience Webisode With Priyank SharmaThe design industry has observed constant changes in design trends based on customer behaviour and expectations. One such change is a large chunk of people shifting from conventional sources of consuming content to OTT platforms. These platforms provide a much more personalized experience and work solely based on the user’s wishes and demands. So how can designers create such customer-centric experiences that cater to the specific needs of the users?To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Priyank Sharma, Head of Design and Experience at MX Player and MX TakaTak. With th...
2021-04-2135 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDesigning Pixels to Designing Careers with Sandeep KarmarkarHuman psychology greatly influences human behavior, which makes it a key factor in understanding user needs. Studying the way users think can assist designers in empathizing with the users. It helps see things from the user's perspective and dig deep into the problem to find the best possible design solution. How can designers understand human psychology to provide memorable customer experiences?To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Sandeep Karmarkar, Director of Design at Nutanix. With over two decades of experience in design management and leadership, he holds expertise in coaching and...
2021-04-1441 minStaccatoWhy Are We Friends Again? ft. Graecen (Part 1)This week, Avantika and Acacia welcome their first male guest to the podcast! Graecen talks all about how he and Acacia became friends after many, many years of butting heads. Stay tuned for Part 2 where Acacia and Graecen reminisce about their band trip to Europe!
2021-04-1231 minAvantika Designeering SeriesCreating Future of Design with Debayan MukherjeeA crucial aspect of minimalism is finding the right balance between usability, inclusivity, and accessibility. Saying more with less while also keeping things meaningful and valuable for the customer is what most designers aim to achieve. For this, having a laser focus on the user's needs by understanding and empathizing with the user is vital. So how can designers create minimalistic yet integrated and impactful experiences?To know more about this theme, in the 50th episode, we interact with Debayan Mukherjee, General Manager, UX Design at Samsung Electronics. With two decades of experience in design-centric roles, he...
2021-04-0737 minAvantika Designeering SeriesUnifying Science in Design with Navneet NairA good design depends not only on the art and craft but also on the science behind a product, and that is why a design team must consist of people from various domains. A good design team can help the members grow and adapt to the constant changes in user needs. It also helps to provide clarity about user diversity to make the user experience more inclusive. But simultaneously, building a solid and sound design team that functions seamlessly can be a challenging task. So how can designers build functional design teams and create inclusive experiences?To...
2021-03-3139 minAvantika Designeering SeriesReturn on Experience with Tim KobeCrafting a meaningful human experience entails a perfect combination of empathy and emotion. It helps in cultivating brand loyalty by instilling a sense of passion in the consumer towards the product. To achieve this, designers must also understand human values and match them to drive customer value. How can designers understand human values to create meaningful human experiences?To know more about this theme, in the 48th episode, we interact with Tim Kobe, Founder, and CEO at Eight Inc. With over three decades of experience as a design leader, he has worked with companies like Apple, Tesla...
2021-03-2447 minAvantika Designeering SeriesEndearing Empathy with Azmina PoddarStorytelling is a great medium to convey the journey of a product to the user. If done right, it fosters an emotional connection between the user and the product. To achieve this outcome, the designers first need to understand the role of empathy in storytelling. But how can designers implement empathetic storytelling practices while interacting with the users to understand the problem on a deeper level for better user experience?To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Azmina Poddar, Design Studio Head, APAC at Boston Consulting Group. She has over two decades of experience...
2021-03-1739 minStaccatoYou're Not Special: A Message for Honors Students ft. EshaIn this week's episode, Acacia and Avantika welcome another guest to the podcast as they reminisce about summer camps, what it's like being pre-med and honors students, and how hard it is to find love in a pandemic.
2021-03-1539 minAvantika Designeering SeriesInternational Women's Day Special with Riya ThosarWhenever the designers want to address the user's problems and design an innovative solution, the first thought that crosses their mind is by following the Human-Centered Design methodology. Keeping the users at the center while interacting with a product helps designers make their products more usable and widely accessible. The most common way of doing this is by empathizing with the user. But how can designers create innovative and accessible products while empathizing with the users for better user experience?In search of answers to all such questions, today we connect with Riya Thosar, Director of Product...
2021-03-0842 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe Equity of Empathy with Ritesh RajanNowadays, consumers subscribe to a more innovative and personalized experience. To meet the evolving user needs, service providers need to build a strong emotional connection with the users. And not having an emotional understanding can lead to a rift between the user and the service provider. To avoid this, designers need to practice empathy and gain a clear understanding of the constantly evolving customer needs. But how can designers create an emotional connection and foster customer loyalty?To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Ritesh Rajan, Deputy Vice President - Design at...
2021-03-0332 minStaccatoDoes Eating Count as a Hobby? This week, get to know Avantika and Acacia a little better as they talk about their hobbies!
2021-03-0124 minAvantika Designeering SeriesGearing Automotive Industry with Pratap BoseThe automotive industry has witnessed numerous changes over the past few decades. Simultaneously, with the evolving customer expectations and new trends, designers are trying to create unique and emotionally inclusive experiences. But to achieve this goal, they need to overcome challenges like safety, utility, accessibility, and the impact that a product has on the user. How can designers step up to these challenges and positively impact the minds of the users? To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Pratap Bose, Vice President of Global Design at Tata Motors. With over two decades of global...
2021-02-2447 minAvantika Designeering SeriesBranding Digital Life with Jose BarreraBranding is one of the most important aspects of a company as it makes the brand memorable and reliable for the consumers. It builds familiarity with a brand by providing impactful and consistent brand experiences to its customers. To achieve this goal, designers must learn impactful branding practices. But how can designers adopt such impactful brand practices to engage with the maximum number of their customers? To seek answers for such queries, in the 43rd episode, we interact with Jose Barrera, Head of Brand Design, Jio. He recently launched the Jio BrandLab, where his team is developing the platform...
2021-02-1749 minStaccatoSidewalk Boy: A SagaIn a shorter episode this week, Avantika and Acacia talk you through their first week back for the Spring semester and all the latest tea!
2021-02-1516 minAvantika Designeering SeriesValentine's Day Special with Lara MendonçaEmotional design is a way of evoking positive emotions in the users and providing a great user experience. How these emotions take shape, depends on factors like aesthetics, usability, emotional connect, user interaction, etc. User interaction helps in understanding the user diversity and their needs, working on which designers can provide immersive experiences. But how can designers use emotional design to articulate positive emotions among the users and provide immersive experiences?To answer these questions, in this episode, we interact with Lara Mendonça, Head of Product Design at Bumble. With her passion for inclusive and dynamic design, she h...
2021-02-1441 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe Secret Spell of Design with Ujjwal Varma PinnamarajuTo have an inclusive design mindset, one needs to understand user diversity. And for that, having a communication channel with the users is a must. It helps understand what the users need and how they perceive a product. It also helps build on the operability of a product and make it more accessible. But how can designers build an inclusive design mindset to increase the reach of their products? To know more about this theme, in this episode, we interact with Ujjwal Varma Pinnamaraju, Head Of Design, OnePlus India. He holds expertise in user experience design, interaction design, usability...
2021-02-1037 minAvantika Designeering SeriesUnveiling Culture Design with Parameswaran VenkataramanDesign thinking can be used to find innovative solutions to the various problems in an organization. When used in the context of organizational culture, it can yield innovative and efficient outcomes. A culture purposefully built on design thinking principles can improve the productivity of an organization and open up various innovation opportunities. But how can the cultural designer use design thinking to enhance the efficiency of an organization?To understand the concept of design thinking and the importance of culture in an organization, in this episode, we interact with Parameswaran Venkataraman, Chief Design Officer at Fractal Analytics. He has...
2021-02-0344 minStaccatoOne Time at Band Camp... ft. HannahAvantika and Acacia are joined this week by their first guest as they talk about how they chose their instruments, their experiences as drum majors, and favorite band memories!
2021-02-0140 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe Cloud of Creative Thinking with Prabhat MahapatraIn this day and age, to meet the user's endlessly evolving needs, innovation is a necessity, and a major driving force for that is creative thinking. Creative thinking aids a person’s problem-solving abilities by analyzing problems from fresh perspectives and synthesizing practical solutions. And when unorthodox ideas start flowing through creative thinking, that is when innovation strikes. However, these are never a constant stream of ideas as for most people, they are followed by something called a creative block. But how can designeers cultivate creative thinking and deal with issues like a creative block to boost their problem-solving ab...
2021-01-2743 minAvantika Designeering SeriesSymphonizing Technology for Customers with Swamy SeetharamanThe rise of technology, digital services, and social networks has led to increased customer expectations. Customers are demanding personalized services throughout all industries – particularly banking and finance. From shopping online to online banking, customers have been presented with the opportunity to get what they want and when they want conveniently. Simultaneously, e-commerce, personalization, and new ways of communicating with customers have led to tremendous benefits for customers.To understand the effect of digital transformation on customers more thoroughly, in this episode, we get into a conversation with Swamy Seetharaman, Head of Technology at CRED. With professional experience of around th...
2021-01-2056 minStaccatoHe's Gay Now?!In this week's episode, Avantika and Acacia talk about all things boys: A history of their past relationships, interesting gifts they've received, and the worst date they've ever been on!
2021-01-1845 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe Window of Design with Deepak MenonThe world is changing at an incredibly fast pace, and there are new challenges we must face every day. Having a “learning mindset” has never been more important than now. Since failure is such an inevitable and essential part of the design, it is important to be surrounded by people who can not only accept but also embrace failure. And one way to do this is to cultivate a learning mindset, both among team members as well as the organization as a whole.In this episode, we interact with Deepak Menon, Partner Director at Microsoft. He has lead Product Expe...
2021-01-1341 minAvantika Designeering SeriesCrafting Curiosity with Udhaya kumar PadmanabhanIf there is an algorithm for innovation, it must begin with two key components, Curiosity, and Critical Thinking. These two concepts lie at the very foundation of every innovative process. To achieve an efficient output, you must be patient, professional, open-minded, and positive. But most importantly, you have to be curious and should be able to think critically.In this episode, we interact with Udhaya Kumar Padmanabhan, Director of Design at Designit. He is a seasoned executive design leader with more than two decades of professional experience in designing for numerous business verticals across the globe. He holds his...
2021-01-0658 minStaccatoIntroduction & How We MetIn this inaugural episode, Avantika and Acacia talk about how they met, what their relationship is like, and everything in between. Welcome to: Friendship in a Time of Corona(virus)!Intro theme song cover of Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
2021-01-0517 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDecoding Visual Communication Strategy with Rupambika KhandaiHumans are visual creatures. Ninety percent of the information transmitted to the brain is visual, so it’s no surprise when we say that visual storytelling is being well recognized in this digital era. The brands that take advantage of design, content, and experience to visually tell their stories have the potential to catch prospective users’ attention and keep them interested in their products.
In this episode, we interact with Rupambika Khandai, Creative Advisor at EY. With around a decade and a half years of experience, her expertise includes User Experience Design, Branding, Communication Design Strategy, and Visual Storytelling. Let's know...
2020-12-3039 minAvantika Designeering SeriesAdd to cart- Inclusive Design by Ramesh KozhisseryUniversal design has always been the key to creating a product that not only is usable to a wider audience but is also able to bring in a business that is easily scalable. While this approach has been passed on to the generations of creators; lately there has been a disruption in creating products that cater ‘specific' needs to its ‘specific’ users which creates an inclusive experience. Inclusive design is the recent approach that is being practiced by leading professionals to build solutions that capture not only tackle the users’ needs but also build an engagement that ultimately results in a positi...
2020-12-2345 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe Crux of User- Centred Design by Gaurav MathurNowadays, systems are designed to meet business goals through the impressive features and technological capabilities of software or hardware tools. However, these system design approaches sometimes omit the end-user, which is an essential part of the process. So, is it possible to solve these problems with the help of a user-centered design approach?
In this episode, we interact with Gaurav Mathur, VP of User Experience Design at Myntra. His work has been published in prestigious journals and conferences like CHI and Design Issues. Not just that, he has also spoken at the Nasscom Design4India's Design Summit, India Digital Summit...
2020-12-1642 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDelivering Customer-centric Experiences by Biju DamodharanCustomer obsession is not a constant dedication to the thinking that “the customer is always right.” It is not a new trend that has just begun to make its presence on Twitter, in marketing blogs, and in the huddle rooms of marketing teams. Customer obsession is the outside-in business approach that utilizes data-driven insights. It increases the lifetime value of customers by continuously providing them with quality and meaningful experiences. But how does customer obsession helps in delivering customer-centric experiences?
In this episode, we interact with Biju Damodharan, Manager of Design at Amazon. He has spent over a decade and a ha...
2020-12-0941 minAvantika Designeering SeriesInternational Day of Banks with Nivedita ChandraBanking sectors are undergoing a technological churn right now. The reason is two-fold: changing customer expectations and improved technological and designing capabilities. The rising competition from Fin-tech start-ups that creates unique customer experiences around banking services has forced the banks to respond by innovating themselves.
In this episode, we interact with Nivedita Chandra, Head of UX at Deutsche Bank. She has nearly two decades of professional experience in the domains covering design, business, and technology. Let's know more about her journey and experiences in this special episode of the "Avantika Designeering Series" on the occasion of "International Day of Banks"...
2020-12-0243 minAvantika Designeering SeriesEmpathy in Digital Era with Sauvik BanerjjeeDigital transformation means different things to different people. Some people think that it’s about the speed and power of back-office technology, getting more visibility into process and data. Some think it is about driving efficiency and cost savings to the bottom line. But the real gem in the digital transformation jewel box is the empathy of focusing digital transformation on improving the customer experience.
In this episode, we interact with Sauvik Banerjjee, Chief Technology Officer at Tata Digital. With over two decades of building internet platforms, internet businesses, and internet technologies across four continents, he has built from scratch In...
2020-11-2547 minAvantika Designeering SeriesBlending Business and Design with Sudhindra V.It's easy to underestimate the importance of design in business. However, a strong approach to design has a significant impact on a brand and comes with profound business benefits. Design thinking is used for everything from new product ideas to finding out more about your target audience. Hence design decisions dramatically impact the future of your business and your profitability. In this episode, we interact with Sudhindra Venkatesha Murthy, Chief Design Officer at IBM IX. On the digital canvas, Sudhindra crafts positive experiences for people armed with insights, empathy, and behavioral understanding. As an Experience Strategist, he helps craft vision...
2020-11-1846 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDesigning Customer Trust with Rohan VermaDesigners that inspire trust in their customers also inspire repeat purchases and lasting business relationships. If your customers trust what you have to say and if the designs you are producing feels credible and reliable, they are more likely to view your company as an authority. And that's why we interact with Rohan Verma, Director of UX design at Urban Company, in this episode. He pushes for quality and delight throughout the service journey for customers and partners, which fuels business growth with impact to bottom-line with user-centered design. Let's know more about his journey and experiences in the latest...
2020-11-1144 minAvantika Designeering SeriesUsing UX for CX with Monica DeshpandeThere is always a debate between customer experience (CX) and user experience (UX). The term UX has been around for a bit longer than CX. on the other hand, CX is a newer concept that has only started to gain recognition in the past twelve years or so. Both UX and CX are crucial for brand success—so what’s the difference between the two, and how do they complement each other?
In this episode, we interact with Monica Deshpande, UX Practice Head, and Director at Capgemini. She is a versatile User Experience Professional and business practice leader with more than...
2020-11-0441 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe Design Medley with Sudhir SharmaA multidisciplinary design approach seeks to integrate the skills and methodology of designers from multiple disciplines into a collaborative effort. Designers need to understand how diverse areas of expertise can come together to solve complex design problems rather than limiting themselves to one domain. In this episode, we interact with Sudhir Sharma, CEO of Indi Design. He is the founder of Indi Design, DesignIndia Magazine, and Elephant Design. A pioneering Design and Business transformation consultant, Sudhir has more than 30 years of experience. He also hosts India's Best Design Studio Awards. He was a member of the Indian Design Council, constituted...
2020-10-2850 minAvantika Designeering SeriesGet Wise to Advertise with Ambareesh ChakrabortyThe presence of advertising in our daily life is akin to that of water in the life of a fish. As we make the shift from traditional advertising, and move toward a world in which data — and the mastery of its use — is king, ads will become deterministic. And that’s why in this episode, we interact with Ambareesh Chakraborty, Senior Partner, and Executive Creative Director at RK Swamy BBDO. He has created campaigns across media that span the range from automobiles to newspapers, from banks to soaps. As a creative leader, he has repeatedly demonstrated his skill at building strong...
2020-10-2130 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe Design Outlook with Narendra GhateHuman-centred design is a creative approach to problem-solving that starts with people and ends with innovative solutions that are tailor-made to suit their needs. When you understand the people you are trying to reach, and then design from their perspective, not only will you arrive at unexpected answers, but you will come up with ideas that they will embrace. In this episode, we interact with Narendra Ghate, Head of Research, UX, and Service Design at Tata Elxsi. He was one of the founder members of the Design BU. With nearly three decades of experience, Narendra holds his expertise in consumer...
2020-10-1445 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe Design Outlook with Narendra GhateHuman-centred design is a creative approach to problem-solving that starts with people and ends with innovative solutions that are tailor-made to suit their needs. When you understand the people you are trying to reach, and then design from their perspective, not only will you arrive at unexpected answers, but you will come up with ideas that they will embrace. In this episode, we interact with Narendra Ghate, Head of Research, UX, and Service Design at Tata Elxsi. He was one of the founder members of the Design BU. With nearly three decades of experience, Narendra holds his expertise in consumer...
2020-10-1400 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe Joy Of Creation with Vikram DamodaranIn today’s world, having an entrepreneurial mindset is extremely important. Putting it in simpler words - it is important to be self-directed, understand problems, and have the capacity to find innovative ways to solve problems and provide value. What sets an entrepreneur apart from any other businessperson is the fact that he is willing to assume risk to make a profit. In this episode, we interact with Vikram Damodaran, the Vice President of Technology and Innovation at DIAGEO India. He is a creator and an evangelist of entrepreneurship and innovation, who helps in driving large-scale business initiatives with long-term st...
2020-10-0750 minAvantika Designeering SeriesInternational Podcast Day with Chris DoThe days of pure design thinking have come to an end. Creative minds planning to strive for a successful professional journey, have to now go beyond the process of design thinking. The last few years have contributed to the rise of the design thinking process along with various other similar processes; which have helped entrepreneurs to create more user-centric products and services. They have proven to be great tools to spike the desirability and at the same time serve the right purpose. However, they often fail to create a sustainable business model. Business Design is the antidote to this problem...
2020-09-3055 minAvantika Designeering SeriesBusiness, Experience & Technology with Tarun Jung RawatFor every industry to be fruitful in its domain, it is necessary to have a proper blend between both the business strategy and technology. Blending them can lead to successful and profitable product lines. However, an additional element that needs to be merged in the modern world is that of customer experience. To untangle some similar exciting enigmas about business strategy, technology and enhancing customer experience, in this episode, we interact with Tarun Jung Rawat, Executive Creative Director and Head of Design for Experience Consulting at PwC India. With nearly two decades of creative practice in the fields of design...
2020-09-2352 minAvantika Designeering SeriesEdifying Technology by Rajendran DandapaniThe landscape of education is at the brink of transformation. While there have been numerous inventions of systems and methodologies to perceive education; the rate of acceptance has been very low. This brings us to an interesting thought, are we now looking at providing education as providing services to our customers? Is this the next step in our awakening for the revolution in the sphere of education?
In this episode, Rajendran Dandapani, Director of Engineering, Zoho Corporation, and President, Zoho schools of learning sheds light on the agenda of perceiving of education. He is a TEDx Speaker, a contra-academician, and...
2020-09-161h 08Avantika Designeering SeriesThe Mantra Of Great Design by Revathi KantLiving in an era of diverse transformations, the design process is evolving across domains. Designers are now expected to look through the diverse lenses while designing for diversity that each domain has to offer, leading to the practice of making good designs. A good design goes beyond aesthetics and telling a good story. It is about convenience and how well it fits into your life; a better defining factor is how ‘unnoticeable’ it is. In this episode, we get into a conversation with Revathi Kant, who takes us through her journey of designeering. Her journey has been a unique blend of b...
2020-09-0945 minAvantika Designeering SeriesTeachers' Day Special with Shalu UmapathyOur world is moving towards a series of advancements in every industry, with the wave of innovation in various products and systems. However, we tend to overlook one crucial development which is mandatory for an ecstatic development of the humanity - the sector of Social Impact Design. It is the deep learning of the experiences of people who face intense human challenges; there is an intent to create a positive impact and promote a better living amongst people by revamping the traditional methods of practices. In this episode, we get into a conversation with Shalu Umapathy who leads as the...
2020-09-0247 minAvantika Designeering SeriesAutomation Building Resilience by Pandurang KamatWe see the pace of automation and digitization accelerating day by day. While it is growing in different industries, at the same time, it is also helping the businesses of today become more resilient. The development in different automation technologies such as machine learning, blockchain technology, IoT, and data analytics coming together are accelerating each other. The rise of automation has been making people develop a series of skill sets to strive in the same. You cannot spend a single day without being amazed by the wonders of these new technologies. In this episode, we interact with Dr. Pandurang Kamat...
2020-08-2642 minAvantika Designeering SeriesImagination to Innovation by Soumitra BhatCreativity involves transforming ideas, imaginations, and dreams to reality, and innovation is using creativity to enhance the performance of a design process or organization. Innovation and creativity are often the keys to the success of a business, particularly when planning during strategic planning, and when designing new products and services. In this episode, we interact with a human-centered innovator, Soumitra Bhat, Director of Innovation Consulting at Salesforce. He shares his journey and experiences of being a designer, and his passion for crafting an inspiring vision, create company-wide alignment, and enabling creative collaboration. You can connect with Soumitra on twitter @soumitra...
2020-08-1954 minAvantika Designeering SeriesUX and CX Reinvented: Jay DuttaWith the increase in talks about “Experience” in recent years, the consumer’s expectations have evolved beyond “Convenience.” Be it a physical product or a digital product, consumers no longer just want to buy a product that makes their lives easier; but also interacts with them. They look for a complete experience - which keeps them involved and also gives them an opportunity to engage. This expectation of enhanced interaction has led major products and services to work on their User Experience and Customer Experience. In this episode, we get into a conversation with Jay Dutta, who leads as the Senior Vic...
2020-08-1236 minAvantika Designeering SeriesSpecial : Friendship Day with Varun Duggirala and Rohit RajThe greatest power that a human being posses is that they can choose their friends, as it is the only relationship that is not imposed on them by their previous generations. A friendship founded on business is considered better than a business founded on friendship. But what if the business founded by friendship has created an amazing success story? On this occasion of Friendship's Day, we bring to you two individuals who started out a friendship before a company. Rohit Raj and Varun Duggirala; co-founders of The Glitch. In this episode, they share with us their journey from being pals...
2020-08-0256 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDesign Thinking Simplified! by Tanu SinhaEmpathy is the first step in "Design Thinking" because it is a skill that allows us to understand and share the same feelings that others feel. Multiple creative solutions with variations in design strategy result in the change of customer behavior, and so this process follows design thinking and strategic planning for better user experience. In this episode, we interact with a creative mind, Tanu Sinha, the Design Director at PepsiCo. She shares her journey and experiences of being a designer, and passion for brands and skillset development. She also talks about agility in design and the importance of practicing...
2020-07-2938 minAvantika Designeering SeriesResearch decoding Business : Saswati Saha MitraResearch as a tool assists companies to impart a positive customer experience. The practice of effective research enables a wider space for innovation in problem-solving. With the world moving towards a seamless experience and interaction, people demand perfection from their products and services. All of it is validated by analytical information that links the user demands to develop a change in the domain of design. In this episode, we talk to the research leader of WhatsApp Inc., Saswati Saha Mitra. She walks us through her journey from being a statistics analyzer to being a research lead. She shares the importance...
2020-07-2242 minAvantika Designeering SeriesSpecial : World Youth Skills Day with Darshan GandhiProfessional Designers have always been creatively focused since the dawn of time. Being in an industry, where your portfolio speaks as much as your resume, designers are expected to be multi-skilled. Living in the Design life goes beyond acquiring mere software skills; soft skills ranging from meticulous observation to effective leadership have become some of the crucial must-haves in an individual. In this episode, we have with us Darshan Gandhi who leads as the Global Head of Design at Godrej Consumer Products Limited. A congenial personality, who firmly believes in the development of interpersonal skills along with design thinking. She...
2020-07-1552 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDiversifying User Experience: Anant TambadeThe world is moving towards radical experiences. The same is instituted by designers to benefit the growth of usability testing, which eventually leads to a better understanding of the interface functions. Deriving this approach across mental models and personas leads to a futuristic advancement - a step further in a meaningful experience. In this episode, we discover the radical side of building experiences with Anant Tambade. He leads as the Director of Experience at Amdocs. He speaks about the "thick and thin" of his journey from being an Architect to a User experience Designer. This episode gives us insights about...
2020-07-0841 minAvantika Designeering SeriesSpecial: World Industrial Design Day with David Kusuma (Part 2)Here is part 2 of our special episode on World Industrial Design Day with David Kusuma. In this episode, we discuss various topics like Designing with different dynamics, get answers to the questions raised by our audience, and go through a fun rapid-fire round. David talks about Tupperware working with International space stations building on the mechanism of products for proper functionality in outer space. He shares his journey on this unique collaboration, where he mentions important principles required in the working and designing for space. He explains how technology and design cover itself in harmony to create indistinctive differences in...
2020-07-0250 minAvantika Designeering SeriesSpecial: World Industrial Design Day with David Kusuma (Part 1)In this uproarious world becoming expressive day by day, it so happens that some of the most basic terms lose their voice to trends, buzzwords, and disruptions. One such term is Product Innovation. Every year, thousands of products are launched into the market, yet only a few of them are able to sustain the ultra-competitive market. With the need for personalization in every product, the industry needs a zealous individual, who can create a shimmer on the world of vigor to transform businesses through product innovation to haul the domain. As of this, we bring to you the first part...
2020-06-2944 minAvantika Designeering SeriesThe ABC's of Branding : Mayuri NikumbhThe most discernible part of brand engagement is to provoke a relationship between the brand and its customers. The same is nurtured through powerful storytelling that revolves around personal commitment, passion, nostalgia, and intimacy that lights a spark amongst the consumer’s mind. As a communication designer, the ability to empathize and build a voice and identity through visual communication is the ultimate way to not only build a relationship with your consumers but also harness business. In this episode, we got into a conversation with Mayuri Nikhumbh, who leads as the Design Director of Communication at Elephant Design. She te...
2020-06-2446 minAvantika Designeering SeriesReuse, Recycle, Rethink : Tanyaradzwa SahangaIntroducing sustainability as the crux of a brand comes with a set of responsibilities and expectations. Their commitment to developing a business that promises the protection of natural resources and eco-systems requires sheer determination to advance into a world filled with ultimatums. As a fashion designer, to resonate with the essence of a brand and promote a product development cycle that is predominantly sustainable is the ultimate provocative challenge. Today, in this episode we come across a former technology innovation manager of Adidas futurecraft.loop; a project that focused on recycling and sustaining products. Tanyaradzwa Sahanga walks us through her...
2020-06-1738 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDelivering Innovation at the Doorstep : Tejas VyasBeing the alpha in service venture requires the tackling of different dynamics, as you design an ingratiating system for people to interact with. With the pandemic hitting different parts of the world, there has been a drastic change in the way people are interacting; especially in the digital space. This change in behaviour has thrown a series of challenges and opportunities for different service providing platforms. One of the massive growth opportunities in this scenario is for the different eCommerce platforms. Today, in this episode we witness the progress of BigBasket - on how they tackled the challenges that came...
2020-06-1038 minAvantika Designeering SeriesDesign, Dialogue, Disruption : Lourd NathanThe perseverance to thrive in the most compelling situations is one of the unique temperaments of humans. This allows us to not only survive some of the most bizarre challenges but also evolve opportunities and create extraordinary solutions. The same results in our growth as a society and leads us to experience the profound effect it has on our lifestyle. Innovation has driven us a long way from addressing needs to the present scenario of invoicing convenience with its existence in various aspects. The shift in the demand for something even better with every product or service comes with the...
2020-06-0341 minAvantika Designeering SeriesFuture-proofing with Design : Manukrishna NairOur tenacity to exist in space is defined by how it communicates with us. We tend to walk into a variety of spaces on a daily basis. From considerate public spaces to soothing workspaces; the seamless experience adds to your productivity in some way or the other. With the world moving towards digitization, technology such as AR/VR has now entered the spatial sector, opening a window of opportunities for collaboration and bringing to people some epic experiences. In this episode, we talk to Manukrishna Nair who leads at Fitch as their Director of Development. He takes us through his...
2020-05-2733 min