we built ICD with people who really want to be on the bus. we tend to look for curious, open, and thoughtful people who have a life that gives them some sort of edge or point of view. or soft corners, come to think of it. some of them aren’t in design roles, but once they get into client problems, the difference disappears.
Itu took a bachelor’s in architecture from School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi in 1984, but retired from that profession to pursue his interest in letterform and graphic design. After freelancing in this and that, he formed Itu Chaudhuri Design in 1997 to design for marketing, corporate and editorial clients. Itu is a lazy columnist, reflecting on design thinking, and the interface between design and everything else. He is a (reluctant) keynote speaker, has served as visiting faculty at NID. Deeply steeped in listening to classical Indian music, and selectively, science.
Lisa joined ICD soon after her graduation in 1997 from the National Institute of Design (NID), where she studied Visual Communication, and has been a principal for a decade. She has immense experience in graphic design, loves striking typography and branding. Lisa leads our UI/UX projects, both ERP and editorial, maintaining a keen, yet skeptical eye on novel developments: new isn’t always better, and content and functionality matter. Lisa has taught and judged at the NID and and has been a jury member, moderator speaker at UX events. And Lata is everything.
Ashok comes with 6 years of experience in packaging design, working with a packaging specialist design studio with multinational clients—he developed a sense of rigour, detail, and a savviness about the shelf. He is greatly moved by visual art, and his expert eye never misses the form, and finish of the pack he holds. A valuable perspective to our packaging and web UI projects.
Pradyut was a Computer Engineer. Looking at his sketches and concepts, a friend recommended he join IIT Guwahati’s newly introduced M.Des programme. He says it was the best thing to happen to him. His idea of a perfect evening is a cup of coffee and a session of craftsy hand lettering. A sports geek, he passionately follows football and tennis. He hopes to see Nadal’s famed forehand in action at the Roland Garros finals someday.
Alok’s interest in computing started late, in the 11th Standard, when he saw his friends make cool applications in computer class and wanted in on the fun. The result—his first programme, a virus to hack his school’s computer network. He then took a BCA and hasn’t stopped making stuff since: a free library, a video editing software. Alok is a Manga addict, which got him interested in design, and working at ICD.
Ayushmaan started out building a digital network for farmers in Nagaland. His time there brought him face to face with the realities of a different kind of life (and the possibility of losing it). An encounter with the agarwood tree in the jungle sparked his interest in the art of perfumery. He shifted base to Delhi, writing and editing a development magazine with a leftist slant. A hungry reader, his polymathic appetite extends to blogs—the Astral Codex Ten blog is a favourite, articles, ghost stories (true!), Reddit groups that prove we are but elements in a matrix. Unifying theme: none.
Our in-house political scientist, completed her BSc from Utkal University. From the time of her joining, Gayatri has handled the studio’s accounts. She makes sure everybody has what they need to work efficiently, from pens to salaries. She is happiest when she is reading books on politics and religion.
Vivek has a Bachelors in design from the DJ School of Design, Coimbatore. A competitive gamer, he ran a streaming channel on YouTube with a highly engaged audience. He is a gifted photographer, with a deep, dark and mysterious style. Vivek, Kandan, Kantan are a few corruptions of Viverkanandan’s name he tolerates, for now. He loves Bengali food on Friday nights. ‘I live in the movement’ is how he articulates his love for the poetry of motion.
Ujjawal likes puns, parathas and well designed products. His dad’s travelling job meant a childhood spread across the country, gathering bits of the culture from everywhere. As must be evident, he’s got the brightest smile in the office. ‘I don’t like digital watches’, Ujjawal, the first product designer to have made that declaration, at the risk of getting cancelled by his own community.
Ujjwal, the second of his name (here), sold insurance straight out of college from IIM Ranchi, a battle-hardening experience according to him. Ujjwal’s roots are in Vrindavan and his formative years were spent in Visakhapatnam, giving him his own north-south cultural bridge. His interest in cricket rivals Itu’s. He likes to read slowly and deeply—books on language, health and business. He’s promised us to start reading more fiction.
