NEW DELHI, 29th March, 2025
The 19th SIAM Styling & Design Conclave, held in conjunction with the 17th Automotive Design Challenge (ADC), themed “Innovating Today, Inspiring Tomorrow’s Mobility,” focused on the dynamic evolution of vehicle styling and design.
This conclave brought together automobile designers, industry professionals, and academics to discuss the future of automotive aesthetics and mobility solutions. SIAM Executive Director Prashant K Banerjee emphasized the importance of design innovation in the continuous evolution of mobility. He emphasized the importance of integrating student talent into the industry to improve Indian automotive design on a global scale.
G Sathiyaseelan, Chairman of the SIAM Styling & Design Group and Vice President (Design) at Ashok Leyland, emphasized the importance of making India’s automotive design initiatives a nationwide movement. He advocated for a data-driven and innovative design approach that is responsive to the changing demands of the industry.
Teofilo Plaza Garcia, Industrial Studio Head at Hero MotoCorp, discussed the critical need to balance sustainability and emotional resonance in vehicle design. He stated that investing in young talent would give India a competitive advantage in the global automotive design arena.
Anuj Prasad, Founder & CEO of Desmania Design, emphasized the growing interest of multinational corporations in Indian-origin designs. He emphasized the importance of moving beyond mere styling to establish thought leadership in design, particularly in the area of sustainability.
Nilesh Kirtane, Co-Chairman of the SIAM Styling & Design Group and General Manager of Strategy Planning at Honda R&D India, emphasized the link between innovation and design. He emphasized the designers’ responsibility in creating mobility solutions that improve everyday life.
The second session, “Designing for Global Aspirations,” was led by V S Deka, Royal Enfield’s Group Manager. Ferdinand Klauser, Global Partner and Managing Director for Asia at KISKA Shanghai, emphasized the importance of design in shaping consumer preferences and India’s potential in the global market.
Pravin Gaikwad, Head of CV Design at Tata Motors, discussed India’s progress toward becoming a global leader in sustainable mobility, emphasizing the importance of design in this evolution. Dinesh Raman, Director of Transportation Design at KISKA Shanghai, and Harikrishnan AK, Delivery Manager at TCS Design, discussed how global trends are influencing automotive design in India.
The third session included a panel discussion on “Fostering Industry-Academia Interaction,” moderated by Anuj Prasad. The panel included industry experts and academics from institutions such as the National Institute of Design (Ahmedabad), NIFT Chennai, IIT Delhi, UPES, and the MIT Institute of Design. The discussion focused on improving collaboration between industry and academia to foster talent and innovation in automotive design.
