Vijay Chakravarthy

This is an elected position and is voluntary. Responsible for design community outreach, planning and managing professional development events, fundraising, book-keeping, chief spokesperson for the chapter and representative of the IDSA National Chapter Council and Regional District Council, assisting the IDSA Central District VP in planning and organizing the annual District Conference.

Events:

The New Experience Model – 01/17/2014, Carnegie Museum of art
This event featured two talks ‘Design thinking at scale’ by Surya Vanka, Director of User Experience, Microsoft and ‘Usability is no longer enough’ by Matt Beale, President, Daedalus. The ticketed event was sponsored by Philips and was attended by 175 people.

The Business of Design – 11/21/2013, Carnegie Mellon University
Organized in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Technology Council, this was a panel discussion on topics covering big Data, designing for people in the connected World, Preparing organizations for the next Information revolution and the Internet of Things. Panelists included Rob Chandhok, President of Qualcomm Innovation Center and Senior Vice-President of Software Strategy for Qualcomm, Mickey McManus, CEO and Principal of MAYA Design; Author of Trillions and Thanassis Rikakis, Vice Provost for Design, Arts and Technology, Carnegie Mellon University.

Part of a team of 24, consisting of engineers, researchers, designers and a cognitive psychologist. Responsible for managing client expectations and handling complex product design and interaction design projects from research to implementation on time and on budget.

Projects: Design of wearable technology, hand-held products, smart home appliances, dental and hospital equipment, scientific equipment, healthcare research and industrial safety products.
Skills: Project management, client relations, human factors, conceptual design, rapid prototyping, Solidworks.

Working for the Pre-College program, I taught the Introduction to Industrial design studio class covering aspects of the design process, design methods and tools. Learning outcomes included understanding and working with basic prototyping materials such as cardboard and hot-glue. The course ended with a three week project that was exhibited at CMU and was open to the public.

Part of a design group of 15 designers within the R&D group consisting of engineering, sales and marketing sections in Charlotte, NC. Responsible for evaluating human factors, concept generation, brand language development, implementing design of hand and foot operated products for consumer, construction and industrial applications.

Projects: McCulloch chain saw, Husqvarna snow thrower, ATV lawn mowers, Flymo leaf blower and Craftsman tractor.

Skills: Brand language design, concept development and 3D modelling with Rhino and Alias

Three month contractual project managing a team of 5 junior designers. Responsible for project management, consumer research workshops, data collection, data visualization, analysis and presentation of preliminary concepts.

Project: ‘The next college computer’ – aimed at developing concepts for technology innovation for higher education began with primary research into the lives of college students in Savannah and Atlanta, GA. Research methods included workshops, body-storming, focus groups and surveys. A detailed research document including info-graphics, personas and aspiration matrices was developed. Preliminary concept generation was done to present design opportunities.

Skills: Design research, workshops, data analysis, info-graphics, concept generation, sketching

Part of a design group of 30 personnel including designers, model makers and class-A surfacing experts within R&D group of over 200 - consisting of chassis, engine, frame and light engineering teams. Responsible for concept design, class-A surfacing, evaluating human factors, brand language development, implementing design of scooters and motorbikes for consumer markets in India, Indonesia and Brazil.

Skills: Brand language development, class-A digital sculpting & surfacing, clay modeling, advanced rendering and coordinating with departments in the R&D facility.

Part of a team of 20, consisting of engineers, designers and a business developer based in New Delhi. Responsible for managing client expectations and handling consumer product design and packaging design projects from research to implementation on time and on budget.

Projects: Air conditioners, water filters, refrigerators, ceiling fans, faucets, laptop cases and packaging design for FMCG.

Skills: Consumer research, concept sketching, 3D modeling, concept rendering, rapid prototyping.

Part of a team of 10, consisting of engineers and designers based in Sydney, Australia. Responsible for concept development for consumer product designs.

Projects: Design of hand held consumer products.

Skills: Sketching, concept development, 3D modeling, Rhinoceros, Solidworks.

Collaborative transportation design studio with Politecnico di Milano, Prof. Davide Bruno - Aircraft interior design project.