Chandigarh: 23rd September, 2024:- The B.Design program under the Production and Industrial Engineering Department of Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, in collaboration with the School of Experience, Illusion & Learning (Sxill) and Chandigarh Design School, organized a special pre-event to celebrate World Interaction Design Day 2024 (IXDA) on the theme 'Add New Dimensions.'
The event was graced by the Director of PEC, Prof. Rajesh Kumar Bhatia, Registrar Col. R.M. Joshi, Mr. Vinit Raj Kapoor, Mr. Anil Siwach, Dr. Chetan Mittal, and Ms. Sonali Aggarwal, alongside Prof. R.M. Beloakr and Prof. R.S. Walia. The event was a part of Industry Academia Expert Lecture Week, coordinated by Dr. Jimmy Karloopia, along with Dr. Mohit Tyagi.
The participants from different institutions such as Chandigarh University,  Chandigarh Design School and SXILL also participated in this panel discussion.
The event began with Prof. Rajesh Bhatia, Director of PEC, reflecting on the institution's 103-year legacy and illustrious history. He emphasized the growing importance of interactive design in today's world, commended the department for organizing this workshop, and extended a warm welcome to all participants.
Prof. R.M. Belokar, Head of the Production and Industrial Engineering Department, shared his insights on the future of design skills across diverse fields, including engineering, advertising, marketing, materials, and architecture.
Mr. Vineet Raj Kapoor, Founder and Director of Sxill and Chandigarh Design School, captivated the audience by sharing real-world experiences from industry experts on the challenges of design. He encouraged participants to think deeply and research every problem, focusing on innovative solutions. He also highlighted the importance of continuous learning and improving one’s skills daily through peer learning. He also shared the variety of programs offered by Chandigarh Design School.
Further, Dr. Chetan Mittal discussed the design and skill gaps in India, particularly in product design. He stressed the importance of starting with a clear problem statement and finding cost-effective solutions that maintain profitability while ensuring customer affordability. He also highlighted the need for an in-depth understanding of materials and their impact on sustainable innovation.
Mr. Anil Siwach, former Head of Design at Yatra.com, spoke about the transformative role of generative AI in design. He outlined how AI boosts accessibility and productivity by automating repetitive tasks, enabling rapid prototyping, predictive analysis, user research, personalization, and content creation. He emphasized that AI is not a competitor but an assistant, helping designers access vast knowledge quickly.
Ms. Sonali Aggarwal, former Co-founder of MobiKwik, shared her experiences with design in the industry, shedding light on the challenges of product optimization. She encouraged young designers to actively seek feedback to improve their designs. She also emphasized the fact that AI cannot completely replace human creativity.
The event concluded with a lively panel discussion on the theme of AI’s growing influence in the design industry. The panelists unanimously agreed that while AI enhances creativity by offering faster processing capabilities, it cannot replace human ingenuity. It is just an average intelligence with faster processing services, but it cannot work without correct data inputs. They encouraged students to collaborate with AI as an assistant rather than fear it as a competitor. Students of the B.Design course actively participated in the discussion, posing insightful questions to the industry experts.
Finally, Prof. R.S. Walia delivered the vote of thanks, bringing the session to a successful conclusion.  Dr. Jaswinder Singh, Dr. Gurpreet Singh, Dr. Vaibhao and Dr. Shagun from PIED, PEC were also present at the event.