Clubbing art and intelligence for start-ups, Avantika Agarwal makes a mark in product design

Is design an art, or science? This timeless debate is unlikely to settle anytime soon. Ask Stanford-alumnus and product designer Avantika Agarwal and chances are that answering it is not easy. Trained in both engineering and art, she convinces you that design is much more than the blend of the two.

After all, a design has many more elements including science, psychology and art. As the world is turning more complex and consumers discerning, the task of a product designer is now far more challenging than earlier. Mere aesthetically pleasing design is not sufficient in many cases. (Also read: Every girl should aspire for the top office: Navya Naveli Nanda and Samyak Chakrabarty)

Avantika, who loves to work with early-stage startups, however, seems aware of the challenges and geared up to take them on. While her experience of working with prestigious projects comes handy in understanding the need of customers, the accolades in the journey so far remains a big motivating factor.

Harbouring the dream of becoming a product designer since childhood and having developed an interest in healthcare during high school, Avantika, equipped with a master’s in design products from the Royal College of Art in London, started focussing on creative product designs that offered practical solutions in the healthcare segment. Be it a sanitary pad with a disposable pouch or a sleep apnoea wearable that uses micro vibrations to treat congestion from allergic and non-allergic rhinitis, using Indian Yogic techniques, she has tried it all and is now set to spread her wings in the fast-emerging AI (artificial intelligence) industry.

“My work with start-ups has allowed me to collaborate at the cutting edge of emerging technologies. Most recently, I designed the brand for a new Artificial Intelligence company, Fixie, that announced a $17M seed funding round this month. It was a fascinating challenge to create a brand in such a nascent and topical industry that’s currently in the spotlight, as the multitude of companies being launched every week, makes it hard to stand out,” says Avantika.

“We chose a very simple and classic brand aesthetic, with bold geometric imagery inspired by tangrams, the children’s puzzle-game where complex shapes are made of different geometric blocks. As Fixie is an AI platform that brings together disparate technology into one powerful hub, we thought this metaphor was the perfect fit,” she says talking about her latest design.

As the technology moves forward with more AI-powered solutions on the anvil, the creativity in the product design field knows no bounds.