Chandigarh, September 23, 2024 – Chandigarh Design School, in collaboration with SXILL, proudly co-hosted the World Interaction Design Day (XIDD) 2024 at the Punjab Engineering College (PEC) campus. The event, themed “ADD NEW DIMENSIONS,” brought together some of the most prominent names in design and industry experts from across the country, featuring a panel discussion and insightful addresses by speakers from organizations like Mobikwik, Tynor, Yatra.com, along with experts from SXILL, Chandigarh Design School, and PEC. The event witnessed participation from 80–100 students and professionals from various parts of India.
A Global Celebration of Design
XIDD 2024, hosted under the umbrella of iXDA (Interaction Design Association), is part of a worldwide series of events celebrating Interaction Design. The event was conducted simultaneously in countries like Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK, and the USA, with Chandigarh being one of the prominent locations in India.
The Director of Punjab Engineering College inaugurated the event, encouraging students to leverage the wisdom and insights shared by expert speakers to better understand career opportunities in design. He also highlighted the new Design College set up at the PEC campus and urged the experts to contribute to its academic development.
Insights from Design Leaders
Vineet Raj Kapoor, Founder of SXILL and Chandigarh Design School, and Local Leader for iXDA, emphasized the importance of developing a research mindset and fostering empathy by regularly stepping into the user’s shoes. He shared actionable strategies for students to excel in UX Design, stressing the need for consistent user-centered thinking.
Sunali Aggarwal, Founder of Mobikwik, inspired aspiring designers to take proactive roles in problem-solving. She pointed out the gap between the growing number of design graduates and the shortage of truly skilled designers ready for the job market, encouraging participants to sharpen their skills to stand out.
Anil Siwach, ex-Design Head at Yatra.com and an accomplished designer associated with top brands like LinkedIn, Quikr, Gaana.com, and Credo, shared invaluable advice from his extensive industry experience. He reminded designers to always keep the company’s objectives and profitability in mind while creating user-centric designs. Siwach, a proud alumnus of SXILL Chandigarh, also highlighted the significance of staying focused and committed to continuous learning.
Chetan Mittal, Head of Research at Tynor, a leading healthcare company, stressed the importance of industry collaborations and hands-on research. He advised students to carefully evaluate potential companies and projects to ensure alignment with their career goals and personal growth.
Connecting Academia with Industry
Neelu Kapoor, Director of SXILL, shared her thoughts on the importance of bridging the gap between academia and industry:
“We are thrilled to partner with institutions like PEC to help their students grasp the market’s nuances. By co-hosting such events, we aim to benefit students, faculty, and the design community as a whole. At SXILL and Chandigarh Design School, we strive to add value to every student’s journey.”
About XIDD
World Interaction Design Day (XIDD) is an annual global event organized by iXDA, uniting designers, educators, and industry professionals to celebrate the power of interaction design. This event fosters knowledge sharing, promotes innovation, and inspires the next generation of designers worldwide.
With its successful hosting of XIDD 2024, Chandigarh Design School reaffirms its commitment to nurturing a thriving design community and empowering students with world-class learning opportunities.