Mahendra Chauhan — “Being a designer is a balancing act.”
Mahendra Chauhan has 11 years of experience as an industrial designer. He is currently the Head of Design - Watches, Wearables and Accessories at Titan. His work has won international accolades like the Red Dot Design Award, Rado Design Excellence Award and the Philips Award for Innovative Lighting. We found out about his mindset and how he handles design challenges.
What kinds of different hats have you had to put on while working in a designer’s shoes? Which such role/project was most challenging?
It is important to wear a hat of a consumer/user, as consumer understanding is the most challenging aspect of designing any product. As a designer, it’s easier to design things which you would like to own, or things which suit your taste and preferences, but it’s highly challenging to design for a larger group or for a someone you do not know, who is illustrated in your scenario or is a part of the figment of your imagination.
I think we should have the heart of a designer, mindset of a financier and the face of marketing. It is juggling of all these roles that make one an informed designer and makes the journey and the outcome enriching.
Fill in the blank: Being a designer is NOT an overnight skill but an ever-evolving ritual.
Fill in the blank: Being a designer IS a balancing act. It’s like walking on a tightrope while you have to constantly juggle options and choices.
What is the most valuable (design) lesson you’ve learnt from someone who is not a design practitioner?
In a consumer insight session, someone told me that ‘what is right for you might be wrong for someone else’. It has stuck me since then and I realized that having a fixed viewpoint is the biggest hindrance of creativity. In an another instance, during my education at NID while working for ‘Blind People’s Association’ I realized that a good sense of aesthetics is not only about visual proportions but has to be all inclusive, all sensorial.
What would you say is the defining characteristic of “Indian” design? Do you think there is a modern visual language that is specific to India
Indian product design is evolving and still lacks a strong character. Many designers are combining neo-bauhaus or minimal design with a hint of Indian heritage elements. The current Indian vocabulary is an amalgamation of ornate elements which are enhanced by our rich craft history, to minimalism which is inspired from other cultures. Good design is contextual and reflects the current society.
Being creative is largely about having the courage to fail repeatedly. Could you give an example from your own experiences of a project that failed? What went wrong, and what did you learn/take away from that experience?
Celebrating failures are a critical part of designer’s journey.
Many ambitious projects could not be completed because of certain impediments in the process. In my own experience, I learn with every product. I had designed a watch with a very unique case construction, but after 2 years of constant involvement with development team, the project was shelved as it was too advanced for the current production methods available in the market. Many projects never roll out due to certain cultural nuances, technologies still evolving for the market or possibly being a blue ocean project at the time. These experiences make me realize the importance of iteration and the process not just being the end product.
How has being in Bangalore enriched your creative process? What have you learnt from the city?
Bangalore is a hub of cultural and technological diversity. It has this ever-young, energetic and vibrant feel wherever you go. It is this youthful energy which keeps me driving and motivated. It is also the start-up capital and is iterative, agile and experimentative, keeping the innovation quotient of the city very high.
And finally, to wrap up — How do you spend a perfect Sunday in Bangalore? Any specific recommendations or must-trys?
Running in Cubbon park is the most refreshing start of my Sunday. I wrap my run by having a masala dosa in MTR or eggs-on-toast at Koshy’s.
Connect with Mahendra on LinkedIn here.
This interview is a part of a series of conversations with designers from Bengaluru called ADI Diaries. You can find more interviews here.
