Chinmayee Kulkarni's Journey to IISc Bangalore

Chinmayee Kulkarni

IISc Bangalore
MDes in Product Design, Development and Management

I have always loved drawing, sketching, and colours ever since I was a child. At the same time, I was deeply interested in science, which led me to pursue Mechanical Engineering. During internships while in college, I explored mechanical design and enjoyed the process of creating and solving problems through design.

Later, my brother introduced me to the field of design and the M.Des program. I realized it was exactly what I had been looking for, a field where I could combine my technical knowledge with creativity, aesthetics. That realization motivated me to start preparing for design entrance exams, and I joined Kaphal Studio for guidance. Kaphal made the preparation feel so easy and enjoyable.

CEED was probably the first exam I genuinely enjoyed taking. Instead of feeling stressed, I was excited throughout the process and walked out of the exam hall feeling satisfied and happy. As the saying goes, if you turn your hobby into your profession, every day is a holiday!

Biggest Challenge

The biggest challenges I faced during my preparation journey were self-doubt and time management. Before starting my preparation, I had left my previous job without having another offer in hand and was unemployed for about six months. During that period, I discovered CEED and M.Des, but finding a stable job was my immediate priority.
Once I secured a new job, I had to balance learning for the new role while simultaneously preparing for CEED. I attended Kaphal Studio classes every night after work, but adjusting to such a drastic change in routine was not easy so I couldn't attend all the classes and felt like I was falling behind.
To keep up, I practiced Part A every morning before going to the office, worked on Part B at night, and dedicated my weekends to studying and completing pending work. Managing a full-time job alongside preparation was challenging, and there were moments when I questioned myself and my capabilities.
Looking back, those days taught me how to keep moving forward despite uncertainty.

My Support System

My family has always been my biggest support system. They have always encouraged me and never pressured me to achieve certain marks. Instead, they constantly reminded me to prioritize my health and well-being above everything else.

My brother, who is currently pursuing MDes, played a very important role in my decision to pursue design. He introduced me to the field and was always available whenever I needed guidance or simply needed to rant about work and studies. There were many times when I just needed someone to listen, and he was always there for me.

Advice to Aspirants

Advice to my younger self before starting preparation: don't stress so much. You're already putting in the effort and doing the best you can, and that's enough.

There will be days when things feel overwhelming, when there'll be self-doubt, or when you feel like giving up completely. That's okay. Not every day has to be productive, it's okay to have difficult days.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is take a break, cry if you need to, get a good night's sleep, and start again the next day.