NID Bangalore, SDM
Like many Indian students, Avni began her journey preparing for engineering. But a random chance at a perspective drawing paper sparked something within her, a curiosity for design. Slowly, she shifted direction and joined Fashion Communication at NIFT Bengaluru. Her early years were full of exploration, from styling assignments to UI/UX design experiments. Though she initially aimed to become a UI/UX designer, she soon realised she wanted more than screens, she wanted purpose. By her sixth semester, she had developed a deeper interest in design strategy and storytelling, which set the stage for a new dream: Strategic Design Management (SDM).
Avni didn't just wait for clarity, she actively searched for it. Her graduation project on reverse engineering local languages showed her passion for human-centered design and social impact. She interned as a design researcher, asked tough questions, and explored design through dialects and communication gaps. Along the way, she also made mistakes, like underestimating preparation or choosing UI/UX without full understanding. But each misstep became a step forward. Her projects reflected real-world understanding, and interviews helped her realise her strength wasn't just in visual design, it was in systems, research and strategic thinking.
Arunav Dwivedi
Jul 28, 2025
6 min read
