Surya is an educator, speaker, and founder with over 25 years of experience as a transdisciplinary design practitioner working at the leading edge of physical and digital design.
In 2014, he started Authentic Design with the mission to help unlock creative potential through the power of the design process. He is also the creator of Design Swarms, an agile design approach that has been used to tackle challenges worldwide. Surya has also served as President of Design in Public & the Seattle Design Festival, Chair of Interaction Week 2019, and Chair of the Industrial Design Conference in 2015. Previously, he was Director of User Experience at Microsoft, a tenured professor of design, and an award-winning industrial designer. His work has appeared in numerous publications and news programs, including TEDx, Form, I.D., Design Council, WIRED, the BBC and National Public Radio.
“It's a deeply political act when you make something, it is a political act of providing empowerment and helping drive justice.Surya Vanka : Founder + Creator / Authentic Design + Design Swarms
Resources & Social
Surya discussing Design Swarms
Victor Papanek Wiki
- National Institute of Design in India, founded by Charles Eames
- Richard Buchanan's Wicked Problems in Design Thinking
- Richard Buchanan Wiki
- Surya's TEDxHongKong talk "Extraordinary Experiences"
Surya on the cover of DesignIndia
Surya on Instagram
Surya on Twitter
Surya on Linkedin