Beyond Skills

DOT School of Design, Chennai’s first exclusive design college, well – recognized as Tamil Nadu’s Best Design College by the Hon. Higher Education Minister, Mr. Govi Chezhian (News18), within just five years of its founding. DOT stands as a pillar of creative education, shaping designers to meet and anticipate industry demands and forecasts.

In collaboration with Alagappa University (A+ NAAC accredited), DOT School of Design was established in 2020 with the objective of bridging the gap between industry requirements and academic learning. By channeling the voice of the industry through working professionals and designing a structured syllabus within an academic environment, DOT School of Design embodies the essence of Creative Education 2.0.

VISION

To bring DOT as one of the foremost multi-disciplinary colleges in Design education and research field.

MISSION

To create design awareness among everyone and offer world-class design education to the students passionate about Design.

Our Strategic Approach

“Beyond Degree. Beyond Skills. Beyond Today.”

defines the philosophy that powers everything we do at DOT School of Design. It reflects our commitment to nurturing future-ready designers - thinkers, innovators, and problem-solvers who go beyond conventions to create meaningful impact.

Beyond Degree

Signifies our belief that design education extends beyond academic qualifications, focusing on the holistic development, creative confidence, and lifelong learning of creative professionals.

Beyond Skills

Reflects our drive to move past technical abilities and cultivate Independent Thinking, Explore and Express, Empathy, Sustainability and Liberal Arts.

Beyond Today

Emphasizes our vision to create future-ready designers equipped to adapt, lead, and redefine what’s next in design and innovation.

This strategic approach forms the core of Creative Education 2.0, where education, industry, and innovation come together to shape the next generation of design thinkers.

TEAM

Defines the philosophy that powers everything we do at DOT School of Design. It reflects our commitment to nurturing future-ready designers - thinkers, innovators, and problem-solvers who go beyond conventions to create meaningful impact.

Leadership
Governing Council
Advisors
Faculty

Leadership

Dr AR R Raammnath

Founder & Chairman

Chairman of DOT School of Design, embarked on his career as a practicing architect with a profound interest in the conservation and preservation of culturally significant buildings.

Singanapalli Balaram

Design Chair

Professor Singanapalli Balaram, a distinguished industrial designer and senior faculty member, has cultivated a profound admiration for the rich traditions of song and storytelling, particularly the exquisite art of Tholu Bommalata. Utilizing paper as his medium, he embarked on a remarkable journey to recreate the enchantment of shadow puppetry, captivating the children in his neighbourhood.…

Vijayalakshmi R

Vice President

A dynamic leader with a unique background in psychology and a passion for ensuring the smooth functioning of the institution. With a keen understanding of human behaviour and motivation, Vice President brings a fresh perspective to the table, ensuring that the infrastructure requirements of the organization are not just met, but exceeded. From overseeing construction…

Rizvi Manzavalli

VP - Strategy

With a background in product design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and mechanical engineering from Anna University, Chennai, he brings experience across design practice and entrepreneurship. His work spans product design, brand building, and strategic thinking shaped through academic and professional practice.

Kavitha

Dean of Academics

With a background in architecture and postgraduate training in Landscape Architecture from Sathyabama University, she brings strong academic grounding in spatial and design education. Her academic work has received university and national-level recognition, including top university rank and thesis distinction.

Anita Rebecca

Deputy Registrar

With over two decades of experience in academic administration and student services, she brings expertise across admissions, counselling, academic coordination, and institutional administration. Her background includes work in design institutions, schools, and higher education environments, supported by postgraduate training in English literature.

Founder & Chairman

Dr AR R Raammnath

Chairman of DOT School of Design, embarked on his career as a practicing architect with a profound interest in the conservation and preservation of culturally significant buildings.

Design Chair

Singanapalli Balaram

Professor Singanapalli Balaram, a distinguished industrial designer and senior faculty member, has cultivated a profound admiration for the rich traditions of song and storytelling, particularly the exquisite art of Tholu Bommalata. Utilizing paper as his medium, he embarked on a remarkable journey to recreate the enchantment of shadow puppetry, captivating the children in his neighbourhood.…

Vice President

Vijayalakshmi R

A dynamic leader with a unique background in psychology and a passion for ensuring the smooth functioning of the institution. With a keen understanding of human behaviour and motivation, Vice President brings a fresh perspective to the table, ensuring that the infrastructure requirements of the organization are not just met, but exceeded. From overseeing construction…

VP - Strategy

Rizvi Manzavalli

With a background in product design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and mechanical engineering from Anna University, Chennai, he brings experience across design practice and entrepreneurship. His work spans product design, brand building, and strategic thinking shaped through academic and professional practice.

Dean of Academics

Kavitha

With a background in architecture and postgraduate training in Landscape Architecture from Sathyabama University, she brings strong academic grounding in spatial and design education. Her academic work has received university and national-level recognition, including top university rank and thesis distinction.

Deputy Registrar

Anita Rebecca

With over two decades of experience in academic administration and student services, she brings expertise across admissions, counselling, academic coordination, and institutional administration. Her background includes work in design institutions, schools, and higher education environments, supported by postgraduate training in English literature.

Governing Council

Dr AR R Raammnath

Founder & Chairman

An architect trained in heritage conservation, established DOT by integrating academic learning with real-world design practice. He has also built a connected design ecosystem supporting creative learning and industry engagement.

Mr. Balaram. S

Design - Chair

An industrial designer educated at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and the Royal College of Art, London, with a career spanning design practice, education, and research. His work ranges from product and agricultural design to writing, storytelling, and innovation, including award-winning and patented inventions.

Ms. Vijayalakshmi Raammnath

Vice President

With a background in psychology, oversees institutional infrastructure and operations at DOT, including facilities planning, construction coordination, and campus maintenance. Her work focuses on creating a functional and supportive environment for students, faculty, and staff.

R. Subramanian

Academic Quality Mentor

With over three decades of experience in teaching, training, academic administration, and research, he brings strong expertise in curriculum development and institutional systems. His work spans academic planning, quality standards, faculty development, and educational governance.

Bala Subramaniyan

Artist

With formal training in painting from the College of Arts and Crafts and decades of artistic practice, his work draws from cultural influences across India and abroad. His practice explores form, colour, symbolism, and geometry through layered visual compositions rooted in lived experience.

Sudhakar Rao

Financial Advisor

With over three decades of experience in finance, business management, and strategic consulting, he brings expertise across mergers and acquisitions, institutional finance, and enterprise restructuring. His work spans advisory roles in NBFCs, capital markets, energy, and petrochemical sectors, supporting sustainable business growth and operational efficiency.

Founder & Chairman

Dr AR R Raammnath

An architect trained in heritage conservation, established DOT by integrating academic learning with real-world design practice. He has also built a connected design ecosystem supporting creative learning and industry engagement.

Design - Chair

Mr. Balaram. S

An industrial designer educated at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and the Royal College of Art, London, with a career spanning design practice, education, and research. His work ranges from product and agricultural design to writing, storytelling, and innovation, including award-winning and patented inventions.

Vice President

Ms. Vijayalakshmi Raammnath

With a background in psychology, oversees institutional infrastructure and operations at DOT, including facilities planning, construction coordination, and campus maintenance. Her work focuses on creating a functional and supportive environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Academic Quality Mentor

R. Subramanian

With over three decades of experience in teaching, training, academic administration, and research, he brings strong expertise in curriculum development and institutional systems. His work spans academic planning, quality standards, faculty development, and educational governance.

Artist

Bala Subramaniyan

With formal training in painting from the College of Arts and Crafts and decades of artistic practice, his work draws from cultural influences across India and abroad. His practice explores form, colour, symbolism, and geometry through layered visual compositions rooted in lived experience.

Financial Advisor

Sudhakar Rao

With over three decades of experience in finance, business management, and strategic consulting, he brings expertise across mergers and acquisitions, institutional finance, and enterprise restructuring. His work spans advisory roles in NBFCs, capital markets, energy, and petrochemical sectors, supporting sustainable business growth and operational efficiency.

Advisors

Fine Arts

R. B. Bhaskaran

A senior modern Indian artist trained at Bhanasthali Vidyapeeth and the Madras School of Arts and Crafts, with extensive experience across artistic practice and art education. His career spans exhibitions in India and abroad, along with leadership roles in major art institutions and academies.

Film & Visual Media

B. Lenin

An award-winning film editor and director with decades of experience in Indian cinema. His work spans film editing, direction, jury participation for national awards, and contributions to film education and curation.

Contemporary Art

Trotsky Marudu

A contemporary artist and art director trained at the Madras College of Arts and Crafts, working across digital and traditional media. His practice includes international exhibitions, authorship, and contributions to contemporary and digital art movements.

Textile Design & Craft

Kalyani Pramod

A textile designer and artist trained at the National Institute of Design, with extensive work in traditional crafts and community-based design initiatives. Her practice spans craft revival, design entrepreneurship, teaching, and large-scale artisan empowerment projects.

Industrial & Automotive Design

Sathyaseelan Gangaasalam

A design leader with an M.Des from IIT Delhi and over two decades of experience in automotive and industrial design. His career includes leadership roles across major automotive programs, industry mentorship, and public engagement in design discourse.

Documentary & Media Practice

Amudhan

A documentary filmmaker and curator with a background in development communication. His work includes socially engaged filmmaking, film festival curation, media education, and explorations of alternative and mobile filmmaking practices.

Game Technology & Interactive Media

Arvind Neelakantan

A game engineer with over a decade of experience across global studios, currently working in technology leadership within the gaming industry. His expertise spans game development, interactive media, VR/AR, and technology-driven creative ecosystems.

R. B. Bhaskaran

Fine Arts

A senior modern Indian artist trained at Bhanasthali Vidyapeeth and the Madras School of Arts and Crafts, with extensive experience across artistic practice and art education. His career spans exhibitions in India and abroad, along with leadership roles in major art institutions and academies.

B. Lenin

Film & Visual Media

An award-winning film editor and director with decades of experience in Indian cinema. His work spans film editing, direction, jury participation for national awards, and contributions to film education and curation.

Trotsky Marudu

Contemporary Art

A contemporary artist and art director trained at the Madras College of Arts and Crafts, working across digital and traditional media. His practice includes international exhibitions, authorship, and contributions to contemporary and digital art movements.

Kalyani Pramod

Textile Design & Craft

A textile designer and artist trained at the National Institute of Design, with extensive work in traditional crafts and community-based design initiatives. Her practice spans craft revival, design entrepreneurship, teaching, and large-scale artisan empowerment projects.

Sathyaseelan Gangaasalam

Industrial & Automotive Design

A design leader with an M.Des from IIT Delhi and over two decades of experience in automotive and industrial design. His career includes leadership roles across major automotive programs, industry mentorship, and public engagement in design discourse.

Amudhan

Documentary & Media Practice

A documentary filmmaker and curator with a background in development communication. His work includes socially engaged filmmaking, film festival curation, media education, and explorations of alternative and mobile filmmaking practices.

Arvind Neelakantan

Game Technology & Interactive Media

G KAVIYA PRIYA

Interior Design

CHINMAYA DEVY

Design Foundation