He is an astute professional with almost 40 years of rich experience in Project Management, New Product Development, Design & Engineering, Production, Operations and Technical Support. Along with exceptional Design, Management, Production & Engineering expertise, he is also an effective communicator with excellent relationship management skills and strong analytical, leadership, decision-making, problem solving and organizational abilities. Ajith started out as an Engineer with a degree in Electrical Engineering from TKM College of Engineering, Kerala. After which, he shifted to Design with a postgraduate degree of M.Des from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai. He has presented a paper on Designing Board Games in the International Conference on Designing for Children. He was a member of Bureau of Indian Standards- Safety of Toys. He is currently a member of the Board of Studies.
Neethu Deepak is an accomplished fashion designer who graduated from NIFT Chennai in 2001. She won the award for ‘Innovative use of Traditional Textiles and Techniques’ for her final project with Kanchipuram Silk and banana fiber. She has represented India for the Indo-German Cultural Exchange program by the Ministry of Textiles and German Consulate and visited Germany in 2000. With 19 years of experience in the industry as a designer she is known for her fine surface detailing (print, embroidery) and unique colour combinations. She has extensive experience in designing and prototyping in various segments like Apparel Design, Corporate Identity Design, Costumes, Graphics, Textile Design, Trend Research and Analysis. A specialist in Women's wear and Kidswear, she has worked with various industries in Chennai, Tirupur, Kannur and Karur. She is passionate about Ethnic Arts & Crafts, Textiles, Sustainable fashion and Innovation. She has worked with leading brands like Eshakti, Maybell India, managing the design team and providing creative direction from concept, design process, range plan, sourcing to prototype development. A Star Alumni and em-panelled Jury Member of Nift Chennai, she handles fashion subjects, internal and external mentoring as a visiting faculty.
Subashini has completed her Bachelors in Architecture from Hindusthan College Chennai and completed her Masters in Construction management from NICMER, pune. She has extensive experience in corporate interior fit out as well as in residential design. Her interests has been in up cycling the construction materials (epoxy, acc block) into furniture making and mural. Currently she is heading the interior design education at DOT school of design along with her professional practice.
Deepak Panicker is a Fashion Design graduate from NIFT Chennai (1998-2001). As one of the seven toppers in India he was nominated for scholarship in Nottingham Trend University, UK for higher studies by the Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India in 2001. Winner of the Most Creative Designer for his project `Resurgence of the Obsolete" which was based on discarded billboard vinyl, he worked with CLRI (Central Leather Research Institute), Adyar to transform the vinyl into a leather substitute. He was one of the finalists of the Smirnoff International Fashion Awards. An ardent lover of nature and a self-taught artist he joined College of Fine Arts Trivandrum after graduating in economics.
He believes in sustainability & recycling and also an advocate of Biomimicry for innovation. As a freelance designer he has worked for international brands like Primark UK & Ireland, Conforama France, Tesco, etc for more than a decade with graphics, styling, prints and textile design concepts. Considered to be one of the best in India in the field, his work for Caines Clerk used to be sold in Surtex Fair, New York. His passion for Couture garments has been expressed through Wedding Dress & Evening Gown customization. He works as a Guest Faculty, Jury Member and Mentor at Nift Chennai inspiring and motivating young talents with his skills in Advanced Draping, Creative Pattern Making, Graphics, Garment Making & Seminars. He has been associated with Thuli (NGO)for designing and production of up-cycled garments for the unprivileged. He also works closely with Nift Core Team on various projects apart from being a consultant to many brands and training college. At present he is working on his brand of natural and sustainable clothing under the brand name of Lefel for women and kids. He is the founder of Mantiz Atelier Design Studio based in Chennai and also one of the directors of Altheas Apparels Pvt Ltd, and working as Creative Head for both.
Colors and patterns were something that always intrigued her, which eventually led her to pursue fashion as a career. After completing her bachelor's degree in fashion from FDDI, Chennai, she began to freelance as a costume stylist. She has worked as a costume stylist for some leading brands and businesses in the country. She has a knack for Fashion Illustrations as well. With this experience, she has started her own clothing label.
Neethu Deepak is an accomplished fashion designer who graduated from NIFT Chennai in 2001. She won the award for ‘Innovative use of Traditional Textiles and Techniques’ for her final project with Kanchipuram Silk and banana fiber. She has represented India for the Indo-German Cultural Exchange program by the Ministry of Textiles and German Consulate and visited Germany in 2000. With 19 years of experience in the industry as a designer she is known for her fine surface detailing (print, embroidery) and unique colour combinations. She has extensive experience in designing and prototyping in various segments like Apparel Design, Corporate Identity Design, Costumes, Graphics, Textile Design, Trend Research and Analysis. A specialist in Women's wear and Kidswear, she has worked with various industries in Chennai, Tirupur, Kannur and Karur. She is passionate about Ethnic Arts & Crafts, Textiles, Sustainable fashion and Innovation.
She has worked with leading brands like Eshakti, Maybell India, managing the design team and providing creative direction from concept, design process, range plan, sourcing to prototype development. A Star Alumni and em-panelled Jury Member of Nift Chennai, she handles fashion subjects, internal and external mentoring as a visiting faculty.
He is one of South India's most committed and influential artists. Professionally a painter, a product of the Madras College of Arts and Crafts, Class of 1982, he is a man of many parts and interests. Whenever he gets an opportunity, he visits old temples and ruins, searching for artistic nuances that sculptors of bygone eras had conceived. His canvases, mostly in oil, are renowned for their vibrant hues and unique depiction of movement. Colors, planes and spaces blur and merge into each other, to good effect. The textures undulate from sedate, thinly veneered areas to emphatic palette strokes to bold granulated patches.
He also confesses to a partiality for Lord Ganesa in His many forms. But his most enduring fascination remains the female form.He believes that women are the epicenter, not only of creation, but also of love, learning and mystical power. He has conducted various group shows in and out of the country. He currently has an art studio on his own and also heading the art studies at DOT school of design.
Azhagiya Manavalan is a cinematographer who has more than two decades of experience in the film industry. He has worked in multilingual projects and carries the privilege of working in several feature films, tele-series, ADfilms, short films and documentary films. He has also worked with eminent personalities in the film industry and is a guest faculty for several media schools. His proficiency in cinematography with latest equipment and technology as well as his sound communication and project management skills are appreciated and followed by the next generation. He has accomplished several projects which include, five feature films, twelve tale serials, more than 50 ad films, more than 40 documentaries as DOP, two short films as director, more than 20 corporate films as project head and more than 25 reality shows in the major south Indian channels. Having passed his distinction with grade II from Trinity music college of London, he has also won the best supporting actor award for a television series, ‘KATHIRVELU’.
She is the founder of altlab innovators, a concern which creates upcycling waste products. She started her design interest from her graduation in Architecture at National Institute of technology, Tiruchirapalli. Then went on to the National Institute of Design to pursue her masters in Furniture & Spatial design. Sustainability and cost effective solutions in design has always been her foremost interest since her college days. Her interest made her drive into a similar industrial experience. After practicing as furniture & Spatial designer at various concerns such as RF square, Hindustan Unilever ltd, Ideinlab Architects, She found her current design firm at Bangalore. She feels, as a designer, one has a great responsibility to design that makes sense. Her love for this planet and the creative urge to find opportunities with things that are otherwise considered waste has led to the birth of AltLab Innovators. She is currently a visiting faculty for Industrial & Spatial design discipline at DOT school of design.
He is an alumnus of the National Institute of Design – Ahmedabad (Batch of 2010). Soon after NID, he worked with ‘Aamir Khan Productions’ in the production of television show “Sathyameva Jayate” as a research associate. After which, he moved to Chennai and joined hands with his two other partners to startup a production house called ‘Kadhai films’.
