Sures Kumar

Sharing a recent article based on my study focusing on what craft communities can teach the next generation of designers. The ideas connect with thinkers like Victor Papanek (design for real human needs), Don Norman (usability in everyday objects), Peter Senge (systems thinking), and Amos Rapoport (vernacular design shaped by culture and climate). Craft communities can be seen as living examples of these design principles. https://lnkd.in/dt_fHnUG

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If you've known me for a while, you know that one word/concept that has followed me through the years is empathy. 4 years at Srishti School of Art, Design & Technology, embodied the teaching and practice of empathy in the design process. Care in Design, a class by Ian Hargraves at Carnegie Mellon University furthered my understanding for empathy in the design practice. Empathy forces you to look deeper. To examine design and products beyond just metrics and key results. Building a product is hard, short term measures of success often outweigh design for deeper, longer term impact. But that only strengthens the need for a designer who doesn't loose focus on that ideal. A little more about that in this article here: https://lnkd.in/gs5qFJbA

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Looking forward to this conversation- exploring and understanding what design means in this new AI-led world and what it takes for designers to stay relevant. Friends of Figma, Bangalore Razorpay Saurabh Soni Kishore Vidyasagar

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A recent conversation with my good friend Ashish Kumar prompted me to share a thought that many of us in the design and product space may resonate with: Are we unintentionally designing complexity into our products in the name of creating better experiences? Having spent nearly a decade in UX and product design, I’ve observed a recurring trend—products are becoming increasingly feature-rich, but not necessarily more user-centric. Often, functionality is added to meet evolving business goals or market demands, yet the result tends to shift focus away from the product’s core purpose. Early in my career, I remember learning a fundamental design principle: “Remove what’s unnecessary to improve usability.” At the time, I questioned this idea—believing that every element or feature could eventually add value. But with experience, I’ve realized that more doesn’t always mean better. In fact, excess functionality can increase cognitive load, dilute the core value proposition, and create friction for users. A relevant parallel is the design philosophy of minimalism in visual communication. It’s not about aesthetics alone—it’s about enhancing clarity, reducing distractions, and strengthening intent. Unfortunately, many digital products diverge from this mindset. They tend to accumulate features—often without validating relevance, frequency of use, or true user value. Google Search provides a compelling contrast. Its interface remains remarkably simple, yet universally accessible—regardless of age, literacy, or digital fluency. Why? Because it has stayed true to its primary objective: helping users find information quickly and intuitively. As experience designers and product leaders, this invites a few critical questions: - Are we prioritizing clarity over feature parity? - Are we using data to inform what can be simplified or removed? - Are we designing for long-term usability, or chasing short-term differentiation? A few principles I’ve found helpful along the way: - Champion the product’s primary purpose—build around it, not over it - Leverage behavioral insights to streamline rather than expand unnecessarily - Balance business goals with user needs, ensuring neither is compromised - Advocate for purposeful simplicity—it’s not just a design choice; it’s a strategic decision In an increasingly complex digital landscape, clarity is becoming a true competitive advantage. I’d love to hear from fellow designers, design leaders and product owners. How are you balancing innovation, feature growth, and simplicity in your product strategies? #UXStrategy #DesignLeadership #ProductSimplicity #UserExperience #MinimalDesign #DigitalProducts #CustomerCentricity #ProductDesign #ClarityMatters #LessIsMore

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Natural interaction is not defined by accuracy alone. Evaluation focuses on coherence over precision: – Are gaze shifts timely but imperfect? – Do gestures vary without repeating patterns? – Are expression transitions smooth rather than abrupt? Over-optimization leads to theatrical behavior. Under-optimization reveals mechanical seams. Believability emerges from moderation — not maximal realism. See an example of Architecture & Behavioral Design here: https://lnkd.in/dfEhZbx9 #AI #HRI #AICompanion

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Grateful to participate in the “Design Thinking” hosted by Kamalika Chakraborty 🌟 Had the opportunity to dive deep into user-centered design through a hands-on workshop on Journey Mapping and the AEIOU framework (Activities, Environments, Interactions, Objects, and Users). This session helped me better understand how to empathize with users, map experiences holistically, and identify design opportunities by observing behaviors and contexts in a structured way. Grateful for the engaging discussions, real-world examples, and collaborative spirit throughout the workshop. Looking forward to applying these frameworks in future projects! #DesignThinking #JourneyMapping #AEIOUFramework #UserExperience #WorkshopLearning

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Hello We are pleased to invite you for a special occasion. The Department of Design, IIT Kanpur is bringing industry, faculty, and graduating designers together for  Design Foresight 2026: Imagining What Lies Ahead An industry showcase by the Department of Design, IIT Kanpur. 📅 18 March 2026 📍 Stellar Resorts, New Delhi Design is no longer about interfaces. It’s shaping how businesses operate, automate, and reach the next billion users. At the centre of the evening is a curated walkthrough of ideas, casework, and studio-style conversations with peers, researchers, and future-ready design talent. No conference format. No slide marathons. What to expect? We aim to explore these shifts many of us are already navigating: * Agentic UX and autonomous systems * AI copilots across enterprise contexts * Designing for cognitive load and neuro-diversity * Trust, bias, consent, and ethics in AI-led products To be in the room, please RSVP here https://lnkd.in/gHh22-wj Hoping to see you and/ or a colleague of yours here

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