Jaipur, April 2026: JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU) successfully concluded Jaipur Design Week 2026, held from April 4 to April 11 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, under the theme *Make it Max*. Over the course of the week, the campus transformed into a vibrant, living laboratory where students, educators, and practitioners came together to engage in immersive, design-led dialogue, experimentation, and collaboration.
The event opened with a keynote address and workshop by acclaimed animation film director Suresh Eriyat, followed by engaging creative sessions with artist Abhijit Paul and Microsoft Senior UX Designer Bindiya Mutum. The day also featured a stand-up comedy performance on design, *Bheda Fry*, by designer Chandrashekhar Bheda, blending humor with creative insight.
Welcoming participants, Dr. Vijaysekhar Chellaboina, Vice Chancellor of JKLU, remarked, “Jaipur Design Week 2026 has once again demonstrated how design education can extend beyond classrooms to become a collaborative, lived experience that nurtures responsible and future-ready creators.”
A key highlight of the week was the ThoughtSpot series, which brought together industry leaders and practitioners including Tanu Sinha of PepsiCo India, designers Paul Sandip, Suhasini Paul, and Gajesh Mitkari. The series also featured the launch of a book on Jawaja by Ashoke Chatterjee, sparking conversations around design, culture, storytelling, and social impact.
The Open Studios segment offered immersive electives led by renowned puppeteer Padma Shri Dadi Pudumjee, alongside experts such as Margie Sastry, Radhika Gupta, Kavya Agarwal, and Jishnu Roy. Additionally, hands-on workshops conducted by Ayush Kasliwal, Sudebi Thakurata, and Sumit Baruah explored diverse aspects of design through intensive three-hour sessions.
Continuing its tradition of recognizing emerging talent, Jaipur Design Week 2026 honored Mubassirah Khalid Khatri—the first female Ajrakh artisan and a Forbes India 30 Under 30 honoree—with the Emerging Designer of the Year Award.
This year’s edition reaffirmed Jaipur Design Week’s role as a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary learning, critical inquiry, and creative collaboration. By bringing together voices from animation, UX design, industrial practice, branding, puppetry, and craft, the event fostered an environment where ideas were actively explored, tested, and reimagined.
Reflecting on the success of the event, A. Balasubramaniam, Director of the Institute of Design at JKLU, said, “This edition of JDW highlighted the power of interdisciplinary thinking, where craft, technology, and storytelling intersect to redefine design in a contemporary context.”
As the week concluded, it left behind a strengthened community of emerging designers and thought leaders, a renewed commitment to socially responsive design practices, and a shared vision for building more inclusive, innovative, and culturally grounded futures through design.
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