WELCOME TO THE DESALL BLOG. THIS POST IS PART OF THE “COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT” SERIES WHERE WE INTERVIEW THE BEST MEMBERS OF OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY. THANKS FOR READING!

ASHWATHY SATHEESAN is an award-winning design researcher and a winner of Bormioli Pharma Ophthalmic Dosing Design. In this interview, Ashwathy takes us on a journey through her approach to design, and her passion for solving real-world problems, often in connection to human health and wellbeing. The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Hi Ashwathy! Thanks for joining us, today. Can you briefly introduce yourself to the readers?

Hi everyone, I’m Ashwathy Satheesan, a Design Researcher and Strategist from Kerala, India. My work has been showcased at various events such as the Global Futures Symposium and Hyderabad Design Week. I’m passionate about projects that deal with design activism and future thinking. I use tools such as systems thinking and critical enquiry to make my designs more inclusive and meaningful. In the future, I hope to explore the potential of design in areas such as healthcare, upcycling and wildlife conservation. Currently, I work for Fractal.ai, uncovering and visualising the hidden factors, processes and data that influence decision-making.

What made you want to pursue a career in design?
Ever since I was a kid, I loved drawing and making things out of scrap. I had no idea that design was a field of study until I was about 15 years old. But I always knew I liked the concept of creating and telling stories with things and I wanted to keep doing that. Studying design at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad broadened my understanding of what design offers. I learned about the fundamental process of solving any problem, whether it’s a product, a system or a service. These experiences gave me insight into what I was passionate about and what skills I needed to develop. It was then that I realised the potential of design and what my tasks as a designer are.

Is there a particular project that you’re particularly proud of? If so, why?
The “Fleo” Parkinson pen project won the prestigious James Dyson Award in 2019. As part of one of my teaching projects, I developed “Fleo”, a stabilising pen to help people with Parkinson‘s tremors write and draw. This pen uses gyroscopic principles to stabilise and reduce the effects of tremors. This was my second research project and I really wanted to work on inclusion and design something for people with special needs. What I really liked about the project was that I was constantly in contact with the users throughout the design process, with lots of user testing. I observed and studied their daily routines and the difficulties they faced when visiting people at the Parkinson’s Society in Ahmedabad. During this time, I developed numerous prototypes and conducted user tests before settling on a proof of concept. The Dyson award gave me the reassurance that I was on the right track. This confirmation meant a lot to me as a young designer just starting out.

Recommend a book or resource that influenced your approach to the craft.
I recently read the book Influence by Robert B. Cialdini and it completely changed the way I think and approach problem-solving. It’s an excellent book to read as a designer because it helps you understand the psychology of persuasion and influencing behaviour.

The designer/architect you most admire.
One of the designers who really inspired me to study product design was Yves Behar because of his approach to sustainability and social innovation. I also admire designers like Joey Zeledon who approach problem-solving in a playful way.

Where can we find you online?
Readers can connect with me on LinkedIn, and here’s my portfolio on Behance.

“FLEO” PARKINSON PEN by ASHWATHY SATHEESAN (all images by the author):

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