Dr. Saurabh Kumar - Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun

Dr. Saurabh Kumar
Dean

RESEARCH AREA

Dr. Saurabh Kumar’s research interests focus on strategic design, design education, product-service-system innovation, and UX systems. He actively explores curriculum design, innovation tools for businesses, and the integration of design thinking in MSME development and cluster-based interventions. His work bridges the gap between academic frameworks and real-world design ecosystems.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Design (pursuing), National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad
Ph.D. in Management, Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University
Master’s in Strategic Design Management, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
Post Graduate Program in Strategic Design, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Executive Post Graduate Diploma in International Business, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi
Graduate in Accessory Design, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi
Schooling from Oak Grove School, Mussoorie
Certificate Programs (Coursera):
Virtual Teacher Specialization, University of California Irvine

– Advanced Instructional Strategies in the Virtual Classroom

– Emerging Trends & Technologies in the Virtual K-12 Classroom

– Foundations of Virtual Instruction

– Performance Assessment in the Virtual Classroom

– Virtual Teacher Final Project

Introduction to Virtual Reality, University of London

Design-Led Strategy, University of Sydney
Design Thinking: The Ultimate Guide, Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF)

FELLOWSHIP / AWARD / ACHIEVEMENTS

Winner – ‘TVS Scooty’ Marketing Plan competition, IIM Lucknow
Winner & Special Mention – ‘Luxury Car for India in 2015’ Design Competition, Pininfarina, Italy
Design Project Sponsorship – Ford Foundation (Primary Design Education Research)
Selected for multiple Government-funded MSME Cluster Projects across India
Received commendation for design leadership and education management at multiple institutions

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Member, Design Research Society (DRS)
Member, Interaction Design Association (IxDA)
Member, India Design Council (IDC)
Registered Design Consultant, Design Clinic Scheme, Ministry of MSMEs
Contributor, Design Education and Cluster Development Initiatives across multiple states

Dr. Saurabh Kumar is the Dean of the School of Design at Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. With over two decades of academic and industry experience, he has built and led design programs across premier institutions such as NIFT Mumbai, Pearl Academy, UID Karnavati, and MIT-WPU Pune. His deep involvement in strategic design, curriculum development, and innovation ecosystems marks his leadership style.

Dr. Kumar has worked with leading organizations including HONDA R&D, TATA Elxsi, and Lumium Innovations, contributing to design innovation in automotive, FMCG, education, and public sector domains. He has led over 40 MSME cluster development projects across India—focusing on new product development, common facility centers, and design awareness for craft and industrial clusters.

As a design educator, he emphasizes project-based learning, industry collaboration, and innovation-incubation linkages. He has mentored PhD scholars, managed cross-functional design teams, and driven large-scale academic reforms to align design education with global and local needs.