CDF.
About
CDF
Towards building Chennai as the Design Capital of India
The Chennai Design Festival is envisioned as a one-day event designed to unite the creative community through speaker sessions, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops.
Key Highlights
09:00 AM
Inauguration & Welcome Address
21
MARCH
09:00 AM
TO
01:00 PM
Speaker Sessions
01:00 PM
Lunch & Networking
02:00 PM
TO
06:00 PM
Panel Discussion & Launches
06:00 PM
Event Conclusion
Featured Speakers
03
LEADING DESIGN THINKERS
01
Future of Indian Transportation Design
Sathiyaseelan
Vice President - Styling
An IIT Delhi M.Des alumnus with 20+ years in automotive design, he's contributed to 25+ projects at Tata Motors, General Motors, TVS, and Ashok Leyland, including iconic vehicles like Boss, Dost, and Guru, earning awards from SIAM and CII. He's also a design thinker, mentor, writer, and watercolor artist mentoring young talent through workshops.
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Sivakumar
Head - Industrial Design
Leading Industrial Design at Royal Enfield's Chennai studio since 2005, post Hero Honda. From Thanjavur's temple architect family and IIT Delhi M.Des, he blends sculpture, modeling, and engineering for iconic bikes like Classic series and Flying Flea—humanizing technology through rational-emotional designs.
02
Story of design at Royal Enfield
CONNECT
03
Indian Colours
Dr. Kaustav Sengupta
Futurist | Colour Theorist | Trend Forecaster
A renowned academician, Futurist, Trend analyst, Color psychologist and color forecaster, Youth marketing expert, writer, social worker and TEDx speaker is the Associate Professor of National Institute of Fashion Technology, India (www.nift.ac.in).
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Trotsky Marudu
04
Indian Contemporary Artist
Trotsky Marudu, is a renowned Indian contemporary artist, animator, and art director based in Tamil Nadu. He is celebrated for his versatility across traditional line drawing and cutting-edge digital media.
Desing for TN
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The Venue
TTJ Auditorium, ICSR, IIT Madras
Chennai, TN
Chennai Design Festival is a vibrant platform that celebrates the power of design as a force for innovation, sustainability, and social transformation. Inspired by leading design gatherings this annual event brings together creative thinkers, industry leaders, educators, students, and design enthusiasts to explore how design shapes the way we live, work, and interact with the world.
Conference Passes
Student Pass
₹500
Gain full access to all keynote speeches and networking lounges to connect with peers and industry leaders alike.
Professional Pass
₹2500
Unlock exclusive entry to all presentations and private networking events designed for high-level industry professional growth.
Sketching
₹1500
Master precision scaling and surface finishing using professional automotive clay. Translate your 2D sketches into accurate 3D prototypes by the end of the session.
Workshops
Clay Modeling
₹2500
Master precision scaling and surface finishing using professional automotive clay. Translate your 2D sketches into accurate 3D prototypes by the end of the session.
Chairs & Patrons
This is your Team section. It's a great place to introduce your team and talk about what makes it special, such as your culture and work philosophy. Don't be afraid to illustrate personality and character to help users connect with your team.
Prof. Kamakoti
Director, IIT Madras
Prof. Palaniappan Ramu
IIT Madras
Sathyaseelan
VP, Ashok Leyland
Rizvi Manzavalli
VP, DOT School of Design
Sponsored By
AYA DESIGN ACADEMY
