Avinash Kumar

Co-Founder

Goa, India20 yrs 10 mos experience
Highly Stable

Key Highlights

  • Pioneered human-centered design in the Global South
  • Co-founded multiple impactful cultural initiatives
  • Innovative leader in transmedia storytelling and gaming
Stackforce AI infers this person is a leader in cultural technology and design innovation, with a focus on social impact.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

EntrepreneurshipDesign ThinkingCreative DirectionProduct Design

Other Skills

User-centered DesignEthnographyDesign StrategyUser Interface DesignInDesignPhotoshopGraphic DesignArt DirectionConcept DesignAdobe PhotoshopVideoIllustrator

About

Avinash is a co-founder of Quicksand, a pioneering research and futures practice at the forefront of social impact driven innovation in the Global South. At Quicksand, he has led a speculative design practice that looks at bridging the worlds of human centred design, design fiction and co-design to explore hopeful futures and strategies for organisations such as Wellcome Trust, MSF and Barbican. Avinash is also the creative director of Antariksha Studio, active since 2013 building video games for Indian heritage, currently supported by Epic Megagrants and New York based incubator New Inc. Antariksha Studio is on a mission to create an ‘Independent AAA’ video game. Under his artist alias Thiruda, he has been a mainstay in the Indian electronic scene as a VJ since 2007. His ongoing live performance project 'Elsewhere in India' explores Indian futures thru Gen-AI, under the philosophy of ‘A.I. for Cultural Good’ and is an internationally touring show that was presented at the London Film Festival, Roundhouse London and Adelaide Fringe in 2023. He has represented India in international music festivals in Germany, UK, Australia, Europe and Asia. He is a founder-director of UnBox Festival and EyeMyth Media Arts Festival and has been responsible for curating several Indian design and art festivals, residencies and productions that have shaped interdisciplinary design communities in India.

Experience

20 yrs 10 mos
Total Experience
15 yrs 3 mos
Average Tenure
14 yrs 3 mos
Current Experience

Materia verde - circular biomaterials lab

Co-Founder

Jan 2025Present · 1 yr 3 mos · Goa, India · Hybrid

  • Bringing in my experience in transdisciplinary innovation and storytelling to our new venture - and returning to my passion for materials and product design in the process.
Product Design

Elsewhere in india

Co-Founder

Jun 2022Present · 3 yrs 10 mos · Goa, India · Remote

  • Elsewhere in India is a groundbreaking transmedia project founded by artists Sri Rama Murthy (Murthovic) and Avinash Kumar (Thiruda). The project explores the intersection of Indian cultural heritage, speculative fiction, and emerging technologies. Through immersive and thought-provoking installations, performances, and experiences, it invites audiences on a journey through time, space, and consciousness, navigating fragments of a future India on the brink of cultural amnesia.
  • Murthovic and Thiruda have been pivotal in shaping Indian electronic music and new media art since the early 2000s. Their collaborative projects seamlessly integrate elements of ancient Indian mythology, classical art forms, and cutting-edge digital technologies, creating powerful narratives that resonate deeply emotionally. With their unique artistic language, they transcend cultural boundaries, inspiring a new generation of Indian artists and redefining the possibilities of immersive storytelling in the digital age.
Creative Direction

Antariksha studio

Co-Founder

Jan 2013Present · 13 yrs 3 mos · India · Hybrid

  • Antariksha Studio is a pioneering transmedia collective founded in 2020, dedicated to creating innovative cultural experiences that bridge India's rich heritage with cutting-edge technology. Through video games, performances, and new media, the studio crafts authentic Indian narratives for global audiences. As recipients of the prestigious Epic Megagrants, they are at the forefront of India's emerging gaming and cultural technology sector.
Creative DirectionProduct DesignUser Interface Design

Eyemyth media arts festival

Co-Founder

Jan 2012Present · 14 yrs 3 mos · Goa, India · Hybrid

  • EyeMyth is an independent media arts festival and platform that looks at the Indian and South Asian context for Media Arts. A forerunner in the local scene, and having roots as an visual music festival, the platform has grown to accommodate AV acts, a the Massive Mixer creators conference, residencies and exhibitions.
Creative Direction

Unbox cultural futures society

Co Founder

Feb 2011Present · 15 yrs 2 mos · New Delhi and Bangalore

  • UnBox started as a design and arts festival focussed on interdisciplinary collaborations. Over the years, it has exploded into a universe of experiences that push forward thinking and action towards the future of innovation in India - bringing together artists, designers, thinking individuals and progressive institutions.
Creative Direction

Blot!

Co Founder

Mar 2008Nov 2017 · 9 yrs 8 mos · New Delhi Area, India

  • BLOT! is India's premiere audiovisual collective, combining electronic dance music with visuals and installations. Over the years BLOT! has progressed from a DJ-VJ act to an exciting collective encompassing various interests in the electronic arts at large.
Creative Direction

Quicksand design studio

Co-Founder

Jun 2005Present · 20 yrs 10 mos · Greater Delhi Area

  • Quicksand is a leading multidisciplinary design and innovation consultancy headquartered in India, with over 20 years of experience working across emerging markets. Founded in 2005, Quicksand has established itself as a pioneer in human-centered design, applying its expertise to a wide range of sectors, including climate change, sustainability, public health, financial inclusion, and education. We are a team of over 40 full-time practitioners across strategy, research, design, and engineering, with studios in New Delhi, Bangalore, and Goa, London & Amsterdam. Our work is characterised by a deep commitment to social impact, a collaborative approach, and a focus on creating innovative, human-centered solutions that address complex global challenges. Quicksand has worked extensively in the Asia-Pacific region, Africa as well as South America and Europe.
EntrepreneurshipDesign ThinkingUser-centered DesignEthnographyDesign Strategy

Education

National Institute of Fashion Technology

3 yr Professional Program — Accessory Design

Jan 1997Jan 2000

Mothers International School

high school — science

Jan 1986Jan 1996

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