Arvind Lodaya — Co-Founder
Arvind Lodaya is an independent innovation strategist and professor working at the intersection of design, education, and impact. Over ~40 years, he has worked closely with industry, academia, public institutions, startups, and civil society as an independent resource. This cross-sectoral experience, combined with hands-on craftistry in product, UX, branding, and innovation, gives him a rare vantage point to help leaders and teams see patterns, question assumptions, and navigate change with confidence. His journey weaves together rigorous consulting & design services practice with critical reflection and writing. He has led and advised initiatives ranging from corporate and product innovation to design education reform and impact-led ventures — often in early-stage, complex, or high-uncertainty contexts. He is typically invited where problems are not yet well-framed: where organisations need both strategic imagination and disciplined execution, and where design contributes as a way of thinking, not merely delivery. Arvind works extensively through collaborations — bringing together institutions, founders, designers, educators, policymakers, and domain experts to co-create impactful interventions. Much of his work emerges from deep conversations, searching inquiry, and long-term engagement rather than transactional consulting. Currently, he works with ambitious institutions and ventures as a strategic consultant, program architect, creative mentor, and thought partner. His interests include wicked problems, impact innovation and entrepreneurship, learning and upskilling ecosystems, human-centric policy, participatory design, and values-driven leadership. He welcomes conversations with individuals, agencies, and organisations striving to be at the frontiers of design, innovation, branding, and impact — especially those seeking thoughtful partnerships rather than conventional advisory relationships. He writes and speaks regularly in India and internationally, synthesizing lived experience across varied contexts, cultures, and systems — engaging deeply while remaining ideologically independent.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a strategic consultant specializing in design innovation and education across various sectors.
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Experience: 30 yrs 3 mos
Skills
- Innovation Management
- Design Thinking
- Branding
- Design Research
- Corporate Governance
Career Highlights
- Over 40 years of cross-sectoral experience.
- Expert in innovation strategy and design education.
- Strong focus on impactful collaborations and partnerships.
Work Experience
SELCO Foundation
Learning Lead - Systems Fellowship Program and Principal Mentor - Centre for Systems Practice (7 mos)
ICDHS14 Cultures of Design Conference
Member, Scientific Committee, ICDHS14 New Delhi Cultures of Design (1 yr 1 mo)
The Future Founders Co.
Advisor (2 yrs 10 mos)
NIRMA UNIVERSITY
Member, Board of Studies - Institute of Design (4 yrs 11 mos)
Association of Designers of India
Core Team - Design Education Review Mission (10 mos)
Future of Design Education
Working Group member (2 yrs)
Vidyashilp University
Professor of Design (2 yrs 5 mos)
Centre for Energy, Environment & People (CEEP)
Advisory Board Member (6 yrs 6 mos)
The Sustainabality Platform
Advisor (7 yrs 3 mos)
JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur
Member, Board of Studies - School of Design (3 yrs 4 mos)
QGLUE
Fellow (1 yr 5 mos)
SELCO Foundation
Innovation Mentor (6 mos)
School of Design, Ambedkar University Delhi
Visiting Professor (3 yrs 5 mos)
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
Adjunct Professor (3 yrs 7 mos)
The Propel Labs
VP Design & Innovation (9 yrs 7 mos)
Deccan Centre for Innovation & Design [DCID]
Founder-Director (1 yr 1 mo)
Radical Skills
Advisor [Pedagogy & Design] (6 yrs 11 mos)
DLabs at the Indian School of Business
Mentor & Trainer (2 yrs)
ALo Consulting
Principal & Lead (15 yrs 2 mos)
IMRB International
Innovation Mentor (4 mos)
QUEST Alliance
Founder-Trustee and Governing Board Member (21 yrs 1 mo)
Srishti Institute of Art, Design & Technology
Dean of Research (Srishti), Design Principal (Srishti Labs) (8 yrs 9 mos)
Artistree/Ogilvy & Mather
Co-Founder, Creative Director (5 yrs)
Sahjeevan (then Janvikas Ecology Cell)
Co-Founder, General Dogsbody (10 mos)
Education
Professional Diploma [Masters equivalent] at National Institute of Design
PhD [suspended] at Centre for Study of Culture & Society
