Describe your most meaningful experience(s) and why they matter to you.
One of my life’s most meaningful experiences occurred, not quite long ago. I was fortunate to be selected amongst 50+ students to participate in a study abroad program to Shanghai for 4 months, sponsored by Neuni Material Design Studio. We visited 33+ factories across China to learn about different products and their manufacturing process. Unlike ArtCenter, in this program we were given freedom to choose the projects we’d like to work on, given the opportunity.
I chose to work on luggage due to my own unfortunate experiences and problems faced in dealing with damaged baggage at the airport. Moreover, the hassle of managing multiple bags while travelling sole handedly and also trying to manage bag weightage was very frustrating. So, I used my opportunity of being in one of the biggest manufacturing hubs to innovate and develop a new type of luggage that addresses the user’s need and problem. In order to reduce carbon footprint and address sustainability and luggage weight issues, I experimented and innovated a new light material made out of recycled plastic and aluminum waste from the airline industry which ends up in landfills and oceans. This project allowed me to learn about environmental sustainability through a more “hand-on” approach and my interest increased ten folds.
I utilized the connections of Neuni with a jobber for ‘Samsonite’ and ‘Tumi’ and got the 1st prototype of my luggage created. I was granted the opportunity to pitch my ‘Start-up’ idea to 80+ Design and Business Professionals in Shanghai and was able to generate a lot of traction, interest in my product, also received a few inquiries for orders and signed a licensing Agreement with Neuni Design Studio. This was my very first meaningful experience of learning how to start business from idea to execution and pitch my concept to professionals which I found really exciting. In order to pave my way towards entrepreneurial success, I embarked on the 2nd most meaningful journey of my life to INSEAD Business School in Singapore where I and my 5 Teammates from INSEAD co-founded “Out Of office Spaces” Start-up Venture in London in 2020 based on the problems we faced while working from home with the onset of COVID-19.
