My Journey in Design: From Engineering to Impactful Interactions
As an Engineer turned Interaction Designer, my passion lies in untangling complex challenges where human needs meet technology. Rooted in Kerala, my journey is about blending analytical rigor with user-centric design to craft intuitive and meaningful digital experiences.
My expertise centers on AIoT and emerging technologies. I've had the privilege of leading UX for impactful, large-scale products like JioMeet and JioEva at Jio Platforms, and previously spearheaded AIoT initiatives at Techxcore. A Master's from IDC, IIT Bombay underpins my approach.
My Story and Approach
My path is a blend of engineering precision and design empathy, always driven by a curiosity for how technology can better serve people.
The Turning Point: From Engineer to Designer
From my engineering beginnings in Kerala, I learned the art of building. But a deeper pull towards the human side of tech led me to Interaction Design at IDC, IIT Bombay. This was my pivot—from systems to stories, from code to connection.
Early AIoT Adventures: Making Tech Tangible
At Techxcore, leading Embedded Systems wasn't just a title; it was about pioneering early AIoT solutions. Think smartening up public transport with XMOR or helping artisans by modernizing handlooms. These weren't just projects; they were about seeing innovation make a real-world difference.
Designing for India, with Global Vision: My Jio Story
Leading UX for JioMeet and JioEva at Jio Platforms was about crafting 'Made in India' experiences for millions. It was a journey of understanding diverse needs, championing accessibility, and building with an Indian heart for a global stage. The scale and impact were incredible.
My Compass: Guiding How I Design
What steers my work?
- Deep-seated Curiosity: Always asking 'why?'
- Hands-On Creation: Believing in building to learn and iterating
- Bridging Two Worlds: Using my engineering mind to create human-centered tech, especially in AIoT
- Real-World Impact: Designing solutions that genuinely help people
Let's Explore What's Next
This portfolio is a window into these explorations. If you're excited by new challenges where design meets emerging tech, I'd love to connect and build something impactful together.
A Spectrum of Interests
At the Cutting Edge
I'm captivated by the cutting edge: Human-Computer Interaction, ubiquitous computing, wearables, low-power ML/AI, and Augmented Reality. Oh, and let's not forget my inexplicable love for things that go boom (pyrotechnics!).
Active Pursuits: On Land & In Air
When I unplug, you'll find me pounding the pavement (four half marathons and twelve 10Ks since Feb '24!), exploring the RC world (planes, helis, drones — inspiration overload!), or soaring through the sky with my own drone.
Exploring New Perspectives: Above & Below
Below the waves, I'm a PADI Discover SCUBA diver, and above, I'm progressing with paragliding (APPI 1 done, APPI 2 in progress). Back on land, I enjoy biking, cycling, and a constant quest for delicious new food.
Stargazer's Awe
Even with all that, I'm a devoted stargazer, tracking the Moon, ISS, Tiangong, Hubble, and satellites, constantly awestruck by human ingenuity and the cosmos' immensity.
Where Interests & Design Converge
Naturally, my projects blend sensing, interaction, and perception, responding to your touch, gestures, proximity, and speech — all the way to controlled bursts of fire. Mostly for science, you understand. And maybe a little bit for the stars.
Going Further: Exploring My Favourite Selections
Retro and Modern Games
I enjoy retro and modern games for nostalgia and fun. My favorites include side-scrolling Mighty Final Fight (shown), platforming Mario Bros., and fighting Mortal Kombat.
I also like simulation/action games like Wargasm, IL2 Sturmovik, and Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator, plus open-world GTA: Vice City and San Andreas. For thrills, I play NFS Most Wanted, PUBG, Polytopia, and Liftoff.
As a Combat Flight Simulator Pilot
As a Combat Flight Simulator pilot, I find aerial dogfights awesome due to their challenge, thrill, and fun.
My chosen aircraft from WWI to modern warfare are: Sopwith Camel, "Big Beautiful Doll" P-51D Mustang (1:48 scale model photo shown here), Messerschmitt Bf-109, Focke-Wulf Fw 190, P-38 Lightning, Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX, and F-22 Raptor.
FPV Drones
I enjoy flying stealthy and fun micro drones like Tiny Whoops and Toothpicks, especially my customized brushless Mobula 7 and brushed QX95 FPV drones.
I prefer sourcing individual parts online (frames, motors, etc.) and assembling them myself for the rewarding customization it offers over buying kits.
Future Favourites: The Cars I'm Eyeing
I'm incredibly enthusiastic about EVs, Rivian, SLATE, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ (a scaled model photo shown here), BMWs, and the MINI Cooper 3 Door Hatch — these vehicles really capture my imagination.
As an Electronics Hobbyist
My favorite electronics playground features the nRF52840 and ESP chips, reliable 1S LiPo batteries, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and Adafruit for prototyping, my trusty FLUKE multimeter, Weller soldering stations, KiCAD and Eagle for PCB design, the power of Python, and the versatility of web technologies and PWAs!
Colophon: Behind the Scenes
Designed in Figma, I chose the variable font Roboto Flex and Tailwind CSS color scheme to establish the website's visual framework. The icons used throughout the site are sourced from Google.
Bringing the design to life was a solo endeavor, leveraging the power of Astro for building the site and styling it with Tailwind CSS. Seamless navigation is achieved through Swup, with engaging animations powered by Motion. For a rich set of interactive features, including smooth carousels, I integrated both Swiper and Tippy.js.
While creating everything from scratch, the codebase occasionally benefited from insights provided by Swup community members @hirasso and @daun, along with AI contributions from Google Gemini, and Claude AI, primarily for specific code-related challenges, and refining the English text with Google Gemini.