As 2025 draws to a close, India stands at a pivotal moment—one where the next chapter of national progress will be written not only by how fast we build, but by how intelligently we design. Over the past year, technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and advanced simulation have moved from being mere supporting tools to becoming the very foundation of how ideas are imagined, engineered, and realised.
India’s development model has already proven it can achieve scale and speed. Now, the nation’s ambitions for Viksit Bharat—an advanced, self-reliant, and sustainable India—demand a different kind of progress: one powered by design intelligence, where creativity intersects with computation, and where technology amplifies human foresight.
Across sectors—transport, manufacturing, smart cities, water systems, renewable energy—the design technology-led innovation is reshaping how India creates. AI is no longer a futuristic add-on. It is enabling architects, engineers, and product designers to imagine beyond human intuition, while cloud collaboration is unlocking new levels of scale, inclusivity, and real-time innovation. This convergence is quietly rewriting the rules of productivity, sustainability, and creativity—shifting India’s growth story from how much we build to how intelligently we design and make to ultimately build.
This convergence of design & make technology is quietly rewriting the rules of productivity, sustainability, and creativity. India’s growth story is no longer defined solely by how much we build, but how intelligently we design- from the way our infrastructure is planned, and our products are engineered, to how our cities evolve for the future. The idea of “design that thinks ahead” has emerged as a powerful force, one where technology amplifies human ingenuity, and design itself begins to “think ahead.
The AI shift: Reimagining the future of design and make
AI has emerged as one of the most transformative forces for design technologies. Algorithms can now generate, test, and optimise thousands of design possibilities in seconds—considering constraints like material efficiency, performance, environmental impact, and cost. What once required weeks of manual iteration now happens in moments.
In architecture and infrastructure, AI-led simulation helps teams understand how structures respond to light, weather, or energy demands, creating buildings that are both efficient and climate-resilient.
In manufacturing, AI powered design aka generative design is producing lighter, stronger components while predictive analytics improve uptime and reduce waste. In product development, data-driven insights enable designs that are not only functional but resilient, ergonomic, and future-ready.
Democratising design and accelerating innovation with cloud-powered collaboration
If AI represents the brain of next-generation design, then the cloud is its nervous system-connecting people, processes, and ideas across boundaries.
Cloud-powered collaboration has transformed design and engineering from fragmented, sequential workflows into dynamic ecosystems where teams co-create in real time.
Today, designers, engineers, and fabricators can work together seamlessly, whether they’re in Mumbai, Mysuru, or Munich, sharing digital models, simulations, and insights on a common platform. This ability to co-create, iterate, and test simultaneously has dramatically accelerated time-to-market, reduced waste, and improved design precision.
Designing for Viksit Bharat: The role of design tech in nation building
These capabilities are creating systems that are not only efficient today but adaptable to tomorrow’s needs. Design first approach, at its core, aligns perfectly with India’s development ethos – it is inclusive, problem-solving, and forward-looking. From climate-resilient infrastructure and sustainable mobility to affordable housing and circular manufacturing, the focus is shifting from creating at scale to creating with foresight.
Conclusion: A design-first approach to a developed India
India’s greatest opportunity lies not in following global design practices but in defining them. By embracing AI- powered innovation, cloud-enabled, data driven collaboration, and a design-first mindset, India can architect the systems, solutions, and infrastructure that will power its transition into a developed, equitable, and sustainable nation.
The author is the Vice President, Autodesk India and SAARC
(Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the writer. They do not reflect the views of www.business-standard.com or the Business Standard newspaper)
