profile
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I currently work as a Senior Researcher with Madeira Tecnopolo on the Madeira Life project in Funchal, Portugal. The project deals with ubiquitous computing, social networks and location based services in the context of tourism and culture. It was initiated by the Laboratory for Usage-centered Software Engineering (Lab:USE) in collaboration with Madeira Tecnopolo, ZON Madeira, and Carnegie Mellon University. I am also pursuing a PhD at the University of Madeira; my research interests cover social networks, interactive art and social interaction design in the context of public places. I taught Design Methods to second year undergraduate design students at University of Madeira in Spring, 2010.
I worked with IxDA (Team Conan) as an interaction designer for redesigning their website / infrastructure. My recent projects before moving to Portugal include interaction / visual design for an IPTV application for a telecom major and a music portal for a music / film distributor based in India / USA.
I worked with Philips Design as Deputy Manager / Senior Interaction Designer in India and Hong Kong till December 2008. My work involved designing user experiences for portable media players, digital photo frames, electronic home appliances and desktop applications. I worked with D.E. Shaw & Co. for a brief period as UI Designer before moving to Philips Design.
I have two post graduate degrees; MBA (Marketing) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Communication Design (Specialization in User Interface Design) from the National Institute of Design, India. My final project was with Hewlett Packard Labs where I researched on ‘Cross cultural implications on User Research in India’. The Gesture based Keyboard (GKB) usability studies formed the backdrop for my research, as part of which I interviewed / observed 60 users in Bangalore and Lucknow.
Prior to joining the design school, I freelanced and had been running my own web design studio for three years. My role covered design, project management and client interaction with portals, websites and interactive CD-ROMs as end-deliverables. I worked in the publishing industry (India Today magazine) for 2 years in advertising sales before starting my own studio.
I served in the Executive Body of AIESEC Ahmedabad during my college days, handling alumni relations and a training programme series christened SAVE (Skills, Attitudes, Values and Ethics). I left AIESEC to focus on higher education after co-founding AIESEC Baroda as the Project Coordinator appointed by AIESEC India National Committee.
I love reading, listening to music, playing harmonica, watching films, motor biking, cooking, travelling, socializing and writing. I like playing chess, scrabble, table tennis and a host of PC / PS2 games including Age of Empires, Need for Speed and God of War. I am a compulsive music hunter and occasionally DJ / VJ in clubs in Madeira, Portugal.