Sanmitra Chitte

Sanmitra Chitte is a Polymath & a Design Strategist. With over 24 years of professional experience, she has built a diverse career spanning design, design thinking, innovation capacity building, business creation, and design management. Known for her optimistic and future-oriented approach, she believes that design is a key differentiator for any product, service, or institution. Her work reflects a strong belief that design thinking can shape innovation and influence the development of future technologies. She describes herself as a polymath, drawing from multiple disciplines and areas of expertise to create holistic solutions and perspectives.

Before moving into academia, Sanmitra established her own design studio in partnership, where she worked on projects in graphic design, branding, and exhibition design. This practical industry experience later informed her academic and leadership roles in design education. She eventually joined the Strategic Design Management program at the National Institute of Design, further strengthening her expertise in design leadership and strategy.

Sanmitra has a strong artistic inclination alongside her professional achievements. She is an accomplished calligrapher and has showcased her work at prominent platforms such as the India Art Fair and India Design ID. In addition to participating in art exhibitions, she has also curated art shows, demonstrating her commitment to promoting art and design in various forms. Her creative practice complements her academic and professional interests in design thinking and innovation.

Her educational background is notably diverse and multidisciplinary, reflecting her belief that broad-based learning contributes to holistic knowledge. She has studied across multiple domains, including Pharmacy, Animation, Graphic Design, Design Management, Innovation Capacity Building, and Service Design. She is also an IIM research scholar, continuing to expand her academic engagement with management and design-related research. In addition, she is a trained interviewer and analyst in ZMET (Zaltman’s Metaphor Elicitation Technique), a research methodology used to uncover deep consumer insights and subconscious perceptions.

Sanmitra strongly advocates for the role of Design Management in the management education landscape. She believes that as technology advances and industries evolve, design will increasingly become central to innovation and strategy. She defines Design Management as “Design Facilitation,” emphasizing the role of design leaders in enabling collaboration, problem-solving, and strategic thinking across organizations. To promote conversations around design leadership, she has conducted more than 100 discussions on design management and related themes through her Instagram platform.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Sanmitra is actively engaged in giving back to society through various voluntary and leadership roles. She served as the Founding Dean of the School of Business at the World University of Design for almost a decade, where she contributed to shaping academic programs and interdisciplinary learning environments. She has also been elected President of the Delhi Chapter of the Association of Designers of India (ADI) for two terms, reflecting the trust and recognition she holds within the design community.

Her contributions extend to national initiatives as well. She is a mentor with the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), supporting young innovators and encouraging entrepreneurial thinking. Additionally, she is a member of the National Committee of Design at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), where she contributes to discussions and initiatives aimed at strengthening the role of design in industry and policy.

Sanmitra continues to engage with the design and innovation community through conversations and knowledge sharing. She regularly hosts discussions with professionals in the fields of design strategy, design management, sustainability, and innovation on social media platforms. Through these interactions, she promotes dialogue, mentorship, and knowledge exchange within the global design ecosystem.

Overall, Sanmitra Chitte represents a blend of designer, educator, analyst, innovation enabler, and design leader. She is passionate about empathy-driven design, interdisciplinary learning, and empowering others—particularly women—to break barriers and pursue leadership roles. Her work reflects a commitment to fostering innovation, strengthening design education, and building communities that use design as a tool for positive change.

She is currently the Head of International Partnerships at BITS Design, BITS Pilani, India.