Prof. Bhaskar Bhatt

Prof. Bhaskar Bhatt is an accomplished design leader with over 22 years of experience in institution building, teaching, and action research. As the Director of his previous organization, he oversees undergraduate and master’s programs, ensuring the curriculum aligns with current industry trends. Prof. Bhaskar is dedicated to equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in the evolving design industry. Serving on the CII National Committee for Design (2022-24) and as an advisory member for Gujarat's Student Startup Policy, Prof. Bhaskar showcases his collaborative prowess and strategic vision. His leadership roles at NID Ahmedabad, IIT Gandhinagar, Atlas Skilltech University (ISDI Parsons) Mumbai and Anant National University have bolstered his reputation, with 25+ patent filings marking his innovative impact. Prof. Bhaskar's research in affordable med-tech innovation and public health systems design includes leading maternal and neonatal health projects with Johns Hopkins University, tested in Kenya, Nepal, and India. An alumnus of NID Ahmedabad and IIM Lucknow, his academic and professional excellence is further demonstrated through board positions in government organizations, incubators, and universities. Recognized for his publications and speaking engagements at international conferences, Prof. Bhaskar combines academic rigor, strategic thinking, and execution excellence, committed to empowering future designers to address global challenges.

Before joining UPES, Prof. Bhaskar Bhatt was Director of the School of Design at Anant National University and Associate Dean at ATLAS SkillTech University. He also served as a Doctoral Researcher at Lincoln University, New Zealand and as an Assistant Professor at IIT Gandhinagar Additionally, he led Product Design at the National Institute of Design. Prof. Bhatt has entrepreneurial experience as Founder and Director of Qmulus Design Studio and Crevolve Design Technologies.

Prof. Bhaskar's research interests lie in affordable med-tech innovation and public health systems design. With Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, he has led innovation projects on maternal and neonatal health with clinical testing in Kenya, Nepal, and India. His expertise in this area has been instrumental in developing solutions that have the potential to impact millions of lives. He is a nominated member on the women’s health technology committee at FIGO (Global body of Obstetrics and gynaecologists).

Prof. Bhaskar's teaching philosophy is grounded in the understanding that it is his responsibility to create a climate that supports and encourages student learning. He has incorporated elements of “flipping the classroom” into his courses, such as pre-reading assignments. Students are required to read assigned sections of the textbook and other resources before class and complete a short quiz. The quiz material is not repeated in class; instead, it serves as the foundation for in-class assignments where students work with real data and situations. By engaging with authentic problems, students transition from novice to expert thinking. He is committed to empowering the next generation of designers & innovators to create meaningful and impactful solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.

Prof. Bhaskar specializes in a diverse range of subjects, including Advanced Industrial Design, New Product Development Engineering, Strategic Design Management, Design for Med-Tech and Healthcare, History of Industrial Design, Product Ergonomics, Entrepreneurship & Innovation through Design Thinking, Systems Design, and Strategic Business Fundamentals.

In 2015, a research project funded by the Department of Conservation, New Zealand, and SOLA, Lincoln University, New Zealand (USD 15,000/INR 9,50,000), focused on Design Modeling of Anthropogenic Carbon in Vulnerable Ecosystems, examining the economic implications of strategic sustainability policies and the impact of tourism on New Zealand's biodiversity. In 2014, as the Principal Investigator for CEEMA: Cloud-enabled Enterprise Mobility for ASHAs, funded by the Centre for Biomedical Engineering, IIT Gandhinagar (USD 40,000/INR 28,00,000), the project examined the feasibility of using frugally engineered handsets with clip-on sensors for real-time data collection and analysis in low-resource settings, aiming to improve health data visualization and policymaking. The same year, as a Co-Investigator in the Technology meets the Arts project, funded by The British Council UK (GBP 18,000/INR 15,00,000), a collaborative effort between IIT Gandhinagar and the University of Northampton focused on social innovation in the crafts sector, culminating in an exhibition and documentary films. In 2012, as the Principal Investigator for a project funded by the Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology & Obstetrics (USD 5,000), the research assessed the functionality of ePartogram prototypes as a labor monitoring tool in low-resource settings. In 2011, as a Co-Investigator for a project funded by the National Business Design Incubator, NID, India (USD 3,000), the development of a portable oxytocin transporter aimed to address the "last mile connectivity" issue in rural India, ensuring the efficacy of oxytocin to reduce maternal mortality due to postpartum hemorrhage.

Prof. Bhaskar's contributions to the field of design have been recognized through his publications and invitations to speak at several international and domestic conferences and symposiums. As a C-suite leader, Prof. Bhaskar brings to the table a rare combination of academic rigor, strategic thinking, and execution excellence. He is committed to empowering the next generation of designers &innovators to create meaningful and impactful solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.

bhaskar.bhatt@ddn.upes.ac.in