MAM
Indian design should have its own identity: Michael Johnson at KDY 2016
JAIPUR: After building a functional formula or template, creative minds often challenge themselves by breaking out of the same mould. Michael Johnson, who set up the London-based design consultancy Johnson Banks, is a follower of this school of thought, because ‘why not?’
After giving a good 10 years to designing for big name brands, Johnson had taken on the lack of proper branding in non-for-profit sector, and asked himself if design solutions can actually make a tangible difference in the field.
Addressing a room full of graphic designers, artistes and branding professions at day one of Kyoorius Design Yatra 2016, Johnson asked if designs can really make a difference or it is a self satisfying and misplaced expectation.
Johnson then went on to answer the question with a glimpse of his team’s works since they started off.
The problem, Johnson said, lay in how graphic designers and advertising agencies handle non-for-profit work. “They treat it the same way old Catholic churches would treat indulgences: a little act of good will for their smooth sailing to heaven, or to pacify their conscience. They don’t do it to actually make it work.”
After familiarising the audience with the idea of design solutions for non-for-profit organisations that actually helped them raise significant funds, Johnson titillated them with the idea of open source rebranding – to the point of sharing their design’s first draft in a public domain to be criticised by the world at large.
For those who don’t know Johnson and his team at Johnson Banks has been invading many trade publishers’ headlines for its partnership with Mozilla to rebrand the company’s identity on a public domain.
Later, speaking to indiantelevision.com, Johnson shared he had great expectation from the Indian design community to carve a unique identity; and a part of it brings him back to Kyoorius Design Yatra.
Having participated in Kyoorius Designyatra first in its 9th edition, Johnson feels it has grown a great deal over the years “A proper design conference was very much a new concept in India back then. It was more of ‘famous designers presenting their works and the Indian counter parts lauding. It was obviously very appreciated but there was very little interaction, and engagement from the audience. And here we are, almost 10 years later and the property has grown so much. It has a clear theme that resonates very well with me. Instead of ‘here’s what I do’ presentation, speakers can talk about why they do what they do,” Johnson shared, adding that from his last year’s experience as a judge of Kyoorius Design Awards 2015, he could gauge that the design industry is being seriously taken in the country.
But it’s not quite there yet, Johnson admitted.
“It’s hard to track Indian designs in other markets. You hear big names from India in thr advertising circle but it gets a little tricky from design perspective,” he said.
“I have often questioned why Indian design should be reflective of western works. Why can’t they do their own unique branding when India has such a vibrant culture to draw inspiration from? There is no need to copy the trends that the UK and the USA have been doing for the past 50 years,” he simply stated. Giving Indian designers the benefit of doubt he added that it could be the result of western works dominating the design industry for years and becoming a benchmark for the young Indian professionals joining in now.
“I strongly believe that Indian design should have its own identity, much like the Japanese who have made a staunch distinction in their work that is world apart. I have started to see someone of that since the last time I was here, thus looking forward to the winning entries of this year’s Kyoorius Design Awards,” Johnson added in parted.
Digital
Maharashtra partners OpenAI, Sarvam AI to boost state’s tech ecosystem
State to set up dedicated AI department and roll out frontier technology policies
MUMBAI: Maharashtra is set to become a primary hub for artificial intelligence following the 2026–27 Budget announcement. chief minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that the state has signed letters of intent with global giant OpenAI and national pioneer Sarvam AI to integrate advanced technology into the state’s economic and administrative framework.
The collaboration with OpenAI and Sarvam AI marks a shift towards adopting cutting-edge generative tools for governance. These partnerships, alongside MoUs with IIT Bombay and BharatGen, are designed to create a robust ecosystem for research and innovation. The move signals the state’s intent to bring together global technology leaders and domestic research institutions to accelerate the development and adoption of artificial intelligence across sectors.
Regarding the strategic intent of these alliances, chief minister Fadnavis stated, “With the objective of making the State’s Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence sector dynamic, letters of intent have been signed with globally and nationally reputed institutions like OpenAI and Sarvam AI to facilitate the Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence sector in the state.”
To manage these high-level partnerships and ensure effective implementation, the government is establishing an independent department of electronics, Information technology, and artificial intelligence. The new department will function with a dedicated commissionerate and specialised technical manpower, enabling faster decision-making, improved coordination, and stronger accountability in executing technology-driven initiatives.
The state also plans to introduce special policies aimed at strengthening its position in emerging technology sectors. These policies will focus on advancing Maharashtra as a global hub for frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, drones, autonomous vehicles, and deep technology.
According to the chief minister, “The state government plans to introduce special policies to develop Maharashtra as a world-class hub for frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, drones, autonomous vehicles and deep technology.”
Artificial intelligence is already being integrated into the state’s governance framework. A collaboration with Microsoft has led to the development of MahaCrimeOS AI, a platform that has reportedly reduced police investigation times by 80 per cent across 23 police stations in Nagpur. The initiative demonstrates how AI-driven tools can significantly enhance law enforcement efficiency and data analysis capabilities.
The government is also working toward building a fully digitised administrative ecosystem. Plans are underway to achieve complete digitisation of land transactions and implement electronic office systems across departments, paving the way for a paperless government. In addition, a pilot project will introduce AI-powered solutions in 75 selected villages to improve infrastructure, governance efficiency, and overall quality of life in rural areas.
To strengthen digital infrastructure and data protection, the state also intends to establish an advanced data centre in Nagpur. This facility will be designed to safeguard sensitive and sovereign information while supporting large-scale digital services and government platforms.
These initiatives form part of Maharashtra’s broader cyber security and digital transformation strategy aligned with the Viksit Maharashtra 2047 vision. By partnering with global and domestic technology leaders such as OpenAI and Sarvam AI, the state aims to build a secure, future-ready digital ecosystem that enhances citizen services, supports innovation, and strengthens India’s position in emerging technologies.
