Mr. Ashok Mondal is an Alumni of Visva-Bharati and NID Ahmedabad. Prior to his appointment as Director, he served as a faculty member at the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad contributing to the academic disciplines of Lifestyle Accessory Design, Universal Design.

Mr. Mondal’s academic interests include Sustainability and Design, Material and Manufacturing Processes, Form Studies, Design Process, and Universal Design Thinking.

He also worked as Designer and Faculty at the State Institute for Development of Arts and Crafts (SIDAC) in Odisha, where he led initiatives in product development, curriculum design, and artisan training, significantly contributing to advancing regional craftsmanship.

Mr. Mondal contributed to the MSME Design Clinic Scheme as a team member with an extensive fieldwork component. He was also part of the Core Group to support the academic mentoring of NID AP at its initial stages.

He currently leads the Project for the Development of the Indian Footwear and Leather Industry under the Design Studio Setup Scheme of the DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Mr. Mondal’s area of research interest includes evolution of form in traditional arts and crafts. He believes that design research can contribute to uplifting indigenous design to a global platform while honoring traditional practices and design philosophies.

A strong advocate for the pivotal role of NID Ahmedabad in nation-building, Mr. Mondal believes in a ‘nation-first’ philosophy, aiming to position design at the heart of this mission. Inspired by the educational philosophies of Swami Vivekananda, he is passionate about mentoring the next generation of designers and promoting design as a strategic tool for societal progress and sustainable development.

Mr. Mondal is committed to fostering collaborations with national and international institutions for promoting Indian Design on global platforms.

Hailing from a small village in Rural Bengal, with humble beginnings, he believes in education as a means for social and economic transformation of individuals and society. He strives to work towards a practical design philosophy that deals with the grounded social and economic realities of the Nation.