Usha Nehru Patel

Prof. Usha Nehru Patel is currently serving as Director – Academics at Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD). Usha Patel is an esteemed academic with over three decades of dedicated experience in the advancement of art and design education. Holding dual Masters’ degrees in Painting and Printmaking from Fine Arts, along with a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education from Nottingham University, United Kingdom, she embarked on her professional journey as a lecturer at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Faculty of Architecture, MS University Baroda. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in shaping curricula to meet the dynamic demands of the design industry, having created numerous design courses nationwide, spanning Communication Design, Interior Architecture and Design, Fashion Design, and various specialized degree programmes. Beyond her role as an educator, she has exhibited an unwavering passion for Indian craft, working tirelessly to uplift the craft industry and improve the livelihoods of Indian craftsmen. Her commitment extends to researching indigenous craft development and sustainable practices within the country. Notable among her achievements is the leadership role she assumed in the Delhi Metro Uniform Design project, where she successfully designed uniforms for all eighteen categories of the Delhi Metro. Patel’s commendable efforts have led her to embark on ambitious international projects, such as the ‘Sustainability and Equitable Development: Interventions in India’s Rural Craft Industry,’ in collaboration with Northumbria University in the United Kingdom and Dastkar, an Indian craft NGO. Additionally, she was personally invited by the Ministry of Oceanography, New Delhi, to conceptualise and visualise an exhibition on Oceanography at the prestigious India International Centre. In academia, she has made significant contributions through her published works, with notable publications such as ‘Extending the Frontiers of Visual Learning’ and ‘Designing an Educational Experience of Relevance to Real World Situations’. Her research encompasses a wide array of topics, including ‘Juxtaposition of Art & Design’, ‘A Directional Study towards Empowerment – Finding a New Horizon’, ‘Design for Need VS Need for Design’, ‘Embroidery as an Expression’, and ‘Changing Trends in Art Education for Children’. Patel’s enduring dedication to the advancement of art and design education, coupled with her passionate advocacy for Indian crafts and sustainable practices, establishes her as a distinguished scholar and leader in her field.