Faculty at School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Singanapalli Balaram

Singanapalli Balaram

Distinguished Visiting Professor


Contact Information

  • 1966 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
  • 1970 PG, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India
  • 1971 Doctoral Studies, Royal College of Art, England

  • 2019 – 2020 Founding Dean, Aram Center for Arts, Design and Environmental Studies (ACADES)
  • 2004 – 2018 Founding Dean, DJ Academy of Design, India
  • 1969 – 2004 Faculty and Chairman of Education, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

  • Universal Design, Design Thinking, Design Ethics, Story Telling Techniques Telling Techniques

  • Co-founded S.I.D.I(Society of industrial designers of India) in 1980.
  • Established “Craft Design Center” as NID-campus 2 in Ahmedabad for young men from craft families all over India – 1983.
  • As part of 9 experts, authored the UDIP(Universal Design India principles) which will apply specifically to India’s socio-cultural background.
  • Founded the Craft Development Institute in Kashmir (2003), with a resolutory vision to combat the social complexities through Design practice and education.
  • Four of his inventions have been patented by NID.

  • Recipient of the honorary fellowship of the Society of Industrial Designers of India 
  • Invited member of the advisory board of ‘Design Issues”, U.S.A.
  • Ron Mace international award for Universal Design.
  • Helen Keller award for outstanding contribution for people with disabilities.
  • UNIDO-ICSID award for Design for Development

Prof. Singanapalli Balaram pursued Doctoral Studies at the Royal College of Art, England, completed in 1971. He currently serves as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Shiv Nadar University. Previously, he was the Founding Dean of the Aram Center for Arts, Design, and Environmental Studies (ACADES) from 2019 to 2020 and the Founding Dean of DJ Academy of Design in India from 2004 to 2018. Prior to that, from 1969 to 2004, he was a faculty member and Chairman of Education at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. His research interests include universal design, design thinking, design ethics, and storytelling techniques. Among his achievements, Singanapalli Balaram co-founded the Society of Industrial Designers of India (S.I.D.I) in 1980 and received the honorary fellowship of the Society of Industrial Designers of India. He is an invited member of the advisory board of 'Design Issues' in the USA. He has been honored with the Ron Mace International Award for Universal Design and the Helen Keller Award for outstanding contributions to people with disabilities.

  • Universal Design Handbook, McGraw-Hill, 2018  
  • Thinking Design’, SAGE Publications, 2013
  • Design Quotes, published by NID Ahmedabad, 2001

Chapters in Major Publications:

  • The Reunion and other stories (2003) published by National School Design
  • Cotton (2008) published by Best seller & Upasana Foundation
  • Universal Design Hand Book (2011) published by Mcgraw Hill
  • Design: Critical and primary sources (2015) published by Bloomsbury, New York

  • Invited speaker at the 2nd International Conference for Universal Design in KYOTO, under the theme: the North-South problem / Education, (2006) hosted by the International Association for Universal Design (IAUD)
  • Invited to the third IAUD conference, 2010 at Hamamatsu