My Journey in Design: From a Curious Mind to a Global Design Visionary

If you had asked the younger version of me—scribbling ideas on the margins of notebooks at Jnana Prabodhini—where I saw myself in 20 years, I wouldn’t have had an answer as clear as the journey that eventually unfolded. But what I did have was curiosity. Boundless, restless, and relentless curiosity. That, paired with an innate love for aesthetics and functionality, laid the foundation of my life in design.

I’ve always believed that design is not just about how things look. It’s about how they feel, how they function, and most importantly—how they impact people. That belief has fueled every chapter of my life, from my early education at MIT and Strate École de Design in Paris to working under some of the most brilliant minds in the world of design—Emmanuel Cairo, Philippe LoPresti, Claus Peter Speidel, Jaques Dolle, and the iconic Karim Rashid.

Working at Karim Rashid’s studio in New York was nothing short of transformational. Being the only Indian designer in that environment and contributing to projects for global giants like Alessi, Pepsi, Umbra, Ecojun, and Shiffa gave me both the confidence and conviction to dream bigger.

I took that dream back with me to India and founded the Dominix Group—a global design conglomerate that today has its footprint across India, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. As the Founder and Chairman of Dominix and Managing Director of Dominix Global Design Private Limited, my vision was clear: to build a practice that delivers Holistic Experience Design—blending Industrial Design, Brand Strategy, Digital Transformation, and Spatial Experiences into one seamless whole.

Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of designing for brands that are household names—Lamborghini, Calvin Klein, Mercedes-Benz, Johnson & Johnson, L&T, Mitsubishi, Siemens, Rolex, and many more. And with parallel verticals like Ace Space Design LLP, Dominix Digital LLC USA, Siyon Services Pvt. Ltd., and my signature label “Dhruva Paknikar”, I’ve tried to create platforms that answer different calls from the world of design.

Accolades followed: from France Furniture Awards to Q Awards in London, Best of Best AKDF in South Korea, the Lexus Design Awards finalist nomination, and the Design Icon Award for India’s best young lifestyle designer. Each recognition felt like a reminder that the path we were walking had purpose.

But it hasn’t just been about awards or client names. It’s also about the stories—the 500+ brands and products we’ve designed, each with its own journey, many of which are now thriving in international markets. Or projects like Temptation Cancun, the world’s best adult resort, which we co-created as a team of four. Or my passion project, Abled Labs, the world’s first design-led NGO focused on creating bespoke solutions for the specially-abled.

What has truly fulfilled me is the chance to give back—whether by mentoring over 200 startups or teaching at institutes like MIT School of Business, VIT, JKKN, and being a juror for design platforms like ADI-PDF. I’ve had the honor of being on the Industrial Advisory Boards of Vishwakarma University and MIT World Peace University, becoming their youngest board advisor. These opportunities aren’t just roles—they are responsibilities.

And as I continue to build projects like Chitale Vision Park, Strikin Experience, Shivsrushti, and Temecula Ranch Experience with my 40-member cross-discipline team, I realize that I’m not just designing spaces or products—I’m designing experiences, and sometimes even belief systems.

Speaking at TEDx, engaging with platforms like ET 30 Under 30, YourStory, and World Talent Economy Forum, I’ve tried to share one simple idea: Design is not a tool, it’s a language. And if we speak it with honesty and empathy, it can reshape the world.

I still have a long way to go. New dreams, new challenges, and new stories to tell. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
Design isn’t a career. It’s a calling. And I’m grateful every day that I answered it.