From September 28th to 30th, 2023, the Leela Bhartiya City in Bengaluru became a melting pot of creativity, innovation, and human-centered thinking as UX India 2023 brought together the brightest minds in design, technology, and strategy. Representing ATLAS SkillTech University, I had the opportunity to participate in this three-day immersive experience that explored the evolving relationship between UX and AI.
Day 1: Workshops on AI and Design Empathy
The conference opened with parallel workshops that bridged design, technology, and human behavior. Sessions by leading organizations such as Publicis Sapient, Intuit, IBM, and Verizon explored topics ranging from ethics and empathy in UX to enterprise design thinking for AI.
I attended “Prompt Right: Strategies for Designing Effective AI Responses” by Intuit, which focused on crafting precise prompts to harness the true potential of AI tools like ChatGPT. The afternoon session, “Navigating Complexity with Custom Games” by ServiceNow, turned design challenges into engaging, gamified problem-solving exercises—an inspiring approach to collaborative design thinking.
The day concluded with networking pods, where professionals from across the globe shared insights, discussed design trends, and built meaningful connections.
Day 2: Case Studies, Lightning Talks, and Thought Leadership
Day two was a deep dive into applied UX across emerging technologies. The morning’s case studies showcased innovative applications—from AR/VR in Web3 by Primobots to AI-driven OTT personalization by Rajat Agarwal of To The New. His session on mapping OTT content through localized AI insights offered a fascinating look into adaptive media experiences.
The lightning talks highlighted how AI can amplify human creativity. Trivikram Annamalai (Google) spoke about inclusive AI design—emphasizing unbiased, cost-effective, and ethical systems. Meanwhile, Diptarup Sarbadhikari (Flipkart) discussed large-scale visualization using Generative AI, revealing how data can inform elegant design.
TED-style sessions provided profound reflections on the evolving designer’s role. Jasmeet Singh Sethi (Snowmountain.ai) reminded us that “designing for AI means designing for the people around the user too”—a holistic rethinking of user-centered design. Mohan Krishnaraj (Infosys) added another dimension by showing how storytelling and AI can coalesce to create humanized, multi-sensory experiences.
The day concluded with a keynote by Susan Hura, Chief Design Officer at Kore.ai, who spoke on Conversational AI as a bleeding-edge technology, accelerated by generative AI and large language models.
Day 3: Leadership Conversations and the Road Ahead
The final day focused on leadership, education, and the evolving landscape of UX. During the closing keynote, Bapu Kaladhar, founder of UX India, emphasized empowering women in technology and deepening collaboration between academia and industry.
In a proud moment, I shared ATLAS SkillTech University’s initiatives in shaping a future-ready UX curriculum that integrates emergent technologies, ensuring our students remain both design-savvy and technically proficient.
The leadership panel featured:
- Laura Licari (Publicis Sapient) on the value of intentional friction in guiding user behavior,
- Andrew Pendleton (Verizon) on design systems as the backbone of consistency and trust, and
- Troy Azmoon (ServiceNow) on the long-term business impact of good design decisions.
Each session reinforced a key idea—design is not just about creating interfaces but crafting experiences that drive sustainable growth and human connection.
Key Takeaways
UX India 2023 was more than a conference—it was a reflection of how design, AI, and empathy intersect to define the future of digital experience.
The exposure to diverse viewpoints—from educators to tech leaders—underscored how collaboration, experimentation, and inclusivity will shape the next decade of UX.
For design educators and students alike, events like UX India serve as powerful catalysts for growth—helping us stay connected to global trends while keeping our creative curiosity alive.