I find it reductive to label myself just a "Designer" or "Artist" or "Technologist", even though the world calls it many names. I am an explorer of the world and I have often felt I seldom fit into disciplines!
For the substantial part of my work, I found solace in research; both as an academic and a leisure pursuit (My occasional literary outbursts here). I have an inherent appetence for objects that change shape and morph: a minuscule (or cosmic) modulation that can change any physical behavior and completely alter the way we perceive form, function and matter. I partly owe it to the child-like wonder of witnessing a magician bend a spoon (Spoiler alert, it's a Shape Memory Alloy) or to the fragile curiosity of digging deeper into what makes up our world. I drive this exploration through parametric and computational design methodologies, bridging the physical-digital realm of tactility and tangible ways of exploring modular, responsive and actuating mechanisms; By utilizing scientific research and industrial fabrication methods to address colossal concerns of ecology, planetary health and extreme environment conditions.
Sagan, Skłodowska & Popova make up the very being of my cerebral existence. Yeadon & Ko guide my mé·tier doctrine. And this is my very own overview effect.
For the substantial part of my work, I found solace in research; both as an academic and a leisure pursuit (My occasional literary outbursts here). I have an inherent appetence for objects that change shape and morph: a minuscule (or cosmic) modulation that can change any physical behavior and completely alter the way we perceive form, function and matter. I partly owe it to the child-like wonder of witnessing a magician bend a spoon (Spoiler alert, it's a Shape Memory Alloy) or to the fragile curiosity of digging deeper into what makes up our world. I drive this exploration through parametric and computational design methodologies, bridging the physical-digital realm of tactility and tangible ways of exploring modular, responsive and actuating mechanisms; By utilizing scientific research and industrial fabrication methods to address colossal concerns of ecology, planetary health and extreme environment conditions.
Sagan, Skłodowska & Popova make up the very being of my cerebral existence. Yeadon & Ko guide my mé·tier doctrine. And this is my very own overview effect.
EDUCATION
Master of Industrial Design, 2024-2026
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Computing Fabrics, fibers@mit with Yoel Fink, 2025
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Collegiate Teaching Certificate in Art & Design, 2025-2026
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Bachelor of Design, Fashion & Apparel Design, 2016-2020
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar, India
PUBLICATION
Agrawal, S., & Ko, J. (2026). Degree of Anisotropy: A Textile Epistemology of Making.
Conference Proceeding, Design Research Society 2026, Edinburgh, UK
Mohapatra, L., Saha, G., & Agrawal, S. (2020). Design Intervention Through Permaculture and Social Change: Case Studies from Selected Indian Farming Sectors.
Conference Proceeding, the 22nd Annual International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI), Kent, Ohio, USA
ACCOLADES
Awarded, RISD Graduate Commons Grant Fellowship, 2026
Awarded, RISD ID, Marc Harrison Fund, 2026
Awarded, RISD ID, Marc Harrison Fund, 2025
Awarded, RISD ID, Health Fund, 2025
Awarded, RISD Global Wintersession Travel Scholarship (Biodesign NYC), 2025
Finalist, Hyundai Motor Group x RISD Research Collaborative Biomimicry Seminar, 2024
Awarded, RISD Graduate Fellowship, AY 2024-26
Client Appreciation Award, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) India, 2022
Above & Beyond Award, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) India, 2022
Spot/Good Job Award, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) India, 2022
Finalist, 11th Young India Challenge, 2020
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant at the Virtual Textiles Research Group, Textile Department, RISD
Providence, RI (USA) | July 2025 – Present
Providence, RI (USA) | July 2025 – Present
Research Assistant to Peter Yeadon, Atmospheric Water Generator (Somerson Sustainability Innovation Fund)
Providence, RI (USA) | September 2025 – Present
Research Assistant to Charlie Canon, Learning in Practice (Somerson Sustainability Innovation Fund)
Providence, RI (USA) | September 2025 – Present
Graduate Assistant at the Arthur Loeb Design-Science Studio at the RISD Fleet Library
Providence, RI (USA) | September 2025 – Present
Research Assistant to Charlie Canon, Learning in Practice (Somerson Sustainability Innovation Fund)
Providence, RI (USA) | September 2025 – Present
Graduate Assistant at the Arthur Loeb Design-Science Studio at the RISD Fleet Library
Providence, RI (USA) | February 2025 – September 2025
Graduate Assistant (Biomaterials) at the Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab
Graduate Assistant (Biomaterials) at the Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab
Providence, RI (USA) | September 2024 – May 2025
Research Consultant for the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag Research & Documentation of Cuttack Silver Filigree – Chandi Tarakasi
Research Consultant for the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag Research & Documentation of Cuttack Silver Filigree – Chandi Tarakasi
On behalf of the Directorate of Handicrafts & Cottage Industries (Govt. of Odisha, India)
Bhubaneswar (India) | October 2020 – January 2021
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant to Peter Yeadon & Jonathan Knowles, Catalyst Studio
Providence, RI (USA) | September 2025 – December 2025
Teaching Assistant to Yoel Fink & Anais Missakian, Computing Fabrics (MIT)
Providence, RI (USA) | September 2025 – December 2025
Teaching Assistant to Persephone Allen, Design Histories
Providence, RI (USA) | February 2025 – May 2025
Teaching Assistant to Megan Valanidas, Material Matters
Providence, RI (USA) | September 2024 – December 2024
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Product Designer at thinkbridge Software Pvt. Ltd.
Pune (India) | July 2023 – July 2024
UX Designer (Associate) at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) India
Gurugram (India) | June 2021 – July 2023
Communication Design Consultant at Save Missing Girls
Remote (India) | July 2023 – September 2023
Graphic Design Coordinator at DeTour Odisha
Bhubaneswar (India) | January 2021 – May 2021
Research Consultant at Arvora
Bhubaneswar (India) | October 2020 – January 2021
Apparel Design Intern at Ka-Sha India
Pune (India) | June 2019 - August 2019
Graphic Design Consultant at Nazariya
Remote (India) | June 2019 - August 2019
Graphic Design Intern at Blackboard Radio
Remote (India) | September 2018 - November 2018
CERTIFICATIONS
Google UX Professional Certificate
March 2023
Design Thinking for the Greater Good
University of Virginia | May 2023
Human-Centered Design
UC San Diego | May, 2023
Bhubaneswar (India) | October 2020 – January 2021
Apparel Design Intern at Ka-Sha India
Pune (India) | June 2019 - August 2019
Graphic Design Consultant at Nazariya
Remote (India) | June 2019 - August 2019
Graphic Design Intern at Blackboard Radio
Remote (India) | September 2018 - November 2018
CERTIFICATIONS
Google UX Professional Certificate
March 2023
Design Thinking for the Greater Good
University of Virginia | May 2023
Human-Centered Design
UC San Diego | May, 2023