IMS DIA Faculty
Prof. (Dr.) M. K. V. Nair
- Fashion Design
- Research
- Design Education Leadership
With over 21 years of academic, research, and leadership experience, Prof. (Dr.) M. K. V. Nair stands at the intersection of design thinking, research excellence, and institutional leadership.
A seasoned academician and researcher, Dr. Nair has made significant contributions to fashion design research, craft studies, design education, and material innovation. His work spans Scopus-indexed and UGC-listed journals, multiple national and international publications, funded research projects, and a Government of India–registered design patent.
As Dean of the School of Design, he leads curriculum strategy, research culture, and academic innovation at IMS DIA—ensuring students receive an education that is rigorous, relevant, and globally aligned.
Highlights
- 13+ patents filed / published / granted
- PI on funded research projects worth ₹70+ lakhs
- Author of multiple books and international chapters
- Speaker and resource person at IIT Delhi, CII, Amity, SGT University
- Research across fashion, sportswear design, craft empowerment & sustainability
At IMS DIA, Dr. Nair mentors students to think critically, design responsibly, and build careers rooted in both innovation and purpose.
Mrs. Ritu Gulati
- Fine Jewellery
- Retail Strategy
- Gemology
With over two decades of experience in jewellery education and industry practice, Mrs. Ritu Gulati is a cornerstone of jewellery design at IMS DIA.
She combines creative design, gemological knowledge, and retail strategy, giving students a 360-degree understanding of the jewellery ecosystem—from concept to consumer.
Certified by GIA and trained in retail management (Germany), she has authored foundational learning material on jewellery history and design.
Highlights
- 45+ years combined academic & industry experience
- GIA-certified jewellery professional
- Author of History of Jewellery
- Expertise in precious jewellery & market readiness
Her mentorship prepares students for luxury brands, independent labels, and global jewellery markets.
Ms. Apoorva Vijh
- Product Design
- Luxury Manufacturing
- Industry Practice
Ms. Apoorva Vijh brings real-world luxury industry expertise into the classroom, having worked with iconic brands such as Titan, PC Jewellers, and Imaginarium.
Her teaching bridges design ideation, material intelligence, prototyping, and market alignment, helping students understand how luxury products are designed, manufactured, and positioned globally.
Highlights
- Industry experience with India’s top luxury brands
- Expertise in premium materials and production workflows
- Strong focus on market-ready design and craftsmanship
At IMS DIA, she equips students to design for high-value, high-impact luxury markets.
Ms. Tanya Gupta
- Architecture
- Interiors
- Sustainable Development
An architect, academic, and researcher with 38+ years of combined academic and professional experience, Ms. Tanya Gupta brings a global perspective to interior design education.
Holding degrees in Architecture, Architecture (Master’s), and Sustainable Development, she has taught and practiced across India and Singapore, and published extensively in Scopus and ASI-indexed journals.
Her work explores urban spaces, sustainability, adaptive reuse, and cultural context, enabling students to design interiors that are environmentally responsible and socially meaningful.
Highlights
- 6 international journal publications (Scopus/ASI indexed)
- Book chapter on adaptive reuse of industrial buildings
- Research presenter at international architecture conferences
- Expert in architecture-interior integration & sustainability
At IMS DIA, she mentors students to design spaces that are intelligent, humane, and future-ready.
Ms. Sikha Agarwal
- Fashion & Textile Design
- Branding & Business Strategy
A fashion and textile professional with 8+ years of experience across luxury fashion, craft-led production, education, and entrepreneurship, Ms. Sikha Agarwal brings an industry-first, systems-driven perspective to creative leadership and academic mentorship.
Her work is rooted in Indian crafts and artisan ecosystems, shaped by global luxury and market sensibilities. She has worked with design-led labels including Nida Mahmood, Wear Three, and Me & Kashmir, where she played a key role in working with artisan clusters and international buyers across Europe, Japan, and the US, and supported the brand’s shift from fast fashion to premium luxury positioning.
At IMS DIA, she leads creative direction and branding initiatives, and mentors students in design thinking, storytelling, production realities, and industry-aligned practices.
Alongside academia, she is the founder of Karigar Collective, building fashion and textile initiatives such as Onna Living, Re Pah Ro, and Silaai Tanka, focused on craft-led design, small-batch production, and sustainable supply chains.
Her practice enables her to work seamlessly across artisans, designers, founders, buyers, and students, bridging creativity with strategy and execution.
Highlights
- 8+ years across fashion, textiles, education & entrepreneurship
- Experience with luxury and design-led brands (Nida Mahmood, Wear Three, Me & Kashmir)
- Led and presented two seasonal collections as Head of Design for Me & Kashmir at Paris Fashion Week
- Expertise in craft-based production, supply chains & brand building
- Chief Creative Officer & Industry Mentor at IMS Design & Innovation Academy
- Founder, Karigar Collective (Onna Living, Re Pah Ro, Silaai Tanka)
At IMS DIA, she mentors students to build design practices that are craft-rooted, strategically sound, and globally relevant.
Mr. Anirban Lahiri
- Cinematography
- Visual Storytelling
- Film Direction
With 20+ years in the film industry, Mr. Anirban Lahiri is a master visual storyteller who transforms classrooms into creative studios.
His teaching covers cinematography, filmmaking, visual narrative, editing, and digital storytelling, helping students develop strong conceptual and technical command over moving images.
Highlights
- Two decades of professional film industry experience
- Expertise in cinematography and visual language
- Mentors students for film, reels, documentaries & media careers
At IMS DIA, he trains students to tell stories that move audiences—visually, emotionally, and intellectually.
Mr. Sachin Sharma
- Fashion Design
- Styling
- Costume
- Design
- Creative Leadership
With over 25 years of experience across Bollywood styling, high-fashion design, and creative direction, Sachin Sharma brings industry depth and real-world excellence into the classroom at IMS Design & Innovation Academy.
An alumnus of NIFT and All India Topper (2004), Sachin earned a prestigious scholarship to study fashion at Parsons School of Design, New York, shaping his global design perspective early in his career. He was personally spotted by Manish Malhotra, marking the beginning of a 7.5-year professional association that positioned him at the heart of India’s fashion and film industries.
Over the years, he has collaborated with some of India’s most celebrated designers, including Sabyasachi, JJ Valaya, Ritu Kumar, Anita Dongre, and Rimple & Harpreet, contributing to couture, styling, and costume narratives that define contemporary Indian fashion.
Highlights
- 25+ years of experience in fashion design and Bollywood styling
- NIFT All India Topper with Parsons, New York scholarship
- Long-term collaboration with Manish Malhotra
- Worked with India’s leading couture and luxury designers
- Expertise in fashion illustration, styling, costume design, and creative direction
At IMS DIA, Sachin Sharma mentors students to develop strong visual identities, industry-ready portfolios, and a confident creative voice-grounded in professionalism, discipline, and global fashion sensibilities.
Prasoon Chandra Poddar
- Fine Art
- Material Exploration
- Art Education
With over 13 years of experience as an artist and educator, Prasoon Chandra Poddar brings a deeply reflective, material-led approach to contemporary art and design education. Based in Delhi, his practice explores the fluid boundaries between material, value, beauty, and waste—engaging themes of construction, destruction, and transformation.
Trained in painting with a BFA and MFA from Jamia Millia Islamia University, Prasoon’s work extends beyond the canvas into experimental surfaces and unconventional materials, allowing each medium to narrate its own story. His artistic inquiry challenges traditional aesthetics while remaining rooted in conceptual depth and social relevance.
Equally committed to education and accessibility, he has led workshops and mentorship programs for youth and marginalized communities, collaborating with organisations such as India Vision Foundation and the Place of Safety juvenile home. He has also worked closely with artisan communities in Madhubani, Bihar, supporting and sustaining traditional practices like Mithila painting.
Highlights
- 13+ years of teaching experience across leading design institutions
- BFA & MFA in Painting from Jamia Millia Islamia University
- Practice-led research in materiality, sustainability, and alternative surfaces
- Community art initiatives with youth and marginalized groups
- Collaboration with traditional artisans and craft ecosystems
At IMS DIA, Prasoon mentors students to explore art as a tool for inquiry, empathy, and transformation—encouraging them to question conventions, embrace material intelligence, and develop authentic creative voices.
Ms. Sukriti Joshi
- Pattern Making
- Garment Construction
- Textile Science
Ms. Sukriti Joshi brings together academic depth and hands-on industry understanding, making fashion education structured, practical, and deeply engaging for students.
With qualifications spanning Fabric & Apparel Science, Education, and English, she offers a rare interdisciplinary approach to fashion teaching. Her expertise covers pattern making, garment construction, surface ornamentation, dyeing & printing, textile science, and fashion history.
Her teaching philosophy focuses on building strong foundations, ensuring students master technique before exploring creative expression.
Highlights
- 9+ years of combined academic & industry experience
- Strong command over fabric science and construction
- Known for structured mentoring and concept clarity
- Focus on craftsmanship, precision, and design fundamentals
At IMS DIA, she plays a key role in shaping technically confident and detail-oriented fashion designers.
Ar. Pooja Thareja
- Architecture
- Interior Design
- Urban Planning
- Sustainable Design
An architect, urban planner, and educator with 4+ years of combined academic and professional experience, Ar. Pooja Thareja brings a strong balance of design practice and pedagogy to architectural and interior design education.
A Gold Medalist in Urban Planning and Rank Holder in Architecture, her work spans institutional, commercial, hospitality, and public-sector projects. Her teaching approach focuses on spatial thinking, material sensitivity, and real-world application, enabling students to translate concepts into buildable, context-driven design solutions.
She has worked on large-scale institutional projects with Suresh Goel & Associates, Delhi, and gained policy-level exposure at NITI Aayog under the Managing Urbanization vertical, contributing to urban governance research, spatial analysis, and visual documentation.
Her academic interests lie in sustainable urban systems, architectural ornamentation, and contextual design, supported by published research and international academic exposure.
Highlights
- Architect, Urban Planner & Educator
- Gold Medalist – Master of Urban Planning (IGDTUW)
- 1st Rank – Bachelor of Architecture (GGSIPU)
- Worked on institutional & public-sector projects (Supreme Court Complex, AIIMS, NIFT, JNU, IIT Delhi)
- Professional exposure at NITI Aayog, Delhi
- Research publication with Routledge & book chapter on architecture
At IMS DIA, she mentors students to design responsive, context-aware spaces grounded in sustainability and urban understanding.
Learning From the Best, Becoming the Best
At IMS DIA, faculty members are not just teachers—they are mentors, practitioners, researchers, and creative partners.
Students learn directly from professionals who are actively shaping the design, fashion, media, and luxury industries.