With significant industry experience in UI/UX design space, Santosh Srinivas endeavors to drive the IT and software industry’s growth by helping aspiring UI/UX designers to learn industry skills through PurpleLane (a learning platform for upcoming UI/UX designers), the catalyst backing his vision.

In a recent interaction with Mandvi Singh, Managing Editor at siliconindia, Santosh shared his insights on ‘UI/UX Innovation’s Significance in Leading Human-Centric Digital Evolution’.

Emerging technologies like IoT, AR/VR, and voice interfaces are fundamentally reshaping the role of UI/UX designers by shifting the focus from traditional screen-based interactions to more immersive, intuitive, context-aware and multimodal experiences. The role of a designer is no longer limited to just creating visually appealing interfaces; instead, they also need to create interfaces that can integrate with the physical world.

For example, IoT enables interaction with a variety of smart devices. This requires designers to think beyond conventional UI elements and focus on responsive, real-world user interactions. Then, AR/VR demands spatial design thinking. This requires designers to ensure that digital elements feel natural in augmented and virtual environments. Even voice interfaces also require a shift from visual to conversational UI. With these technologies playing a major role in everyday life, designing for accessibility and inclusivity is also important while ensuring the privacy and security of user behaviors and data. Moreover, skill required for thriving in this evolving landscape include human-centered design for emerging interfaces, AI & data-driven thinking to personalize experiences, prototyping in new mediums like AR/VR & voice UI, and multimodal interaction design integrating visuals, voice, gestures, and haptics. They should also be open to inter-disciplinary collaboration with engineers and AI developers.

With companies increasingly relying on user data for design decisions, how can designers strike the perfect balance between analytical insights and creative intuition to craft truly impactful experiences?

Having the right balance between data-driven insights and creative intuition is key for creating impactful user experiences. While analytics help us identify user behaviors, their patterns and pain points, creativity ensures innovation and emotional engagement — something data alone cannot achieve.

In my opinion, data should be viewed as a directional tool rather than a rule book. Data should guide design decisions. By default, data helps us identify trends, user needs, and problem areas, but creativity is essential for coming up with unique, delightful solutions. One of my other view points is, we should understand the ‘Why’ behind the numbers. Analytics tell us what is happening, but qualitative research—user interviews, heatmaps, and usability tests—helps understand why users behave a certain way. Designers should blend both to make informed yet innovative design choices.

An important step that designers should take is to experiment and iterate. Real innovation comes from experimenting beyond what’s already known. And designers should take calculated creative risks and refine based on the feedback they get from the stakeholders. Our designs should not rely solely on data-driven decisions; they should also be guided by empathy for the user.

Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad have become magnets for design talent. What factors contribute to these cities’ dominance, and how can smaller cities carve out their own space in the UI/UX ecosystem?

Several key factors have contributed to the rise of UI/UX talent in these cities. These include a vibrant startup ecosystem, reputable educational institutions like NID and IITs, training boot camps, and the presence of companies that prioritize design in their product development. Additionally, there are ample networking opportunities through conferences, meetups, and design communities. Large corporations are increasingly funding UX research and investing in research labs and innovation centers, further highlighting the importance of user experience.

On the other hand, smaller cities have the potential to carve out their own niche by focusing on strategic initiatives. Tier-II and Tier-III cities boast a substantial talent pool, with students who are hardworking, committed, creative, and passionate about their goals. Many young individuals are eager to explore their creative potential by raising awareness among their peers, developing local UX communities, and supporting startups and product innovation.

In fast-paced industries like Fintech, e-Commerce, and Healthcare, how can UI/UX design act as a strategic lever to drive customer retention, conversion rates, and overall business growth?

UI/UX design is not just about aesthetics, it’s a business strategy, which directly impacts customer retention, conversion rates, and overall growth.
● Fintech: Users trust financial platforms that are clear, transparent, and easy to navigate. Intuitive dashboards, real-time insights, and AI-powered personalized recommendations improve engagement.

● e-Commerce: A seamless, personalized shopping experience like AI-driven product suggestions and one-click checkout keeps customers coming back.
● Healthcare: In the healthcare domain, human-centered design plays a critical role in improving accessibility and continued care (Practo, Appolo Pharma, Medplus).
How can training institutes like PurpleLane bridge the gap between underserved communities and the global tech industry, turning local talent into world-class designers and developers?

Training institutes like PurpleLane play a crucial role in democratizing tech education and connecting local talent with global opportunities. By addressing skill gaps, providing hands-on learning, and fostering industry exposure, institutes can turn talent from underserved regions into world-class designers and developers. We have some core values like- learning must be accessible to all, we follow low cost learning plans so that students from underserved areas can afford, and hands-on learning through live projects & internships. Also, our curriculum remains aligned with the market demands so that the designers are already trained to work in the industry from day one. Thus, by combining cutting-edge training, real-world exposure, and global networking, institutes like PurpleLane can turn local talent into world-class professionals.

With rising demand and strong earning potential, how is the career trajectory of UI/UX designers in India shifting, and what impact will this have on the country’s global standing in design innovation?

The UI/UX design industry in India is currently experiencing a substantial transformation. In various sectors, including fintech, e-commerce, software as a service (SaaS), and healthcare, UI/UX roles have become crucial to organizational success. Historically, UI/UX designers in India focused primarily on visual design and usability. However, the focus has evolved significantly. Presently, designers are engaged in roles that drive product strategy, develop AI-powered user experiences, and contribute to business growth.

Furthermore, a variety of new roles have emerged within the UI/UX landscape, such as UX researchers, conversational designers, and AI-driven UX specialists, thereby creating niche, high-paying career pathways. Additionally, Indian designers are increasingly obtaining remote positions and freelance projects with international companies, achieving salaries that are competitive with those of their global counterparts. Organizations worldwide are leveraging India’s cost-effective yet high-quality talent pool, leading to a growing demand for outsourced UX design services. The emergence of product-led design within Indian SaaS firms, including Zoho, Freshworks, and Razorpay, is further establishing India’s reputation as a leading design hub. With the increasing number of design-driven unicorns, India is setting global benchmarks for user experience in emerging markets.