Sandeep Karyakarte is an accomplished automotive design professional with over 32 years of industry experience and 5 years in academia. An alumnus of the IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay, and Symbiosis School of Business Management, Pune, he brings extensive expertise in automotive product design, design strategy, innovation, and design leadership.
Before joining MIT Art, Design and Technology University (MIT ADT), Pune in March 2021 as an Adjunct Faculty member and Mentor, Sandeep spent more than three decades at Tata Motors, where he held several leadership positions including Concept Designer, Lead Designer, Project Manager, Head of Passenger Car Design, and General Manager – Design Strategy.
During his career at Tata Motors, he contributed to the design and development of several landmark vehicles, including the Tata Indica, ACE, Nano, Zest, Tiago, Hexa, Nexon and Harrier. In his role as General Manager – Design Strategy, he led strategic initiatives in product innovation, emerging technology adoption, and white-space research, helping shape future mobility solutions and product opportunities.
At MIT ADT, Sandeep is committed to bridging industry and academia by integrating real-world design practices into the classroom. His teaching focuses on automotive design, design thinking, product innovation, user-centred design, design strategy, and professional design practice. Through mentoring, live projects, and industry-oriented learning, he prepares students to address contemporary design challenges with creativity, technical competence, and strategic thinking.
In addition to his academic role, Sandeep works as an independent automotive design consultant and freelance designer, advising organizations on product design, design strategy, and innovation.
He actively contributes to design education as an external jury member, visiting faculty, and member of Boards of Studies at leading design institutions. His continued engagement with industry and academia enables him to provide students with current insights, practical knowledge, and a strong understanding of evolving trends in mobility and product design.