About

Arvind Gupta is a Design Director at IDEO focusing on New Product Development and Strategy. He relocated from San Francisco to Shanghai to become a part in the rapid changes in Asia and sees design as a way of thinking that can be used to artfully solve problems large and small. Based on over a decade of experience developing products in a variety of industries, Arvind is currently developing Adaptive Innovation, an approach to innovation that can deal with the speed of the emerging markets.

As a member of the IDEO Asia leadership team, Arvind holds several large client relationships and is developing talent while driving content excellence in the Shanghai office. He is also currently serving as mentor at HAXLR8R, a hardware accelerator based in San Francisco & Shenzhen, and is Co-Founder at Starters, a social fitness startup that puts your friends at the center of your behavior change.

Raised in Los Angeles as a second generation Indian and returning to Asia, Arvind recognizes how innovation happens at speed in China and India, and firmly believes that Asia is not just a place of growth but a region of innovation that will help shape a new economic future of the world.

Arvind holds several US patents and has spoken at numerous conferences and events including at the SFMOMA and TEDx New Silk Road. A frequent author, his thought leadership has been published in journals ranging from Time to Design Observer to Rotman Magazine, and he has been the recipient of numerous international design awards for design and innovation including six IDSA IDEA awards.

Arvind’s unique background begins with achieving a degree in Genetic Engineering to which he applied Macroeconomic theory in his research. Arvind first worked as an equity options Market Maker at the Pacific Exchange in San Francisco. During this time, Arvind became an avid BASE jumper, a sport that involves using a parachute to jump from one of four fixed objects; building, antenna, span, and earth. His passion for the sport compelled him to help understand the problem of canopy collapse during an object strike which could be fatal. This experience of working to solve a problem by blending science and art led Arvind to a Master’s Degree in Industrial Design at San Francisco State University, and eventually to IDEO.

Follow @arvndgpta on Twitter.

Speaking Highlights