Meet Hardik Kumawat

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hardik Kumawat. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hardik, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Finding purpose is rarely linear. My own journey started in Udaipur, Rajasthan, where I was raised in a family that valued both education and creativity. Surrounded by art, culture, and tradition, I grew up equally curious about science and expression. That curiosity led me to pursue a degree in Geology and Life Sciences at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, with the hope of becoming a marine geologist.

Then came 2020. The global pandemic put everything on pause. What felt at first like uncertainty became a moment of clarity. With the world at a standstill, I returned to creative outlets I had long cherished; painting, sketching, experimenting with design tools. What began as a way to cope soon revealed itself as more: a way to translate complex problems into meaningful solutions. I taught myself visual communication design, picked up freelance projects, and soon realized that design wasn’t just an interest, it was my calling.

That discovery reshaped my career path. I joined MNCs as a Visual Communication Designer, honing skills in branding, product storytelling, and training design. Yet I knew I wanted to go deeper—to connect creativity with strategy, to design not only visuals but systems. That conviction brought me to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to pursue an MFA in Service Design.

Now, as I focus my thesis on optimizing nurse operations in emergency departments, my purpose is clearer than ever: to design with people, not just for them, and to create systems that make everyday experiences more humane, efficient, and impactful.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I like to think of myself as someone who has always embraced change and found possibility in unexpected places. I grew up in Udaipur, surrounded by art, culture, and stories that fueled my curiosity about both science and creativity. Over time, I learned that purpose does not come from following a straight line but from the courage to pivot when life calls for it.

What excites me most about the work I do now is that it is all about people, understanding them, creating with them, and building solutions that actually make their lives better. I have had the chance to work across different industries, from corporate design to healthcare, and every project has shown me how design can act as a bridge between problems and possibilities.

At the heart of it, my brand is about optimism, believing that change is not only possible but that it can be meaningful and lasting when we design with empathy. Whether I am working with teams to rethink how hospitals function or simply experimenting through creative projects of my own, I carry the same belief: design is a way to make everyday life just a little bit better.

Looking forward, I am excited to keep pushing boundaries, collaborating across disciplines, and designing experiences that leave a positive mark on people’s lives.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Adaptability taught me that change is not something to fear but something to embrace. Moving from science to design was a big pivot in my life, and it only happened because I was willing to step outside my comfort zone. My advice for others is to lean into change, because every pivot can open new doors.

Curiosity has been my compass. It pushed me to ask questions, to learn new tools, and to see connections between fields that might seem unrelated. For anyone starting out, I would say never stop asking “why” and “what if.” That mindset is more powerful than any single skill you pick up.

Finally, empathy has been the foundation of my work. Whether in design or in life, the ability to listen deeply and see from another person’s perspective creates solutions that matter. For those early in their journey, practicing empathy in small, everyday ways—through conversations, collaborations, or even observing others—will sharpen this skill over time.

Together, these three qualities have guided me, and I believe they can serve anyone building a path of their own.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was trusting me completely. They supported my decision to move more than 13,000 kilometers away from home to pursue my dreams and aspirations, even though they had never heard of service design before. That trust gave me the courage to take risks, embrace uncertainty, and fully commit to building the life and career I envisioned for myself.

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