We were lucky to catch up with Pushpit Bagga recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Pushpit, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
It all started in the bustling streets of Delhi, where I grew up. In a city where creativity sometimes takes a back seat to academics and tradition, I was that mischievous kid who saw beauty in the discarded. Whether it was bits of trash on the road or things others deemed useless, I’d collect them – not as junk, but as potential. I’d transform these scraps into little sculptures, ornaments, or quirky installations. At the time, I didn’t know the word “sustainability,” but I was already practicing it in my own playful way, building small trophies of imagination and memory.
In school, I naturally gravitated toward art and craft. I dreamt of leading the art club, but I only made it as vice-president. That stung. It planted the seed of self-reflection – what did I need to improve to grow? Around the same time, I became curious about the digital world. I tried joining the Matrix Club, our school’s computer science group, drawn by a love for software and a growing fascination with graphic design, music, and technology. But I didn’t get in. That rejection hit hard and crushed my soul.
But here’s the thing about me – I thrive on reverse psychology. That “no” lit a fire in me. I threw myself into learning, driven to prove not just to others, but to myself that I could do it. I pursued a degree in computer science engineering, diving deep into learning to code and understand the functionality behind technology. On the side, I kept playing around with design. Slowly, my inner child – the one who loved building and creating – started waking up again.
That feeling never left. It grew stronger, clearer. I realized that creating – “really” creating – was more than a hobby. It was a calling. I took a leap after graduation and spent a year preparing day and night for something that truly spoke to me: a master’s degree in Industrial Design at SCAD.
Studying design at SCAD was transformative. I felt like I’d finally found my path – designing beautiful, functional products that made an impact in people’s lives. And yet, there was still a feeling that something was missing. Throughout my life, music has always been my secret sidekick. Whether listening to it or trying to create my own, music has been my escape and my joy.
Then one day, it hit me – what if I didn’t have to choose between music and design? What if I could bridge the gap, fuse both passions, and create something that brought them together?
That idea made me jump out of bed – literally. It felt like the universe whispering, “This is it.”
It took me 26-27 years to get here, full of ups and downs, detours and doubts. But every bit of that journey mattered. Each twist brought me closer to understanding not just what I want to do, but who I am. And today, I can confidently say that I was born to design experiences that bring people closer to music and themselves.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to ideas that challenge the ordinary. I’ve always had this instinct – a pull toward imagining what others might overlook, questioning the obvious, and working hard for the things that truly matter. That mindset, paired with a sense of curiosity I never quite outgrew, shaped me into the designer I am today.
My journey into design began in college, but it wasn’t about choosing a career – it was more like discovering a part of myself. I was fascinated by the deeper “why” behind everything – why we build, why we create, and how we solve problems in ways that connect with people on a meaningful level. Over time, this fascination grew into a mission: to design experiences that resonate not just with function, but with feeling.
Today, I focus on product and industrial design – creating work that lives at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and human connection. What excites me most is exploring how design can blend with emotion, especially through music. I’ve been working on ways to integrate music into physical experiences, helping people feel it not just through their ears, but through multi-sensory experiences. It’s immersive, interactive, and deeply personal. That’s the kind of design that moves me – the kind that invites people into a whole new way of sensing the world.
Recently, I’ve been developing a project that’s especially close to my heart – something I’ve been quietly building and refining as part of my graduate work. While I can’t share too many details just yet, I can say that it brings together some of my biggest passions in a way that’s never been done before. It’s a bold step forward in my journey, and I’m excited about the potential it holds to shift how we connect with products and experiences in the future.
At the core of everything I do is a commitment to creating with intention – designing solutions that not only function beautifully but also foster empathy, spark joy, and respect the world around us. For me, design isn’t just about solving problems. It’s about shaping possibilities. And this is only the beginning!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
If I had to rewind the clock and pinpoint the three most impactful elements of my journey so far, I’d say: curiosity, resilience, and the willingness to stay playful with learning. These weren’t things I picked up from a textbook — they were shaped through small moments, sometimes failures, and a lot of unexpected discoveries.
Let me explain with a little story.
Growing up in the heart of Delhi, I was that kid who never quite followed the expected path. While others focused on grades or traditional activities, I was more interested in collecting bits of discarded material – bottle caps, broken pens, scraps from the street, and turning them into something new. I didn’t have a word for it then, but I now know I was exploring design thinking in its rawest form. I’d make little sculptures, or functional objects, or simply experiment with how things could fit together. This curiosity evolved with me – later, I found myself drawn to computers, music, and eventually product design. Whether I was designing speaker systems from scratch or learning how to make my own music for fun, the urge to explore “what if?” kept me going. Curiosity opens doors you didn’t know existed – it teaches you to ask better questions, which leads to better design.
Then came resilience – not the loud, dramatic kind, but the quiet, steady voice that says, “Let’s try again.” I’ve faced my share of rejections, from not getting into clubs I applied for in school to moments where I doubted whether I even belonged in the design world. But instead of letting those moments shut me down, I let them push me forward. Rejection, in a strange way, became fuel. And that mindset has helped me navigate everything from career pivots to long hours working on projects I wasn’t sure would ever be seen. It wasn’t a straight road, but every bump along the way taught me to get back up, and that has made all the difference in my creative and professional life.
Finally, staying playful with learning made a huge difference. I’ve always been a bit of a nerd when it comes to exploring new tools or tech, not because I had to, but because it was fun. This might sound simple, but it’s often overlooked. I’ve always believed that the best ideas come when you’re having fun – when you’re experimenting, not overthinking. That playfulness made it easier to take risks and learn from failures. Whether it was learning new design software late into the night or figuring out how to blend my love for music with physical product design in my thesis, I stayed excited because I gave myself room to play. I found that when learning feels like play, progress comes naturally, and I allowed myself to be messy, to fail, and to discover new connections between seemingly unrelated things, and that kept the spark alive.
Advice for those just starting out?
1. Stay curious – ask questions, even if they seem silly.
2. Build resilience – you don’t need to have it all figured out, just keep going.
3. And let learning be fun – explore things that light you up, even if they don’t make sense at first. You never know what strange combination of skills might come together to form your magic.
Your path won’t always be clear, mine definitely wasn’t, but if you follow what excites you and stay open to the journey, you’ll find your way.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way, it’s that no journey is truly solo, and mine certainly hasn’t been. Behind every late night of sketching, every prototype that didn’t work, and every tiny win, there has been a circle of people who believed in me, sometimes even more than I believed in myself.
It all starts with my family. My parents and my brother have been my strongest foundation. Even when there was a clear path laid out for me in the family business, they never forced me into it. In fact, they did something even greater – they pushed me to chase my dreams. They gave me a chance, an opportunity, to dream, to discover who I am, rather than live in regret, wondering what could have been. They saw the spark in my eyes when I talked about design, technology, or just building something new, and they never let that light dim. Their unwavering support and constant encouragement gave me the courage to step out of the expected and into the unknown.
They didn’t just support my dreams; they made space for them.
When I think about the moments that truly shaped me as a designer, I can’t help but reflect on the incredible professors who guided me at SCAD. Each of them contributed something unique – not just through their teachings, but through the way they helped me grow beyond what I thought I was capable of.
Professor William Woods opened the door to the maker’s world for me. He didn’t just teach with theory but believed in learning by doing, by making, by using your own hands. Under his guidance, I learned how to work with machinery, how to handle power tools, and how to build with confidence. His passion for speaker technology and music aligned so deeply with my own interests, it felt like he was passing a torch – one that lit a fire in me to keep exploring, keep building, and keep pushing myself. He had this rare ability to push you again and again – not with pressure, but with belief – until you mastered the skill you once thought was beyond you.
Professor Paul McGroary, on the other hand, challenged me to see beyond the horizon. He expanded my perspective on design, constantly encouraging me to question how far I could stretch an idea and how deeply I could connect it to real people and real problems in an abstract way (that I adore). His teaching wasn’t just about polishing designs – it was about discovering the why behind them. He helped me unlock a vision I didn’t know I had and pushed my creativity into uncharted territory. Through him, I started to design not just what looked good, but what truly mattered.
Then came Professor Songwe, who brought curiosity and joy into every learning moment. He reminded us that design isn’t just about outcomes – it’s about the journey of asking questions, of being inquisitive, of not being afraid to wonder “why.” He made learning playful and insightful, showing me that even the smallest questions can lead to the biggest breakthroughs. Thanks to him, I learned how to approach the design process with structure, patience, and a childlike sense of curiosity, and that no question is ever too silly to ask.
Each of them taught me something invaluable, not just about design, but about how to think, how to create, and how to believe in my own growth. They didn’t just shape my education – they helped shape who I am today.
But it wasn’t just mentors. My friends played an equally vital role. They’ve seen me evolve – from someone figuring things out to someone who started to believe, “Hey, I can really do this.” They gave feedback when I needed honesty, reminded me of my strengths when I doubted myself, and celebrated the little milestones that made the big dreams feel real.
The people around me – my family, my professors, my friends – have been the heartbeat of this journey. They’ve taught me that success isn’t just about individual talent; it’s about the people who lift you, challenge you, and walk beside you when the road gets tough.
If I had one piece of wisdom to share, it would be this: surround yourself with those who see the version of you that you’re still striving to become. Because in those moments when you can’t see the way forward, their belief in you will be the compass that keeps you going.
And I’m endlessly grateful for mine.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushpitbagga/?igsh=c241ZWFncDk1Nmsw&utm_source=qr#
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pushpitbagga/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
