Dr. (Prof.) Darlie Koshy Ph.D. (IIT, Delhi)

Educationist, Design Management Strategist, Author & Speaker

Dr. Darlie Oommen Koshy’s contribution stands out for its rare combination of policy creation, institution building, academic leadership, industry development and grassroots skill training. He influenced India’s handloom sector, helped shape NIFT, transformed NID, contributed to the first National Design Policy, and expanded apparel training across several states. Unlike contributions confined to one institution or field, his work connected traditional crafts, modern design, technology, exports and employment. His initiatives created lasting national systems, strengthened creative education, supported disadvantaged youth and women, and positioned design and skills as powerful instruments of economic growth and national development.

Dr. Darlie Oommen Koshy uniquely initiated and drafted India’s first National Design Policy, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2007. He established the country’s first National Design Business Incubator at NID, pioneered technology-integrated postgraduate design programmes, and developed NID’s new postgraduate and R&D campuses. As a founding senior professor at NIFT, he helped build fashion-management education in India. He later created the innovative ATDC-SMART vocational model, expanding apparel-skilling through over 200 centres across 22 states.

Dr. Darlie Oommen Koshy is also a prolific author, researcher and public speaker, with several books, over 100 papers and more than 200 national and international presentations. His lifelong advocacy has promoted design, creativity, skills and education as vital foundations for India’s inclusive economic and social development.