At Design Indaba’s 25th Edition, Global Graduate, India based communication designer and social innovator Ananya Khaitan delivered an evocative talk on the power of design to advocate for justice, dignity and systemic change. Through his multidisciplinary practice, Khaitan explores the intersections between communication design, public health and social equity, using storytelling and participatory design to address complex societal challenges facing his native country, India.
Sharing his projects developed through his practice and collaboration with vulnerable communities across India, Khaitan discussed how communication design can improve access to healthcare, legal rights and social services for marginalised groups. Leading with the belief that information itself can be life-saving when designed with empathy, accessibility and cultural understanding in mind, Khaitan framed communication design as infrastructure capable of shaping behaviour, awareness and civic participation.
A recurring thread throughout Khaitan’s talk was the responsibility of designers to confront structural inequality and misinformation. Khaitan argued that communication design holds immense power in shaping public understanding, particularly in contexts where literacy barriers, stigma or institutional distrust prevent people from accessing critical information. Khaitan talk demonstrated how thoughtful design interventions can foster agency, trust and social inclusion.
