Why Most Indian Product Design Is Weak

And Why That’s a Choice, Not Fate

Indian product design is weak because it is treated as execution, not leadership.

Design decisions are handed down, not debated.
Briefs are followed, not challenged.
Success is measured in cost saved, not value created.

Most products are engineered to survive tooling and pricing pressures—but not to serve users with clarity or dignity.

Copying has replaced thinking.
Speed has replaced depth.
Approval has replaced conviction.

This is not a talent problem.
It is a power problem.

Designers are rarely given authority early, and when they are, they are punished for slowing things down or asking uncomfortable questions.

The result is predictable:
Products that work.
Products that sell.
Products that leave no legacy.

Strong design requires three things Indian companies systematically avoid:

• Time to think

• Courage to say no

• Respect for long-term value

Until design is allowed to influence strategy—not just surfaces—Indian products will remain competent but forgettable.

And forgettable is fatal in a global market.

Dated: 14th January, 2026