Hukhta Behram Patel
Senior HR Manager
- My design journey began in 2018 when I enrolled in ISDI Parsons to study product design. Since then, I’ve embraced every stage of the design process, finding particular passion in research, design strategy, and user experience design. While pursuing my degree, I actively engaged in hands-on product design projects and deepened my skills in design research. After graduation, I secured a position at Infosys- WONGDOODY through campus placements, where I worked for 16 months. This experience further strengthened my foundation in design and gave me valuable industry exposure.
Driven by a desire to bridge the gap between design and business, I decided to pursue my master’s degree at SCAD. This opportunity allowed me to explore the intersection of design and business, equipping me with a holistic perspective on how these disciplines can align to create impactful, integrated solutions for the future.
My work and passion have primarily centered around healthcare and education — two industries I believe are fundamental to creating meaningful societal impact, both in India and globally. I grew up deeply influenced by these sectors, and many of my projects stem from my personal experiences, fueling my commitment to positively impact people’s lives.
However, entering the consultancy world taught me an important lesson: you don’t always get to choose the industries you work in. This pushed me to broaden my vision and adapt to diverse fields, including cybersecurity, banking, fintech, and logistics. Through this journey, I developed a strong ability to mold my research and design approach to fit each unique context.
I discovered that my true passion lies in building and facilitating research frameworks rather than just focusing on final design deliverables. Designing personalized methodologies for different industries has been empowering and has deepened my understanding of research as a core discipline.
This philosophy extends to my mentoring experiences — from guiding juniors at my undergraduate college to serving as a graduate mentor at SCAD. I believe in helping others learn how to find the right information and build their own research capabilities, rather than simply providing answers.
These experiences have strengthened my skills in client partnerships, stakeholder management, and adapting quickly to new challenges. I thrive in end-to-end processes that involve human-computer interaction, product design, brand strategy, and development. My approach has always been to build with the people, for the people, and by the people — a philosophy that has been at the heart of my design journey since 2018.
- Universities attended -
- Mumbai University- B.A in Sociology
- ISDI Parsons : Atlas Skill Tech University - Associate Bachelors in Product Design
- Savannah College of Art & Design - M.A in Creative Business Leadership
- Preferred format of mentorship - Flexible / I’m open to different formats
- Time zone - EST
- Your general weekly avability for sessions - Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm EST
- Any additional information you’d like to share with us? -
- Currently residing in the Savannah, US. Might change my location in few months but will keep you informed about anything in advance.
- Brief Summary of Your Research Interests.
- My research interests lie at the intersection of design, strategy, and human-centered innovation. I am particularly passionate about healthcare and education, focusing on how thoughtful design research can create meaningful impact in these foundational sectors. I enjoy developing customized research frameworks that adapt to diverse industries and contexts, enabling more empathetic, effective, and scalable solutions. Beyond implementation, I am deeply interested in facilitating research programs, co-creating with users, and mentoring others to build their own research capabilities. Ultimately, my work is driven by the belief that design research should empower people and shape better experiences for all.
- Please describe your past experience mentoring or teaching students.
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My mentoring experience extends beyond guiding students in research; it also involves helping them understand how to present their work effectively, including portfolio development tailored to different audiences. I began mentoring my juniors at ISDI Parsons and continued as a graduate mentor at SCAD, where I supported undergraduates from diverse disciplines such as illustration, animation, and jewelry design.
In these roles, I helped students navigate their programs, strengthen their AI and software skills, and deepen their understanding of design and research. My approach is highly flexible and personalized, I adapt my mentoring style to each student’s learning preferences rather than relying solely on standard design thinking frameworks. Whether focusing on research, design, leadership, or emerging areas like AI, I believe in meeting mentees where they are and guiding them in a way that resonates best with their individual needs and learning styles.
- List 3–5 example project ideas students could pursue with your guidance.
- Create a mental wellness toolkit for teens to support emotional well-being, Explore how AI impacts student life and propose more human-centered solutions, Design games that strengthen cognitive skills like focus and memory, Develop storytelling projects to bridge generational gaps in communities, Design sustainable schooling practices for future leaders of the world, building resilient healthcare systems, How tactile art can change behaviors and mindsets.
- What types of final deliverables can your students expect to produce?
- Research paper
- Literature review
- Data analysis report
- Website or app
- Podcast or video
- Infographic or digital design
- Presentation or oral defense
- No code- Mockups and designed prototypes.
- Any additional project themes, trending ideas, or real-world challenges you’d love to explore with motivated high school students?
- Promote digital well-being through healthier tech habits, Create climate action projects to support community resilience, Design inclusive products that empower diverse users, Explore wearable tech for better health and well-being, Reimagine public spaces to foster connection and belonging.
- 🗣️ Communication & Presentation
- Academic writing (papers, reports)
- Public speaking / oral presentations
- Creating research posters or infographics
- Storytelling through data
- Making a compelling final product (website, video, podcast, app)
- Infographic or digital design
- Presentation or oral defense
- No code- Mockups and designed prototypes.
- 🔍 Research & Inquiry Skills
- Academic writing (papers, reports)
- Public speaking / oral presentations
- Creating research posters or infographics
- Storytelling through data
- Making a compelling final product (website, video, podcast, app)
- Infographic or digital design
- Presentation or oral defense
- No code- Mockups and designed prototypes.
- 🧠 Critical Thinking & Analysis
- Analyzing arguments and data
- Identifying biases and limitations
- Drawing logical conclusions
- Evaluating conflicting evidence
- 📊 Quantitative & Qualitative Methods
- Designing experiments or surveys
- Statistical analysis
- Data visualization
- Interview techniques and thematic coding (qualitative)
- 🎨 Creativity & Problem-Solving
- Brainstorming innovative solutions
- Connecting interdisciplinary ideas
- Applying knowledge to real-world challenges
- 📅 Project Management & Organization
- Brainstorming innovative solutions
- Connecting interdisciplinary ideas
- Applying knowledge to real-world challenges
- 🤝 Collaboration & Mentorship
- Working in small research teams
- Engaging in intellectual discussions
- Receiving and applying constructive feedback
- Building research confidence and autonomy