Prayas Abhinav, an Assistant Professor of Interaction Design at the School of Design, is a multidisciplinary artist, educator and entrepreneur with over 15 years of professional experience. In the last few years, he has worked extensively on numerous pieces of speculative fiction, software, games, interactive installations, public interventions and curatorial projects.

At Anant, with his rich experience in interdisciplinary practices and creative technology, Prayas contributes significantly to shaping students’ academic journeys. His role involves mentoring young designers, engaging in innovative curriculum development and fostering a culture of experimental thinking within the department.

Prayas holds a post-graduate diploma in Experimental Media Arts at the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology. His research and creative practice have been nurtured through prestigious fellowships from Sarai/CSDS, Openspace Pune and TED. He has participated in renowned artist residencies such as Khoj (India), Coded Cultures (Austria) and dis-locate (Japan). Prayas has also showcased his work at several prominent international festivals, including Transmediale, 48c, Futuresonic, ISEA and Wintercamp.

Before Anant, he contributed to research and projects at northeastwestsouth (n.e.w.s) (Amsterdam, NL). He has conducted workshops at leading institutions such as CEPT University (Ahmedabad), the Dutch Art Institute (Arnhem, NL), MICA (Ahmedabad), and NID (Gandhinagar and Bengaluru). Previously, he also led the Centre for Experimental Media Arts (CEMA) at the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology in Bengaluru, where he played a pivotal role in advancing interdisciplinary media practices.

Prayas has also explored poetic thought as a distinctive mode of linguistic expression, treating it not merely as a literary device but as a way to question, reflect and reimagine the world around us. His exploration spans both creative and critical domains, ranging from experimental writing and conceptual texts to essays and reflections, through which he investigates the intersections of language, emotion and meaning in contemporary culture.