Discover why "perfect" products fail, unless they understand how narrative shapes behavior, emotion, and meaning.
SUMMARISE WITH:
What if the biggest skill a designer needs today isn’t Figma, Photoshop, or AI tools?
What if it’s something far older and far more powerful?
That’s exactly where this Kaleidoscope session by AND Academy begins. Not with trends. Not with tools. But with a story you probably heard as a child: The Ramayana.
In this session, designer and storyteller Shalini Raghunathan reminds us that Hanuman didn’t gain his powers; he remembered them. And that’s the real metaphor for designers to learn from - you already have the power to shape behavior, emotion, and meaning; try not to forget it.
Why Great Products Fail (Even When They’re “Perfect”)
Shalini walks through real examples that prove one thing: features don’t sell, stories do.
Take the Moto F3 phone. Built for tough conditions. Affordable. Practical. Thoughtful.
And yet, it completely failed in India.
Why?
Because it told a story of struggle and survival, while colorful phones told a story of aspiration, music, and joy.
People didn’t choose the better phone. They chose the better feeling.
That insight alone is worth watching the video for.
How the Lucky Iron Fish Changed Lives in The Ramayana
One of the most powerful moments in the talk is the story of the Lucky Iron Fish.
In Cambodia, anemia was widespread. A simple iron block could fix it, but no one wanted it. When the same solution was redesigned as a fish symbolizing good luck, people welcomed it into their kitchens.
Health improved. Lives changed. In short, its same solution, but a different story.
And that’s when it hits you: design isn’t about convincing people, it’s about respecting how they already see the world.
Why Design Is Never Neutral and Why That Matters
Shalini doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truth: design can be manipulated, or it can empower.
The difference lies in intention, empathy, and the rituals designers build into their practice, like reflection, critique, and remembering who they’re designing for.
If you’re a designer, student, marketer, or creator and you’ve ever wondered why your work matters, this session will teach you to design for the world as people see it.
To sum up, it asks one critical question:
What story are you designing people into, and are you doing it on purpose?
Watch the full session to find out.
