On 25 February 2026, the School of Leather Goods and Accessories Design (LGAD) and the School of Footwear Design and Production (FDP) at FDDI Kolkata hosted Mr. Shahrukh Zaidi, a distinguished design professional with over twenty-four years of experience in the leather and lifestyle sector. As the Founder and Curator of Studio SRZ, he has led design research, product innovation, and brand development initiatives across Indian and international platforms. His career includes collaborations with globally renowned brands such as Ralph Lauren, Coach, Mulberry, Tory Burch, Karl Lagerfeld, Tumi, Armani, Tommy Hilfiger, and Zara. He has also contributed to academia as a former Associate Professor at NIFT Delhi and as an expert lecturer at leading design institutions.
The two-hour session evolved into an engaging and interactive dialogue, with second- and third-year students actively discussing career pathways, studio culture, global exposure, and the changing dynamics of the Indian market.
Mr. Zaidi shared insights from establishing design research centres to leading multidisciplinary teams, highlighting how contemporary design studios integrate research, trend forecasting, consumer insights, material innovation, and commercial strategy. His practical perspectives effectively bridged the gap between academic learning and industry expectations.
Key highlights included the importance of market-oriented creativity, structured design methodology, balanced product development in lifestyle leather and footwear, professional preparedness, and responsible innovation.
The session concluded on an inspiring note, leaving students motivated to apply these learnings in their academic and professional journeys.
