Urja Jhaveri
About
Urja is a design engineer and cultural preservationist based in London, with roots in India. Her work bridges traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology, creating impactful solutions across various fields including education, sustainability, and cultural heritage.
A graduate of the prestigious National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, Urja’s previous work received multiple accolades including an International Design Award for her educational toolkit. This groundbreaking project introduced middle school children in India to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, showcasing her ability to translate complex concepts into engaging, accessible designs.
Urja’s professional journey began at the Museum of Solutions (MuSo) in Mumbai, India’s first children’s museum focused on sustainable development goals. Recently honored as one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places of 2024, MuSo is a unique establishment that inspires children to become tomorrow’s problem solvers. Here, she honed her skills in creating interactive and educational experiences, contributing to the museum’s mission of fostering innovation in young minds. Seeking to expand her expertise, she pursued a double masters in Innovation Design Engineering at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London, further developing her multidisciplinary approach to design.
During her masters, Urja tackled pressing environmental issues, developing a diagnostic toolkit ‘NitroPatch‘ for UK farmers to address high nitrate levels in farmlands. Her final solo project, ‘Avant Sanjhi‘ exemplifies her passion for cultural preservation, merging traditional craftsmanship with artificial intelligence to reimagine an endangered craft ‘Sanjhi‘ for contemporary audiences.
As a transdisciplinary designer, Urja continues to explore the intersection of technology and cultural heritage, bringing rural Indian narratives to global audiences by seamlessly integrating heritage into contemporary audiences while safeguarding traditional practices. Her work demonstrates a unique ability to create innovative solutions that are both culturally sensitive and forward-thinking across a range of industries and disciplines.
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