Locomotive’s founder, Narayan Gopalan, co-founded DesignUp with Jay Dutta after identifying a gap for UX professionals to converge and share knowledge. To address this, they built DesignUp as a brand and platform that brought the design community together.

Starting with 200 professionals in 2016, DesignUp grew rapidly to cross 1,000 attendees by 2019 and established this scale for its flagship conference. Beyond the main event, it expanded into workshops, masterclasses, and digital programs—delivering content in engaging ways and creating a platform for conversations on creativity, design, and the future of technology.

Rooted in Bangalore, DesignUp soon expanded its reach with events across India and beyond. From Delhi to Pune, Hyderabad to Goa, and later Singapore, it hosted multiple smaller gatherings in more than 10 cities. These city editions allowed DesignUp to share knowledge widely, while also testing new ideas and formats that enriched the flagship conference.

DesignUp maintained a consistently high standard of design—giving equal attention to every detail, from the goodie bag to stage banners. Each edition carried a unified theme, brought to life through partnerships with designers and artists. Every touchpoint was carefully crafted to reflect the brand’s character, ensuring a cohesive and memorable experience.

In its 10th successful year in 2025, DesignUp stands as India’s largest design conference and one of Asia’s most respected platforms. It has connected thousands of professionals, shaped careers, inspired ventures, and strengthened the design ecosystem. The journey is proof of how vision, community, and design can come together to create lasting impact.