Dr. Vishal C. Bhand is an Associate Professor of Design at Silpa-Sadana, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan. An INLAKS Scholar, he holds an M.S. in Textile Industries from the University of Leeds, a B.F.A. in Design from Kala Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, and a Ph.D. from Rabindra Bharati University.

He has been closely involved in the development of design education at Visva-Bharati and initiated the Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) programme at Visva-Bharati, integrating traditional Indian craft knowledge with contemporary design education. He has also taught and contributed to design education at the National Institute of Design (NID).

His practice and research focus on natural dyes, batik, textile printing, eco-printing, sustainable textiles and traditional Indian craft practices. He has conducted lectures and workshops in India and internationally, including in London, Paris and Japan.

Dr. Bhand has served as an Advisor to NCERT for Art Education and as a National Consultant for the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. His academic and professional interests centre on connecting traditional knowledge, craft, education, rural livelihoods and contemporary design with particular emphasis on learning through practice and the continued relevance of India’s living craft traditions.