Empowering Design Education: ARCH Jaipur’s Archana Surana Re-Elected to Global Cumulus Board

Cumulus Association is an international network presently comprising nearly 400 institutions across 71 countries, and steadily increasing in number every year. It promotes collaboration, research, and innovation in the field of art and design. Established in 1990 by Aalto University in Finland and the Royal College of Art in the UK, the association serves as a dynamic platform for exploring how design can create meaningful change in the world.

This election marks a significant milestone not only in Surana’s professional journey but also for India’s growing voice in global design conversations. She served as the Vice President in her previous tenure on the board of the Cumulus Association from 2022 to 2025, where she led several notable initiatives. One of the key contributions was the launch of the Cumulus Student Talent Camp titled ‘Design Identity Direction (DID),’ hosted by ARCH College in Jaipur in 2023. She also played a vital role in facilitating a Memorandum of Understanding between the Cumulus Association and the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), India, creating internship opportunities for students with over 10,000 handicraft industry members across India.

In addition to administrative leadership, Surana presented Indian perspectives on prominent world stages. She delivered a keynote on ‘Responsible Fashion: Swipe Right’ at the Fashion and Sustainability conference held at Universidade Lusófona in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2024. She addressed the theme of ‘Wellbeing in Design’ in another keynote, delivered in 2023, at Xiamen University, Beijing, China. She also chaired the ‘Women in Design’ working group from 2022 to 2025, consistently spotlighting gender equity, ethical leadership, and transformative design practices.

Over the years, Archana Surana has contributed to several international conferences, including sessions at L’École de Design Nantes Atlantique in France, Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest, University of Antwerp in Belgium, Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in China, and the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, USA. Her talks ranged from topics such as ethics in design and future leadership to inclusivity, adaptation, and design’s role in challenging times.

Speaking about her re-election to the Cumulus Executive Board, Surana said, “Jaipur is where I come from, and I carry its essence with me. To represent India and my city on a global platform like Cumulus is both an honor and a responsibility. For me, design is not just an element in art; it is a very important tool for social transformation. My goal is to see young minds from India think globally, act ethically, and shape a better future.”

Her continued presence on the board reflects not only personal recognition but also the rising profile of ARCH College of Design & Business on the world stage. For over 25 years, ARCH has been at the forefront of design education in India, offering a progressive learning environment that connects academic knowledge with industry practice.

Through its strategic partnerships and future-focused curriculum, emphasizing real-world projects, live challenges, professional internships and experiential learning, ARCH nurtures a campus culture rooted in innovation, inclusion, and collaboration. Drawing creative minds from all over India, the institution continues to prepare students to succeed in the rapidly evolving design landscape of the world.

Here’s to accepting Archana Surana’s re-election to the Cumulus Executive Board as a powerful acknowledgment of both her leadership and the value ARCH brings to international design education. It strengthens India's voice in the global creative economy and sets the stage for even deeper global engagement in the years to come.