ARKA
ARKA was a concept venture developed for the SCAD Startup competition, a high-pressure, 3-day design sprint focused on future-forward innovation. With a tight timeline and full autonomy over concept direction, our team explored the potential of smart fabric technology to reimagine wearable tech. As the Team Lead, I managed the full lifecycle of the project, driving clarity, structure, and execution across design, business, and strategy. ARKA was selected as a finalist in the competition and was recognized for its multi-market vision and bold thinking.
Client
SCAD Startup - Designathon
Timeline
72 Hours
Skills & Methods
Design Management
Concept Development
Rapid Prototyping
Business Modeling
Creative Ideation Facilitation
Strategic Framing
RACI Matrix
2x2 Prioritization
Blue Ocean Strategy
Market Segmentation
Target Customer Archetypes
GTM Strategy
Team
Prathamesh Patil (Team Lead) | Pallavi Brokar | Omkar Talwalkar | Maitreyi Badami | Prachi Desai
PROBLEM
The challenge was to conceptualize a future-facing innovation in wearable technology that was ambitious yet grounded in near-future feasibility. While typical directions like smartwatches and AR glasses were saturated, our goal was to explore a less obvious but more scalable avenue that could unlock new product possibilities across diverse markets.
SOLUTION
We developed ARKA, a speculative startup built around smart fabric technology, a cutting-edge material system embedding nano-sensors and electronics directly into fabric. ARKA featured three tailored product lines for distinct user groups:
• ARKA Perform targeted athletes and extreme performers, offering real-time biometric sensing, motion tracking, and performance monitoring built directly into high-impact apparel.
• ARKA Vital focused on women’s health, integrating menstrual cycle tracking and built-in pain relief electrodes within undergarments for comfort and proactive care.
• ARKA Lifestyle was designed for everyday users and early tech adopters, featuring aesthetic customization like color-changing fabrics and environmental features like temperature regulation.
This multi-product strategy allowed ARKA to address both niche and mainstream users while remaining rooted in a single enabling technology.
VALUE DELIVERED
Selected as a finalist in the SCAD Startup 2025 competition
Delivered a full branding package, interactive prototype assets, and a pitch-ready business deck within 72 hours
Created a compelling multi-market vision grounded in near-future feasibility and technological realism
Showcased the strength of structured design management under extreme constraints
APPROACH
The project was a rapid-fire sprint with no room for ambiguity. As Team Lead, I implemented a clear, actionable structure to guide our team across concept creation, design execution, and business planning:
• Defined role clarity using the RACI matrix, assigning responsibility across research, design, and deliverables
• Facilitated a 2x2 prioritization matrix to focus energy on high-impact assets that could be created within our time and resource limits
• Applied a Blue Ocean Strategy to identify an underserved opportunity area in wearable tech beyond the obvious categories
• Developed a Business Model, defining customer segments, value propositions, cost structure, and revenue streams
• Developed a go-to-market strategy and estimated financial models to present a credible path to commercialization
• Managed the team’s overall pace, clarity, and pitch readiness under intense constraints while keeping the vision aligned and execution sharp
SUMMARY
ARKA was a test of leadership under pressure. From building a concept from zero to pitching a multi-product, tech-grounded brand in just three days, this project demonstrated the power of structure, team clarity, and strategic decision-making. ARKA represents how speculative design, when guided by smart management, can produce real, fundable innovation in emerging industries.
ARKA
ARKA was a concept venture developed for the SCAD Startup competition, a high-pressure, 3-day design sprint focused on future-forward innovation. With a tight timeline and full autonomy over concept direction, our team explored the potential of smart fabric technology to reimagine wearable tech. As the Team Lead, I managed the full lifecycle of the project, driving clarity, structure, and execution across design, business, and strategy. ARKA was selected as a finalist in the competition and was recognized for its multi-market vision and bold thinking.
Client
SCAD Startup - Designathon
Timeline
72 Hours
Skills & Methods
Design Management
Concept Development
Rapid Prototyping
Business Modeling
Creative Ideation Facilitation
Strategic Framing
RACI Matrix
2x2 Prioritization
Blue Ocean Strategy
Market Segmentation
Target Customer Archetypes
GTM Strategy
Team
Prathamesh Patil (Team Lead) | Pallavi Brokar | Omkar Talwalkar | Maitreyi Badami | Prachi Desai
PROBLEM
The challenge was to conceptualize a future-facing innovation in wearable technology that was ambitious yet grounded in near-future feasibility. While typical directions like smartwatches and AR glasses were saturated, our goal was to explore a less obvious but more scalable avenue that could unlock new product possibilities across diverse markets.
SOLUTION
We developed ARKA, a speculative startup built around smart fabric technology, a cutting-edge material system embedding nano-sensors and electronics directly into fabric. ARKA featured three tailored product lines for distinct user groups:
• ARKA Perform targeted athletes and extreme performers, offering real-time biometric sensing, motion tracking, and performance monitoring built directly into high-impact apparel.
• ARKA Vital focused on women’s health, integrating menstrual cycle tracking and built-in pain relief electrodes within undergarments for comfort and proactive care.
• ARKA Lifestyle was designed for everyday users and early tech adopters, featuring aesthetic customization like color-changing fabrics and environmental features like temperature regulation.
This multi-product strategy allowed ARKA to address both niche and mainstream users while remaining rooted in a single enabling technology.
VALUE DELIVERED
Selected as a finalist in the SCAD Startup 2025 competition
Delivered a full branding package, interactive prototype assets, and a pitch-ready business deck within 72 hours
Created a compelling multi-market vision grounded in near-future feasibility and technological realism
Showcased the strength of structured design management under extreme constraints
APPROACH
The project was a rapid-fire sprint with no room for ambiguity. As Team Lead, I implemented a clear, actionable structure to guide our team across concept creation, design execution, and business planning:
• Defined role clarity using the RACI matrix, assigning responsibility across research, design, and deliverables
• Facilitated a 2x2 prioritization matrix to focus energy on high-impact assets that could be created within our time and resource limits
• Applied a Blue Ocean Strategy to identify an underserved opportunity area in wearable tech beyond the obvious categories
• Developed a Business Model, defining customer segments, value propositions, cost structure, and revenue streams
• Developed a go-to-market strategy and estimated financial models to present a credible path to commercialization
• Managed the team’s overall pace, clarity, and pitch readiness under intense constraints while keeping the vision aligned and execution sharp
SUMMARY
ARKA was a test of leadership under pressure. From building a concept from zero to pitching a multi-product, tech-grounded brand in just three days, this project demonstrated the power of structure, team clarity, and strategic decision-making. ARKA represents how speculative design, when guided by smart management, can produce real, fundable innovation in emerging industries.
ARKA
ARKA was a concept venture developed for the SCAD Startup competition, a high-pressure, 3-day design sprint focused on future-forward innovation. With a tight timeline and full autonomy over concept direction, our team explored the potential of smart fabric technology to reimagine wearable tech. As the Team Lead, I managed the full lifecycle of the project, driving clarity, structure, and execution across design, business, and strategy. ARKA was selected as a finalist in the competition and was recognized for its multi-market vision and bold thinking.
Client
SCAD Startup - Designathon
Timeline
72 Hours
Skills & Methods
Design Management
Concept Development
Rapid Prototyping
Business Modeling
Creative Ideation Facilitation
Strategic Framing
RACI Matrix
2x2 Prioritization
Blue Ocean Strategy
Market Segmentation
Target Customer Archetypes
GTM Strategy
Team
Prathamesh Patil (Team Lead) | Pallavi Brokar | Omkar Talwalkar | Maitreyi Badami | Prachi Desai
PROBLEM
The challenge was to conceptualize a future-facing innovation in wearable technology that was ambitious yet grounded in near-future feasibility. While typical directions like smartwatches and AR glasses were saturated, our goal was to explore a less obvious but more scalable avenue that could unlock new product possibilities across diverse markets.
SOLUTION
We developed ARKA, a speculative startup built around smart fabric technology, a cutting-edge material system embedding nano-sensors and electronics directly into fabric. ARKA featured three tailored product lines for distinct user groups:
• ARKA Perform targeted athletes and extreme performers, offering real-time biometric sensing, motion tracking, and performance monitoring built directly into high-impact apparel.
• ARKA Vital focused on women’s health, integrating menstrual cycle tracking and built-in pain relief electrodes within undergarments for comfort and proactive care.
• ARKA Lifestyle was designed for everyday users and early tech adopters, featuring aesthetic customization like color-changing fabrics and environmental features like temperature regulation.
This multi-product strategy allowed ARKA to address both niche and mainstream users while remaining rooted in a single enabling technology.
VALUE DELIVERED
Selected as a finalist in the SCAD Startup 2025 competition
Delivered a full branding package, interactive prototype assets, and a pitch-ready business deck within 72 hours
Created a compelling multi-market vision grounded in near-future feasibility and technological realism
Showcased the strength of structured design management under extreme constraints
APPROACH
The project was a rapid-fire sprint with no room for ambiguity. As Team Lead, I implemented a clear, actionable structure to guide our team across concept creation, design execution, and business planning:
• Defined role clarity using the RACI matrix, assigning responsibility across research, design, and deliverables
• Facilitated a 2x2 prioritization matrix to focus energy on high-impact assets that could be created within our time and resource limits
• Applied a Blue Ocean Strategy to identify an underserved opportunity area in wearable tech beyond the obvious categories
• Developed a Business Model, defining customer segments, value propositions, cost structure, and revenue streams
• Developed a go-to-market strategy and estimated financial models to present a credible path to commercialization
• Managed the team’s overall pace, clarity, and pitch readiness under intense constraints while keeping the vision aligned and execution sharp
SUMMARY
ARKA was a test of leadership under pressure. From building a concept from zero to pitching a multi-product, tech-grounded brand in just three days, this project demonstrated the power of structure, team clarity, and strategic decision-making. ARKA represents how speculative design, when guided by smart management, can produce real, fundable innovation in emerging industries.