Welcome to the IT Pro Panel Profile, where we talk to the CIOs, experts and IT leaders that make up the IT Pro Panel, and discover their top tech, pet peeves and IT inspirations.
Building a successful app is no simple task. Whether you're a startup trying to take your first product to market or an existing company looking to increase your footprint in the digital world, striking the right balance of smooth, intuitive design and deep functionality is a tricky proposition.
Ritam Gandhi, founder of digital design company Studio Graphene, knows this. His firm helps clients such as Coca Cola, Heineken and Mars to design and build their apps and services, offering services including UI design, development and support.
Although Studio Graphene is a design company, the company's stable of developers and engineers is the engine that powers much of its work, and Studio Graphene is deeply immersed in the world of digital technology.
Ritam Gandhi
Founder - Studio Graphene
Describe your role in 20 words or fewer.
I am the founder of Studio Graphene. We build ground-breaking digital products for startups and enterprise clients.
What was your first computer?
A Compaq Presario Desktop, which I got in 1995 as a birthday gift.
What do you like most about working in IT?
The extent to which we can use emerging technologies to make the world we live in a better place. This can range from helping non-profit organisations become more efficient to working with startups that want to bring an idea to life which provides a product or service to help benefit society as a whole.
If you could magically get rid of one piece of technology forever, what would it be, and why?
Software that allows companies to automate spam calls or messages. I think any type of technology that can be used to annoy or harm members of the public should be eliminated. The challenge with this, of course, is that the same technology can be used to benefit or harm society, depending on how an individual wants to use technology.
What future tech innovations are you most excited about?
I am excited about the role that AI will play in helping society. Many people are worried about the potential negative impact AI can have, such as the loss of earning ability for workers because of automation, but I also believe it will allow us to implement solutions to a number of challenges we currently face.
Who’s your biggest inspiration in the world of tech?
Elon Musk. He is someone I believe has the ability to face adversity and still bounce back, a quality that is really important for anyone wanting to make a difference in the world by leveraging technology.
If you're a senior IT decision-maker and you'd like to apply to be part of the IT Pro Panel, please email panel@itpro.co.uk
