
Many of us are caught in the current of a fast-paced culture that has an insatiable appetite for speed and quantity. In this madness for more, somewhere along the way—before we could realize it—we have forsaken the importance of quality for quantity. We have more networks and fewer conversations of the real kind.
Have we become high on information but low on reflection? Are we so obsessed with our identities that collaboration has lost its meaning? Are we surrounded by systems that are gaining speed at an alarming rate—alarmingly faster than we can adapt?
At Otenga, it is at these crossroads that we find ourselves, time and again. There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.

Project Otenga is a unique culinary experience born from a participatory food design experiment founded in 2016 by Kabyashree Borgohain from Assam and Dayananda Meitei from Manipur.
Evolving from a design research project at the National Institute of Design (NID) to a house café in Gandhinagar, and later becoming a culture café at Ahmedabad University from 2017 to 2024, it seamlessly blends elements of a food lab, restaurant, and design studio.
By harnessing the power of food as a behavioral tool, Project Otenga fosters creative multidisciplinary collaborations while serving contemporary flavors from Northeast India. Through this approach, it nurtures collective potential and showcases the region’s rich culinary heritage. At present, Project Otenga is expanding its multimodal roots and fostering a space for creative expression in Delhi and Ahmedabad.



Otenga, or the Elephant apple, is a fruit widely used in Assam. Unlike most fruits, Otenga forms from the petals of the flower—instead of falling away, they wrap around each other, strengthening and hardening into the fruit itself. This transformation mirrors Project Otenga’s multi-faceted approach.
Otenga carries the spirit of slowness, resilience, and interdependence. It reminds us that beauty lies in quiet transformation, and that nourishment—like growth—requires time.

Meet the Team

Kabyashree Borgohain
Founder
Kabyashree is a design strategist, design researcher, experience curator, and chef. She is the founder of Project Otenga and Otenga Design Studio, a multidisciplinary studio focused on designing food experiences and conducting food research. Kabyashree holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Design Management from the National Institute of Design in Gandhinagar and in Lifestyle Accessories Design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Chennai.
In the past, she has helped establish design divisions for various family-run businesses in the food and textile sectors. She has worked as a design researcher on projects for companies such as IFB, Mother Dairy, Triveni Industries, Deskera, and 1 to 1 Help, in addition to managing her own business. Currently, she consults as a strategic designer for a group of companies called With Waste, focusing on building Waste to Art theme parks in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
As a design educator, Kabyashree has offered courses and guest lectures on various topics, including design processes, service design, design management, system design, and user-centered design at institutions such as NID, IIM Kozhikode, CEPT, Ahmedabad University, Anant University, and UID.

Yumlembam Dayananda Meitei
Co-Founder
With an overwhelming drive for adventure, Dayananda Meitei is an explorer in his own right who lives in pursuit of answers to his curiosities. Having formerly donned multiple hats as a journalist, writer, and communications professional, Meitei gained extensive exposure in higher education during his time at The Times of India, DNA, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar.
Meitei believes in a slow and organic design approach, while his deep interest in nature and plants is reflected in his collection of succulents and other greens. He brings an intellectual and interactive approach to various global issues, articulating his perspectives in an engaging manner. A native of Manipur, Meitei continues to explore the intersections between design, nature, and human connection.
As a design educator, Kabyashree has offered courses and guest lectures on various topics, including design processes, service design, design management, system design, and user-centered design at institutions such as NID, IIM Kozhikode, CEPT, Ahmedabad University, Anant University, and UID.

Mehar Khurana
Experience Designer
Mehar Khurana is a designer whose practice spans exhibitions, experiences, research, and graphic design. A generalist and artist at heart, she brings an intuitive, poetic lens to her work. She delights in shaping thoughtful, research-led experiences that balance strategy with creativity, and is especially drawn to projects that invite reflection and participation with the intent to create resonance.
Mehar’s interests flow through research, visual ethnography, psychology, and the art of noticing—of slowing down. She holds a degree in Exhibition Design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Beyond work, Mehar paints, writes, ruminates, and experiments across analog mediums, often simultaneously, pursuing ideas, stories, places, and conversations that linger.

Divyansh Lawania
Chef
Divyansh Lawania is a chef and culinary thinker committed to advancing indigenous Indian cuisines and ingredients. With over seven years of experience across the F&B landscape, he works at the intersection of tradition and innovation, aiming to bring fresh, hygienic, and flavour-forward food to larger audiences without losing cultural depth.
Divyansh’s journey spans co-founding a regional Indian takeaway rooted in hyperlocal ingredients and global techniques, as well as leading consultancy projects across the country that reimagine restaurant models for contemporary needs. His work focuses on spotlighting overlooked grains, spices, and cooking practices while building sustainable kitchen systems grounded in ethical sourcing, waste reduction, and skill development.

Paul Samuel
Paul Samuel is a seasoned music professional with over two decades of experience, having undertaken diverse roles as a singer-songwriter, frontman, session guitar player, artist manager, music festival curator, and event programmer across multiple venues in Delhi.
He has been associated with reputed organisations such as The Piano Man and IPRS, and has collaborated extensively with leading music brands and prominent venues in New Delhi.
Driven by a clear vision to see independent artists thrive in India, he is committed to fostering an event ecosystem that recognises, honours, and fairly rewards all contributors to its success.
Known for a keen eye for detail, he excels at devising effective solutions in challenging scenarios and delivering high-quality outcomes.
Past Collaborators
Project Otenga Today is the outcome of several interdisciplinary academic collaborations, shaped by the curiosity and creativity of many. We are deeply grateful for the students who have joined us for short-term engagements—each bringing fresh perspectives and meaningful contributions, particularly to Otenga. Their work continues to play a vital role in keeping the project alive, evolving, and relevant.
We’ve had the privilege of working with:
2025
Mehr Amina, 2025, Industrial Design from the National Institute of Design, Assam, Service Designer
2024
Margi Chapani, 2024, CEPT University, Unveiling the Impact of Tangible Elements of Project Otenga on Patrons’ Behaviour
Akshat Shah, 2024, CEPT University, Decoding Design Principles and Play of Intangibles that Helped Form an Active Community at Project Otenga
2023
Advaita Jairam, 2023, ANANT UNIVERSITY, System strategy Approach to brand allignment
Srinivas Ilango, 2023, ANANT UNIVERSITY, Transforming Otenga’s Identity to a collective narrative
Manas Prabhutendolkar, 2023, ANANT UNIVERSITY, Designing billing system to Understand User Persona
Karan Meghani, 2023, ANANT UNIVERSITY, Modular eating spaces by repurposing found materials
Prayashi Talukdar, 2023, NID, AHMEDABAD, Choreographing the Experience of Community Building by using Food as the Tool & Medium for Enhancement of Service Experience at Project Otenga
Gauri Asati, 2023, NIRMA UNIVERSITY, Designing modular kitchen to host cooking experiences
Bennett Thomas, 2023, CEPT University, Examining the Potential of Food in Scenarios of Linguistic Barriers and Translingual Co-CreationHitesh Beedu, 2023, CEPT University, Food as a Participatory Tool to Facilitate Co-Creation in Scenarios with Power Differences
2021
Asir Polara, 2021, NIRMA UNIVERSITY, Developing new materials with Waste Coffee Beans
Ashna Shah, 2021, NIRMA UNIVERSITY, Documenting rice beer starter cake, foraging traditions
2020
Simran Parmar, 2020, UID, Gandhinagar, Sensploring Food, Developing Food & Eating as a communication language for blind children
2018
Vishwa Patel, 2018, NID, Ahmedabad, Reimagining Community Cooking and Food Futures
Leena Jain, 2018, NIFT Gandhinagar, Branding a Multimodal cafe
2017
Ajay Vaghela, 2017, NID, Gandhinagar, Mindfulness Experience through Water Dropper to Nurture Seasonal Seeds
2016
Kabyashree Borgohain, 2016, NID Gandhinagar, Feasibility study of a multimodal cafe service prevents early mental health problems for singular floating urban population.




