One of the few areas where Indian IT often fails to provide a competitive advantage is design. Subjective and highly specific, design is difficult to price and dilutes quickly when scaled.

Also, general Indian aesthetics often lead to earthy tones and cluttered interfaces (though this is changing – witness the simplifying of the Times of India website and of course, the many talented Indian designers beginning to gain international recognition).

Another disadvantage for India is that the evolution of cutting edge design is an urban phenomenon, that centers on a fast-paced group of NY/SF/London (etc.) design houses. The eager desi photoshop-jockey usually can’t compete with the capuccino-sipping, black-cashmere-sweater-wearing, buzzword-making, fashion-show-attending glamour-exuding New York designer.

Unless of course, the desi photoshop jockey meditates regularly and gets his/her nourishment by staring at the sun. Smita Narang taps the ancient Hindu “science of direction” to create websites that take the user “to the destination of peace, prosperity and happiness”.

Wired thought it would be entertaining to ask Smita for her thoughts on the geek iBible, slashdot. I think it might be entertaining to ask other designers for their thoughts on Smita’s website…sorry, Smita, but I’m not really feeling the vastu. And, I worry about the dubious effects these types of claims have on the Indian design industry. Perhaps ancient science does have a lot to offer to web design – I just hope that this isn’t Atkins for the web, desi style. Get more thoughts from Patrix or see Slashdot comments around WebVastu.