Revathi Kant has spent nearly her entire career at Titan, and it’s safe to say the company has become more than just a workplace for her. Her journey at Titan began over three decades ago when she first joined as a market researcher, eager to understand consumer behaviour and the intricacies of the market. It was an invaluable chapter in her career, allowing her to broaden her understanding of different cultures, consumer behaviour, and emerging markets.
But it was in 2005, after returning to India from Dubai, that Kant’s career took a truly unexpected turn. Eager for a new challenge, she made a bold move from marketing to design—heading the design team for Titan’s Watches division. Having been on the consumer side, as well as in marketing, she was fascinated by the idea of stepping into the creative world and bringing design to the very heart of the business. What began as an experiment would ultimately define her career at Titan.
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For five years, Kant led Titan’s design function for watches, emphasising how design could add not just aesthetic value but strategic business value. Titan has always pushed for design to be considered a central element of the brand, influencing everything from product development to consumer experience. Her role expanded further when she moved into the jewellery division, overseeing new product development and innovation. What began as an unfamiliar area soon became a passion. She realised that jewellery, with its deep emotional and personal connections, was a space where design could truly shine.
After eight years in jewellery, her vision came to fruition when she helped create the Titan Design Excellence Centre—a new vertical bringing together all design functions from across Titan’s diverse categories, including watches, jewellery , eyewear, bags, and fragrances. As Chief Design Officer, she now leads a multidisciplinary team that ensures design remains the core of Titan’s business strategy.
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Looking back on her career, Kant reflects on the incredible evolution she’s witnessed not only within Titan but across the entire design landscape. “When I first entered the world of watches and jewellery, the focus was heavily on functionality. A watch had to be durable, reliable, and practical, while jewellery was seen as more of a commodity than an emotional expression. But today, the shift is undeniable—design has become deeply intertwined with personal expression, storytelling, and emotional connections. The fundamental shift has been from function to emotion,” Kant says.
“Earlier, it was all about durability and precision. Now, people buy a product because it tells a story, expresses their personality, and connects with them emotionally.” This change is especially visible in the watch industry. What was once a purely functional object is now a statement piece, reflecting the wearer’s taste, style, and identity. The same can be said for jewellery, which has evolved from a mere accessory to an essential part of personal storytelling. Consumers today are no longer just asking, “Does it work?” but “What does it mean?” For Kant and her team, the challenge is creating pieces that resonate with consumers on a deeper level, offering not just utility but a sense of identity and connection.
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As the conversation shifts to trends, Kant is quick to point out how Titan stays ahead of the curve. “Our company has a robust trend research team that continuously scans global lifestyle movements—everything from runway shows to macroeconomic shifts and micro trends relevant to specific categories. By analysing this data, Titan can not only stay attuned to global trends but also understand what will resonate with its Indian consumers, blending international influences with local sensibilities.”
In recent years, Titan has also become a leader in material innovation. The company has experimented with a wide range of new materials, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in watch and jewellery design. For instance, Titan’s use of edge ceramic in watches has become a huge hit, while more recent innovations like carbon fibre offer a sleek, lightweight alternative. Kant is particularly proud of the brand’s ability to introduce rare materials into their products, such as meteorite and aventurine dials, which add a unique aesthetic that resonates with collectors and aficionados. Titan has even experimented with wood—an unexpected but striking material in watchmaking. “This ability to understand both global and local trends is what sets us apart,” she explains. “We’re able to create products that not only align with what’s happening in the world but also speak to the cultural heritage and values that matter to our consumers here.”
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“We are always looking for new ways to innovate, to experiment with materials that haven’t been used before in our categories,” Kant says. “We’ve worked with materials like gold, carbon fibre, and even meteorite, offering our customers something truly unique. This drive for innovation also extends to Titan’s commitment to sustainability. In addition to experimenting with eco-friendly materials like castor seed in eyewear, the company is keen on integrating sustainability into all aspects of design and production. For Titan, it’s not just about creating beautiful products, but creating products that are responsible and forward-thinking.
“We see the modern consumer as a globetrotter, someone who appreciates the finer things in life but also values authenticity and tradition. By blending these elements, we’re able to create products that speak to a global audience while staying rooted in local sensibilities,” she says. For Kant, this balance of modernity and tradition, luxury and storytelling, is what makes Titan’s designs stand out. Whether it’s a finely crafted watch or an intricately designed piece of jewellery, each product carries with it a rich narrative, a sense of history, and a deep connection to the consumer. And it’s this commitment to design that will continue to drive Titan’s success in the years to come.
