Neil Potnis is an Indian American media artist, designer, and educator exploring the intersection of media literacy and global movements. He leads the Disruptve Studio - a nonpartisan think tank exploring the intersection of media, social movements, and the South Asian diaspora.

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Potnis is currently pursuing a PhD in International and Comparative Education at Columbia University, specializing in sociology and comparative medis studies. He is also a Doctoral Fellow in the ICEP program and a Research Associate at the Center for Sustainable Futures. His research examines media as a form of education, exploring how it translates into public action to challenge cultural norms, advance climate justice, and address social inequity—ultimately fostering social movements in the Global South. He holds an MSc in Computational Design Practices from Columbia University GSAPP, and a BS (Hons) in Arts and Entertainment Technologies from the UT School of Design and Creative Technologies.

 

His recent work was featured in a group exhibition at the 2025 Biennale Architettura in Venice, where he used AI image compositing to generate low-carbon brick designs inspired by localized earthen construction practices. Prior to beginning his PhD, Potnis served as a Design Fellow at Columbia Entrepreneurship and Columbia World Projects, leading social impact workshops for groups including the Obama Foundation Scholars and Columbia's Business School. He also worked at Columbia’s Natural Materials Lab, developing life-cycle assessment tools for climate education, and at labr, where he contributed to the creation of the first climate marketplace for direct action.

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Neil’s work aims to uncover the broader role of multimedia in shaping civic education and its capacity to drive public action worldwide. Through this vision, he aspires to merge social impact with art, exploring innovative methods to communicate research and data in compelling ways.