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Devesh Mistry, a highly respected Indian-origin entrepreneur and one of the UAE’s most influential digital design visionaries, has passed away, according to an announcement by his company Red Blue Blur Ideas (RBBi). The agency confirmed the news on Sunday, describing the loss as a moment of deep grief for the regional creative community.
Widely recognised for transforming the digital experience landscape in the Middle East, Mistry was affectionately known as “Superman”—a tribute to his relentless energy and the agency’s name, inspired by Superman’s iconic “Red Blue Blur” streak.
Co-founded in 2011 by Mistry and Amol Kadam, RBBi credited him with shaping the agency’s culture, values, and human-centred design approach from its earliest days. In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, the team wrote, “Our Co-Founder, Devesh Mistry, passed away. To many of us, he was our own Superman.” The cause of death was not disclosed as the agency takes time to support one another through the loss.
Colleagues across the region paid tribute, noting that Mistry played a monumental role in advancing UX and UI design at a time when the industry was still emerging. Gulf News reported that his influence helped companies prioritise user-friendly digital experiences long before it became standard practice.
Mistry’s journey began in the late 1990s as a coder before his curiosity about human behaviour and interaction shifted him toward UX design. Over the years, he collaborated with major global brands including Microsoft, IBM, Emirates NBD, MasterCard, and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
Beyond client work, he was celebrated as a mentor who nurtured young talent and helped build the next generation of designers. He lectured at the University of Dubai and previously taught at the University of Technology in Sydney.
Originally from Mumbai and academically trained in physics, Devesh Mistry blended technical depth with an empathetic, human-focused approach to design — a combination that defined his remarkable legacy in the region’s digital innovation world.
