In a country like India, design goes beyond just the mere aesthetics that meets the eye. I feel it is more about acknowledging our deep-rooted history, different socio-cultural aspects, our way of life, our limitations, and opportunities - and bringing them all together in a cohesive manner to transform a space. I, as a designer, try to bridge the gap between my field of profession and society at large. It is to educate the layman about the need for and importance of design and help create a change across the different levels of society.
The beauty of being a designer is that it takes you beyond everything you might have imagined to be, and yet you can never say there is nothing left to reach out for. So, I continue reaching out for more; as it is more about the journey, rather than the destination.
LIFE BEFORE BECOMING A DESIGNER
I have trained and performed as a classical dancer for 17 years. For the first 12 years, I learned Bharatnatyam from Radha Menon. Later my guru, Kumudini Lakhia, trained me as a Kathak dancer and taught me the intricacies of the art form. This experience of unlearning an art form and learning a new style of performance helped me later in life too.
People often rightly talk about notions of a particular art being carried forward into design, but the most important thing I learned during those years of training was how discipline and persistence help you excel in your field. I carry forward this learning even today as a successful designer and try to instil the same notion in my students and young designers whom I have worked with.
TAKING THE LEAP, AND HOW
This story is from the Volume 11 No 4 edition of Home & Design Trends.
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This story is from the Volume 11 No 4 edition of Home & Design Trends.
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in Balance
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UNCONVENTIONALLY MINIMAL
Shivani Ajmera and Disha Bhavsar, the dynamic co-founding duo of Quirk Studio, have forayed their way into the world of interior design with their quirky and unconventional ideas... inspiring many young designers to follow in their footsteps
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Birju Shah, Pooja Shah and Dhaara Shah converge to form Studio-in-Dtale, an Ahmedabad-based design atelier that crafts, creates and pushes the boundaries when it comes to AvantGarde design
THE NEW AGE PURIST
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TO BE YOUR OWN MUSE
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THE STORY OF AN INDIAN LEGEND
Canna Patel, Founder and Chairperson, HCP Interior Design, is an institution in herself. Over the years, she has diligently worked to reshape the design narrative, be it with her public architectural designs, commercial outings, or residential projects. Canna is a beacon of inspiration. Here she tells us her story, how she started and down to this point in time when her firm has been appointed as the interior sub-consultants for the Central Vista Project, including the New Parliament Building.
THE GREEN ARCHITECT
What drew young Benny Kuriakose into the world of design?