- Can you give us a brief insight into your design journey?
I began my career as an interior designer in LA, working alongside Maxime Jacquet who is an experienced and highly renowned designer. However, I eventually decided to return back to my home country. Upon my return, I had the opportunity to work with J. J. Valaya and helped establish his interior label. While working with Valaya and other great designers, I gained invaluable experience and honed my skills. However, I also realized that I needed to find my own artistic voice in order to have that creative freedom. The timing was perfect, as I got married and moved into my own home. This allowed me to undertake my first solo project: designing my own house. For the first time, I was able to express my personal style without any external influence. This project truly reflected my artistic vision and was even featured in a magazine. This recognition helped me gain more clients through word of mouth and kick-started my independent design career. Looking back, I consider this project to be the starting point of my journey as a successful interior designer. It allowed me to discover my own unique style and paved the way for my future endeavors in the industry.
- How did you get your first project?
- From design school to a full fledged professional, what were your high points and low points in this field?
As a designer, having full creative freedom was a game-changer for me, as I could bring my ideas to life without any restrictions. It was refreshing to work independently, and my clients’ trust and admiration for my work only added to my confidence. However, I soon realized that executing my designs was not as easy as conceptualizing them. This was particularly true in India, where I faced new challenges due to my lack of experience in the market. I struggled to understand the local culture, traditions, and business practices, which impacted my ability to deliver on time and within budget. Overpromising and under-delivering was a common issue, which led to some low points in my journey. However, I learned from my mistakes and gradually improved my communication skills, which helped me manage my clients’ expectations better. I also took the time to understand the nuances of the Indian market, such as the importance of festivals and family time, and how they can impact project timelines. Ultimately, I realized that patience and persistence are essential traits for success in any field. By being transparent and honest with my clients, I was able to build strong relationships based on trust and mutual respect. While there were some lows, my journey as a designer has been full of valuable lessons and rewarding experiences.
After designing my own house, I began receiving calls from friends and family asking for my advice and help with their own interior design projects. I even helped a relative design a lounge space, and the end result was so quite impressive. Before I knew it, I had become the go-to person for interior design advice among friends and family. Through word of mouth, I started receiving my first few projects, all thanks to the positive feedback and the buzz that my designs had generated. And thus, my journey as a designer began, with my reputation spreading through recommendations and referrals.
- Any one turning point in your career that you wish to highlight?
I believe that our decision to expand our capabilities in-house by acquiring the Hidden Gallery was a significant turning point for us. This move has allowed us to reduce our reliance on external vendors and has given us more control over our design process. While this transition has come with its fair share of challenges, it has also presented us with numerous learning opportunities, which have helped me grow as a designer. As a result, I now possess a much better understanding of materials and product design, which gives me more confidence in execution. This newfound knowledge and expertise have been a great advantage for me, and I am grateful for the experience. Overall, this decision has proven to be a valuable investment, and I am excited to see where it takes us in the future.
- What is the one mistake in your career that you would like to go back and change if you could?
Reflecting on my past experiences, I believe that one mistake I made was undervaluing myself in terms of commercial negotiations. Initially, we were willing to come down on costs to win projects. However, I realized that this was a mistake as it allowed clients to take advantage of us and not value our work. I think that if I had held my ground and stuck to higher design fees, clients may have actually respected us more. It took us longer to establish our position with clients and ourselves, and I learned that it’s crucial to position yourself correctly and not compromise on your worth. I believe that if you offer a unique and curated design experience, you should be willing to charge accordingly. It’s important to remember that designing a project takes a lot of time and effort, and for you to feel satisfied, you must be compensated fairly. I have always been clear that I will not take on a project that doesn’t align with my aesthetic or values, and that is not a mistake. My advice to others is to never compromise on your worth and never undervalue yourself. It’s better to say no to a project that doesn’t align with your values than to sell yourself short.
- The industry is still largely male dominated. Why do you think that is? Why do you think that is?
Personally, I think the design industry as a whole has a long way to go in terms of gender equality, not just in terms of women designers but also in terms of the vendors, clients, and laborers we deal with. In my seven to eight years of working in this industry, I have never come across a skilled craftsman like a polisher, carpenter, plumber, or electrician who was a woman. This is definitely something to think about. Although I have come across women designers, I think our country still has a long way to go when it comes to gender equality, and this is reflected in the fact that women are expected to stay at home and take care of the family while men are expected to be the breadwinners. While this is changing, it is still a long road ahead, especially in our industry. Being a designer means being out and about a lot, and while it may seem glamorous, it is far from it. We are constantly on site, dealing with people from all walks of life, and facing all kinds of weather conditions. It is not an air-conditioned office where we can sit and work comfortably. Additionally, when we go sourcing for materials, we often have to go to different areas, which can be quite challenging for women. Unfortunately, I have also noticed that the design industry is quite male-dominated, and men don’t like to be told what to do by women. This is especially true in my experience with the design team, where even people much junior to me are more comfortable taking orders from a male boss than from a female one. It’s just how it is, and it’s something we need to work on.
- With changing times, what would be your advice to upcoming home grown brand leaders on how to navigate the architecture world?
As someone who has experience in the design industry and entrepreneurship, my advice would be to follow your own design instincts. With such a large population in India and the increase in globalization, there is a market for everyone. It’s important to trust your inner voice and not try to fit into a certain mold just to attract more projects. If your work is good, the projects will come to you. However, it’s important to be resilient and patient because success doesn’t come overnight. You have to keep working hard and eventually, success will come your way. This advice also applies to architecture. It’s important to have confidence in your design ideas and not to compromise your vision just to please others. If you stick to your design principles, you will attract clients who appreciate your unique style and perspective.