Speakers 2021
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Akanksha Deo Sharma
Designer, IKEA
Listed as Forbes 30 under 30 (2020), Akanksha Deo Sharma is an industrial designer, textile innovator and a visual artist. She is the only Indian desi...Read Moregner working with IKEA, a Swedish International Group and is known to combine new-age artistic design thinking with age-old artisan manufacturing techniques to make her distinct version of democratic design. Her works with IKEA, Raw Mango, Cell Design and Love Birds have drawn a lot of positive attention over recent years. Akanksha combines her knowledge of Indian textile history, handicrafts and construction techniques to develop minimal, clean and playful products.
Alan Abraham
Principal Architect, Abraham John Architects
Alan Abraham is the joint principal architects of Abraham John Architects, a multidisciplinary architecture, interior design, landscaping and urban pl...Read Moreanning firm. His body of work includes architectural & interior projects such as luxury villas, high end residences and unique offices, as well as hospitality & institutional projects, several charitable works including earthquake and cyclone proof buildings in Karaikkal (Tamil Nadu), Vijaywada & Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Latur (Maharashtra) and Rajkot (Gujarat). Their forte is attention to details and customisation. Honesty to design, client satisfaction, and sustainability are the driving forces, along with the ability to constantly explore & evolve.
Alexis Dornier
Founder / Co-Founder, Alexis Dornier Architecture Studio / Stilt Studios
Alexis Dornier was born in Munich, Germany in 1981, where he grew up inspired by his ancestors and family members being into aviation, art, engineerin...Read Moreg, photography and design. Alexis studied architecture at the Berlin University of the Arts and interned for Asymptote Architecture, OMA-NY and Rex between 2004-2007 in New York City, and opened up his design studio in Berlin in 2009. In 2013, he moved his practice to Bali. With a rapidly growing body of work, Alexis is intrigued by recalibrating his design approach for each task, experimenting with different materials and structures, styles and methods. He strongly believes that well built environments are a result of respectful collaboration and a positive team spirit. Architectural design, just like anything else, should aim to become an act of mindful expression. Aside from architecture and interior design, Alexis is intrigued by entrepreneurship. He has co founded several businesses, his latest firm www.stilt-studios.com he founded with his former client and now friend Florian Holm in 2019.
Amit Syngle
Managing Director & CEO, Asian Paints Ltd
Managing Director & CEO of Asian Paints Ltd. Amit Syngle is the man behind India’s only research based colour trend prediction system. He has be...Read Moreen responsible for propelling the brand into a league of its own and has spearheaded several new business initiatives over the last decade, including designer collaborations and special showcases.
Anjali Mody
Founder and Creative Director / President - Projects (Design and Execution), Josmo Studio / Delta Corp Ltd
Anjali Mody is the co-founder of a bespoke design practice, JOSMO and creative agency, Skarma. Her practice reflects a philosophy centered on blending...Read More necessity with imagination. Through her efforts, Anjali is transforming the arena of design in India by adopting best practices, environmentally sound manufacturing and expression through design. She believes that good design is the foundational fabric of a happy life. It ensures efficiency, functionality and aesthetic value that controls the way people feel and therefore the choices that they make. Through her design solutions, she aims to provide people sustianble solutions that are long lasting and in tune with nature.
Arik Levy
Designer & Artist, Arik Levy Studio
An artist, photographer, designer, video artist, Arik Levy's skills are multidisciplinary and his work can be seen in prestigious galleries and museum...Read Mores worldwide. He is best known for his “Rock” sculptures composed of mirror-polished stainless steel. Considering himself more of a "feeling" artist, he continues to contribute substantially to complete environments that can be adapted for multi use. The Israeli-born creator believes 'creation is an uncontrolled muscle'. Hailing originally from Israel and moving to Europe after his first participation in a group sculpture exhibition in Tel–Aviv in 1988, Levy currently works in his studio in Paris. Considering himself now more of a "feeling" artist, Arik Levy continues to contribute substantially to our interior and exterior milieu, his work including public sculpture, as well as complete environments that can be adapted for multi use. "Life is a system of signs and symbols," he says, "where nothing is quite as it seems."
Ayesha Puri
Architectural Designer, Sanjay Puri Architects
Recently named in the top 50 young architects of the country by Architect and Interiors India, Ayesha Puri has completed her Bachelors degree in Archi...Read Moretecture at the University of Bath in 2016. She has worked alongside the best in the field such as; AHMM, SEZA before joining Sanjay Puri Architects in 2018. With a keen interest in colours and patterns, she enjoys collaborating with artists and the process of exploration and experimentation in design. Presently, she is working on a wide array of residential and commercial projects as well as engaging in product design.
Baptiste Bohu
Founder, Baptiste Bohu Interiors
Intended to have a career in finance after graduating from Business School, Baptiste Bohu's passion for design & architecture finally took over. I...Read Moren 2008, the designer set up a practice in Shanghai. The strong family background in real estate and construction helped acquire taste and technical skills to create elegant and comfortable interiors. Inspired by Art Deco, French classicism, Indian, Balinese, Moroccan, and contemporary design, he enjoys mixing different eras to produce unique and serene spaces. His style has been sought after by an A-list clientele for residential and commercial projects worldwide.
Bruno Chenesseau
Design Director, Kolher India and Europe
Bruno Chenesseau started his career with designing outdoor furniture for Allibert company then moved to work with agencies in Paris as an interior des...Read Moreigner, art director and industrial designer. He now leads as Studio Director -Kitchen & Bath, EMEA, Kohler Co. Over the years he describes the association to have fuelled his passion for inventiveness, innovation and originality.
Chaitanya Dixit
Artist, CHE LABS
Popularly known as Che, Chaitanya Dixit has established himself as a leader in sneaker customizations. He started his journey in early 2018 with the f...Read Moreirst pair of custom vans that went on to give him the recognition leading to collaborations with Reebok, Fila, Adidas, Puma, Veg Non Veg and Superkicks. Each pair is a fresh canvas allowing the artist to create unique, one-off designs.
Ekta Parekh
Co-Founder, reD Architects
The co-founder of reD Architects, Ekta Parekh has worked in varied environments of small design studios to large scale corporate spaces, both in Mumba...Read Morei and New York, bringing to the practice a blend of team spirit enriched with an inventive design and construction approach. Her experience ranges from building projects like residential complexes, bungalows and hotels to bridge construction and interior projects in the health care, retail and hospitality industry. Ekta has received her Masters in Architecture from University of Pennsylvania (UPENN), Philadelphia Frequently Lectures at Kamla Raheja Institute of Architecture and Environmental Studies
Iram Sultan
Interior designer Iram Sultan specialises in creating both modern and traditional designs with a unique twist. Her work focuses on designing spaces th...Read Moreat are beautiful, comfortable and most importantly functional. Design to her is all about storytelling, curated with love and told with passion. Art plays an important role in her spaces and she is known to effectively amalgamate the best of artworks in all her project. Her design rule of three Cs is based on Create, Curate and Collect.
Kamna Malik
Content Director / Editor, India Design ID / ELLE India
Kamna Malik is the Content Director for India Design ID and also the Editor for ELLE India magazine. After graduating with a degree in law, she went o...Read Moren to study media, and earned a double-masters in Entrepreneurship & Innovation. She has been part of the media industry for almost 15 years now and in this time, Kamna has worked with multiple architecture, design and lifestyle magazines. She has actively contributed to the shaping of brand visions for various titles and has been instrumental in creating new strategies and programs. Kamna has also been actively involved with various prominent design institutions like the London Design Festival, Victoria & Albert Museum and Tate Modern.
Maarten Baas
Maarten Baas is considered to be one of the most influential Dutch designers of the beginning of the 21st century. He is often described as an “auth...Read Moreor designer,” of which his works lie on the boundaries between art and design. His work is known as rebellious, playful, intellectual, theatrical and artistic. He has gained an autonomous position in the design field, and his work varies from conceptual designs, limited editions, production design, installations, public space, architecture, interior design, theater design and performances. His works are in major museum collections, such as the MoMa, Victoria & Albert Museum, Les Arts Decoratifs, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Die Neue Sammlung, Stedelijk Museum and Rijksmuseum. And in private collections of Brad Pitt, Kanye West, Ian Schrager and Adam Lindemann. He worked for exclusive brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Swarovski, Dior, Gramercy Park Hotel, Dom Ruinart and Berluti.
Misha Bains
Sales Director / Publisher, India Design ID / ELLE Decor
Director of India Design ID and Publisher of ELLE Décor magazine, Misha Bains consistently strives to bridge the gap between the art of design and th...Read Moree business of design. She has been associated with India Design ID for over 6 years now and in this time, she has worked very closely with some of the best décor brands in India and internationally. She possesses a keen eye on details and likes to keep things understated and subtle. According to her, “Design should be timeless and intuitive”. A space or product has to move all the five human senses at the same time. Good design should be functional, subtle and evergreen.”
Reyaz Badaruddin
Co-Founder, Atelier Lālmitti
Recipient of the National Award & Junior Fellowships by the government of India, Reyaz Badruddin is co-curator and member of the organising commit...Read Moretee of Indian Ceramics Triennale also, the co-founder of Atelier Lālmitti. His inspiration keeps evolving to reflect a wide range of interests -social and aesthetics considerations reflecting on his work exploring a variety of thematics . Lately, he has engaged with aspects of craft and craftsmanship, exploring the place and role of artisans. Badaruddin's work can been in the collection of Keramik Künstler Haus in Germany, Mark Rothko Art Center in Latvia and at FULE International Ceramic Museum in China.
Richard Hutten
Founder & Art Director, Richard Hutten Studio
Rotterdam based Richard Hutten is one of the most influential and successful Dutch designers. He is well known for his conceptual and playful designs....Read More A true innovator, he has established himself as one of the leading international figures in his field, continuously pushing the boundaries of design. Born in The Netherlands in 1967, Richard graduated of the Design Academy in Eindhoven in 1991, the same year he started his own design studio. With a team of experts he is working across furniture design and interior design. Many of his products have become successful design icons and are represented in renowned museums all over the world. His work is held in the permanent collections of over 40 museums around the world making him one of the most collected living designers. The list includes MoMA New York, Victoria & Albert Museum London, Centraal Museum Utrecht, Vitra Museum Weil am Rhein, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Design Museum London, Design Museum Gent, Stedelijk Museum ’s Hertogenbosch, Chicago Art Institute and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.
Rooshad Shroff
Founder, Rooshad Shroff Architecture + Design
Founded in 2011, Rooshad Shroff is a boutique firm based out of Mumbai, India. His practice spans architecture, interiors and bespoke furniture. Over ...Read Morethe years, the studio has carved out a niche for itself based on the philosophy of integrated design, with a special focus on artisanry and high-end luxury. Over the course of a decade, Rooshad has undertaken projects not only across the country -- from New Delhi and Jaipur to Hyderabad and Goa -- but abroad as well, in cities such as London, Bangkok and Abu Dhabi.Since 2013, the firm has been showcasing at several prestigious exhibitions and art shows. Internationally, Rooshad has presented at London Craft Week 2019 and Ambiente 2019, invited to the latter as India’s representative in the Young Talents division by Messe Frankfurt. The studio has also forayed into the design field of visual merchandising, commissioned exclusively by French label Hermès to design their boutique window displays in Mumbai and Delhi for seven years running. Collaborating with artisans across the country, RS champions the cause and romantic appeal of the handmade, investing considerable time and effort into extensive research and experimentation with centuries-old techniques, to introduce novel products and finishes through tailored solutions.
Samuel Barclay
Co-Founder & Principal, Case Design
After earning bachelor degrees in architecture and civil engineering, Samuel went on to obtain his Masters in Architecture from the Southern Californi...Read Morea Institute of Architecture in 2004. He practiced in Los Angeles with Studio Works Architects before moving to India in 2006 to work with Studio Mumbai. In 2013, he co-founded Case Design with his wife Erica Barclay, a practice rooted in India engaging in collaborative design processes to create spaces and objects of all scales that deeply impact human interactions and the shared environment
Sanchit Arora
Studio Head Architect, Renesa Architecure Design Interiors
Principal Architect of RENESA ARCHITECTURE DESIGN INTERIORS, Sanchit Arora creates unique experiences starting from a clear strategy to reach and dedu...Read Morece end users of different products and markets. Sanchit enjoys designing brands, spaces and invent new strategies giving a new fresh sense to the firm's image. With work being recognized horizons such as residential and hospitality.
Shobhan Kothari
Co-Founder, ADND
Shobhan Kothari graduated from Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture in Mumbai. His early years in the industry presented him with an opp...Read Moreortunity to design a Deaf and Mute institute making it a milestone that led him to co-found ADND, an award-winning architecture & interior firm with Anand Menon. The partnership has encouraged dialogue on bespoke design possibilities and challenges that come with it thus creating visually striking luxury spaces delivered within the parameters of pragmatics. ADND is a boutique multi-disciplinary and multi-award-winning architecture and interior firm that is consistently listed amongst the Top 50 firms of India. Their portfolio includes luxury residential, corporate, hospitality and retai from Delhi to Bangalore and Mumbai to Kolkata. The firm is also engaged in international projects.
Shruti Jaipuria
Founder & Creative Director, MAIA Design Studio
Shruti Jaipuria is the founder at MAIA Design Studio, the award winning interior architecture practice undertakes projects in the F&B, Retail, Res...Read Moreidential and Commercial sectors. Her work approach demands detailed explorations in material, study of human behavior, and collaborations with artists, chefs and homeowners to create unique immersive spatial ‘experiences’. Integrating local materials, crafts and techniques is an integral part of the work at MAIA. Each project is unique and tailored to the client and their requirements.
Tord Boontje
Founder & Product Designer, Tord Boontje Studio
Tord Boontje is known for his expression of romanticism in contemporary design. Some of his designs are whimsical and light-hearted; at the same time ...Read Morethey can be technically innovative and connect with strong emotions. “I’m interested in creating elements for everyday life that are exciting and uplifting to live with” says Boontje. With a strong interest in storytelling, nature, decoration, materials and technology, his work has an experimental approach. The results can vary from ornate to minimal, from being handcrafted to being made-by-robots. His work can be found in major museum collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and MoMA in New York.
Vivek Gupta
Principal Architect, Arvind Vivek & Associates
A design practitioner with over 30 years of experience, Vivek Gupta is an acclaimed name in the field of urban planning, architecture & interiors....Read More He believes architecture is a social art, a communal empowering tool through creating meaningful spaces designed sustainably keeping the climate, context and client in mind. He firmly belives an architect's creation far outlives the creator hence, it is imperative that design is a result of sensitive and analytical thinking to build something that has an impact on the minds of end-users and embeds and emotion while being meaningful of the resources.
Zaki Shaikh
Founder & Principal Architect, Parthenon Architects
Prior to founding Parthenon Architects, Zaki Shaikh worked at India's leading firm Talati & Panthaky. It was his affinity and desire for establish...Read Moreing a boutique company which has the highest international levels of designing talent and also at the same time has high proficiency and attention to detailing. His work is meticulous and detail oriented which is a reflection of his nature. His portfolio includes luxury residential homes, retail and corporate offices.
