Inside The First Edition Of Design Salon: One Unforgettable Weekend

When Design Pataki announced the launch of its Design Salon, it promised an unforgettable weekend dedicated to design, dialogue, and discovery. On 23rd August, that promise came alive, in collaboration with the Four Seasons Hotel, Mumbai, as some of the country’s leading designers and visionaries gathered for the very first edition. Curated and hosted by Esha Gupta, founder of Design Pataki, the Salon was envisioned as a platform where conversations around design could move beyond panel discussions and into shared experiences — intimate, immersive, and deeply inspiring.

But what exactly is a Design Salon? Inspired by the historic European tradition of salons—intellectual gatherings where art, culture, and ideas were exchanged in intimate settings—Design Pataki reimagines this format for the Indian design community. The Design Salon is not a conference, nor a formal seminar. Instead, it is a curated space that brings together creative minds to engage in meaningful dialogue, explore craft through immersive experiences, and build genuine connections that extend beyond the event.

A Gentle Beginning

The morning unfolded at the Four Seasons with an ease that belied the momentum ahead. Guests stepped into the Mansion’s Great Room, greeted with crafted refreshments that set the tone for the hours to come. It wasn’t just about coffee and croissants—every detail, from bespoke welcome drinks to the elegance of the setting, felt designed to encourage reflection and connection. By 11:30 am, the Design Salon was in motion.

The atmosphere was one of generosity—architects, designers, and cultural practitioners gathered not for formalities, but to share, listen, and connect. Among them were Apoorva Shroff of Lyth Design, Rajiv Deepak Parekh and Ekta Puri Parekh of reD, Sumesh Menon of Sumeesh Menon Architects, Chirag Dewan of Neterwala Aibara, and Nishita Kamdar of Studio Nishita Kamdar.

Each brought with them a distinct sensibility. Jannat Vasi Lokhandwala of Jannat Vasi Designs offered perspectives rooted in storytelling through interiors, while Iram Boxwala of her namesake studio shared reflections on detail and craft. Mangesh Lungare and Aashni Kumar added voices of emerging practice, while Zubin Master, Design Matrix, carried the weight of heritage and material knowledge into the conversation.

The format was deliberately intimate. Instead of overwhelming panels or back-to-back presentations, the Salon unfolded more like a gathering among peers — one where stories, insights, and even disagreements could flow organically. Brunch added a convivial note, keeping the conversation light but charged with possibility.

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Craft, Heritage, and Hands-On Discovery

In the afternoon, the Salon shifted from conversation to craft. Guests were invited into a rare, hands-on workshop led by Firdaus Variava of Bharat Floorings & Tiles, one of India’s oldest and most storied flooring brands. Established over a century ago, Bharat Floorings has long been celebrated for harnessing the finest European technologies while adapting them to the unique demands of Indian conditions. Their craftsmanship graces the palaces of Maharajas, Raj Bhavans, distinguished residences, prestigious hotels, vital hospitals, vibrant clubs, and even bustling factories. In an age dominated by mechanisation, the workshop offered a grounding contrast. Participants rolled up their sleeves to experiment with pigments and moulds, rediscovering the tactile beauty of traditional tile-making.

For those who preferred respite over activity, the Four Seasons Spa offered a parallel track. From stress relief massages to neck-and-shoulder recovery sessions, guests could quite literally unwind before the evening’s festivities. The juxtaposition of tactile craft and quiet luxury captured the spirit of the Salon itself — design as both engagement and retreat.

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The Modernist Affair

As twilight descended, anticipation rose for the evening’s programme: The Modernist Affair. Against the glittering city skyline on the 33rd floor of the Four Seasons, guests gathered with cocktails in hand, ready for an evening curated around inspired conversations and creative exchange, guided by emcee Varun Narayana.

The night opened with a toast by none other than Esha Gupta— not only to the debut of the Salon, but to the vibrant community it had brought together. The atmosphere was celebratory yet effortlessly relaxed, the kind of setting where ideas flowed freely and conversations unfolded without pretence.

The evening took an unexpected turn with a sharp, witty performance by Aditi Mittal, one of India’s most acclaimed stand-up comedians and a pioneering voice in the comedy scene. Also joined by her friend and fellow comedian Kajol Srinivasan for the night. Known for her incisive humour and fearless perspective, Mittal brought levity and laughter to the gathering — a playful counterpoint to the day’s more cerebral dialogues, and a reminder that creativity thrives in joy as much as in thought.

Later, the after-party pulsed to the eclectic sounds of DJ Krishna, whose genre-bending sets seamlessly move between house, disco, and global beats. A rising name in India’s music scene, Krishna brought an infectious energy to the dance floor, transforming the room into a space of rhythm, movement, and celebration.

Art in Conversation

At the Design Pataki Salon, art was not an accessory but a vital dialogue partner. Installations and displays by Rekha Goyal and Sabiha Dohadwala reminded guests that design does not exist in isolation, but in constant conversation with art, craft, and culture. These interventions created moments of pause—inviting reflection, sparking dialogue, and encouraging a deeper immersion into creativity beyond the spoken word.

This emphasis on art as an inseparable part of design stems from DP Agency, India’s premier luxury design and marketing consultancy, born from the acclaimed legacy of Design Pataki. With over a decade of expertise, DP Agency merges refined aesthetics with transformative strategies to craft brand narratives that resonate with sophistication and purpose. As part of this vision, the agency launched The Artist, a vertical dedicated to championing contemporary voices and their intersections with craft and culture. 

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More Than An Event

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of the Salon’s partners, who shared Design Pataki’s vision of elevating design culture in India. Foremost Marbles led as presenting partner, joined by Fima Carlo Frattini, Yantra, Orange Tree, InHouz, Burosys, Milaris, Pallavi Goenka, Flow, and Purple Patch. Each partnership wasn’t just symbolic — their presence infused the weekend with an ecosystem of design-driven voices, from material innovation to product design.

Looking back, the debut Design Salon was more than just an event. It was a collective pause — an opportunity for India’s design community to step away from deadlines, site visits, and studio schedules, and instead gather in a space of shared curiosity. The weekend allowed ideas to flow, collaborations to be seeded, and friendships to be renewed. In an industry where gatherings often lean towards the transactional, the Salon felt refreshingly human. It wasn’t about business cards exchanged but about stories shared over a workshop bench, laughter at a comedy set, or a toast raised under the city’s skyline.