Spotlighting India’s Emerging Design Voices With Design Pataki’s DP Debut 3.0 Awards 2025

Ushered by Design Pataki, DP Debut 3.0, in collaboration with Design Democracy and Artyk, landed in Hyderabad to celebrate India’s nascent design talent and craft.

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As the country’s design landscape expands with unprecedented momentum, Design Pataki surges at the vanguard of innovation with its third edition of DP Debut. Spearheaded by Design Pataki’s Founder, Esha Gupta, and in collaboration with Design Democracy and Artyk, we were proud to debut fresh voices in design and spotlight nascent creativity. This year’s competition drew a remarkable 450 entries across categories: interiors, architecture, product design, and craft, marking our biggest platform for India’s emerging creative force.

An esteemed jury steered DP Debut 3.0 with their expertise and insights into India’s design landscape. Architect Abin Chaudhuri, founder of Kolkata-based Abin Design Studio, brought his expertise in community-driven and materially innovative architecture. While Farah Ahmed, co-founder of FADD Studio, lent her unconventional and experimental approach to interiors, marked by a distinct design identity. The Interior doyenne Shernavaz Bharucha, founder of her eponymous firm, Shernavaz Interiors, imparted her distinct aesthetic that bridges heritage and contemporary living. From the world of brand and graphic design, Tania Singh Khosla, founder and Creative Director of TSK Design, infused her culturally nuanced vision into the jury. CEO and Chief Architect of JTCPL Designs, Vipul Tapke, lent his expertise in transforming corporate environments into immersive, human-centric brand experiences. Together, these five jurors, with their knowledge and multifaceted lens on how design can embody identity and culture, charted the competition’s course, spotlighting the emerging creative forces. Adding to the evening’s momentum, the event was graced by leading voices from India’s design and creative fraternity, including Arjun Rathi, Sheilja, Pallika, Akshat Bhatt, Mrinalani Ghadiok, Khushboo Khandelwal of Design Inc., Aakif Habib, Katja Larsen, and Pallavi Goenka of AMH, each bringing their distinct perspective and presence to the celebration of India’s next generation of design talent. On behalf of Design Pataki, Design Democracy, Artyk, and our illustrious jury, we are honoured to applaud the following winners: Category #1 Residential Interiors: Studio Nilasha

Founded in 2020 by Nilasha Srinivas, Hyderabad-based Studio Nilasha embodies a philosophy shaped by her multicultural journey through New York, Bombay, Florence, and Hyderabad. Through her soujourns, Srinivas brings a synthesis of global sensibilities while remaining deeply grounded in materiality and artisanal craftsmanship to her practice. With a design philosophy anchored in narrative and context, she shapes spaces that are emotionally resonant, culturally attuned, and enduring in their relevance. Also Read: #DPExclusive: Inside La Scala — A 10,000 Sq. Ft. Jaipur Penthouse Framed In Stone, Light And Stillness

Their project Zephyr is a 3,000-square-foot residence in Hyderabad, where Scandinavian aesthetic blends with Indian craftsmanship. The home unfolds as a serene composition of wood, limestone plaster, and linen, accentuated by soft whites, beiges, and sandblasted sandstone. Wicker accents in the foyer, neutral walls, and airy furnishings layer warmth into the open-plan layout, while sculptural details and natural materials guide the spatial rhythm. In the private quarters, even playful touches emerge, like crater-inspired ceiling lights illuminating the children’s room. Category #2 Commercial & Workspace Design: SOURCE Architecture 

Founded by architect Sneha Ostawal, Source Architecture is a Mumbai-based practice rooted in the essence of design and a commitment to crafting spaces that fuse creativity, precision, and timeless functionality. With over 100 projects to her name, Ostawal brings an unerring eye for precision and a spirit of trailblazing creativity, establishing the practice as a vanguard in contemporary design. The studio specialises in crafting refined residential and boutique commercial spaces that seamlessly meld functionality with aesthetic resonance. Guided by a collaborative ethos, Source Architecture shapes environments that foster a dialogue between craft and context.

Their project, Elements of Nature, is a sales and marketing office on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Organised as a sequence of workspaces, reception, and pause zones, the layout fosters fluid movement while fostering introspection and interaction. Bamboo parasols, bespoke ceiling elements, and crafted light fittings exude regional nuance to the minimal palette. It foregrounds a Vastu-compliant design and natural palette, transforming the office into a meditative counterpoint to the chaos of rapid urbanisation. Category #3 Furniture & Product Design : Waddle & Roo

Founded by Shriya Kolte, Waddle & Roo is a Mumbai-based atelier that orchestrates children’s spaces with a meticulous blend of safety, functionality, and finesse. The studio fuses rigorous design with a study of childhood dynamics and anthropology, crafting bespoke furniture that cultivates growth, curiosity, and holistic well-being. With each creation embodying meticulous attention to materiality, durability, and playfulness, they transform quotidian spaces into immersive realms where young minds can flourish and explore.

Their project SmartNest is a trailblazing baby cot that redefines kids’ furniture through a seamless blend of safety, technology, and design. Structured around functionality, its form integrates an in-built camera and discreet temperature sensors that enable real-time monitoring, offering peace of mind to the parents. With modular design and a pristine palette, the cot unites craftsmanship with adaptability, ensuring durability and aesthetics. The sustainable materials, rounded edges, and ergonomic proportions create a cocoon-like haven for the infant while facilitating use for parents.  Category #4 Culinary Spaces: URBAN MISTRII

Established in 2018 by Ritika Rakhian, Urban Mistrii is a multidisciplinary design studio that envisions the built environment as a catalyst for growth and well-being. Rooted in contextual consciousness, her practice spans architecture, interiors, and urban development, crafting spaces that balance functionality, aesthetics, and sensory experience. With an unwavering commitment to precision and craftsmanship, Urban Mistrii shapes environments that inspire connection, enrich lives, and elevate communities. Also Read: 3 Design-Forward Bar Restaurants In Bengaluru To Make You Dine In Style And Splendour

Their project, A Slice of Seoul, is a restaurant in Saket, New Delhi, where Korean hospitality is paired with Japandi minimalism. The layout balances communal dining and cultural authenticity through private dining rooms, modular booths, and traditional floor-sitting areas, encouraging natural flow and shared experiences. Featuring a wooden ceiling that visually extends the entrance and pops of colour that punctuate a neutral palette, the design imbues warmth and practicality. This project transforms dining into an immersive, culturally resonant act rather than a routine meal. Category #5 The Hospitality Design: Space Goals Design Studio

Space Goals Design Studio was established in 2020 by Siddharth Gokhale and Gaurav Shankaran. Guided by the mantra ‘Spaces with goals, spaces for goals,’ this Pune-based practice navigates the continuum between beauty, function, and purpose. With a portfolio spanning Hospitality, Residential, and Commercial projects, the studio seeks to craft environments that are adaptive, user-centric, and deeply contextual while fostering meaningful interactions and foregrounding sustainability. Also Read: LUX* Grand Baie Mauritius, Gracefully Juxtaposes Modernity With Timeless Tropical Designs

Their project, Mountains Calling Estate, is a retreat nestled amidst the snow-capped peaks of Himachal Pradesh. With a choreography of spaces that flow seamlessly into panoramic views, its layout spans across lounges, spa, and private quarters. Featuring local stone walls, textured finishes, and earthy materials that double as anchors to the mountain setting, the interiors imbue warmth and character. It champions bold hues, layered patterns, and playful details, transforming the getaway into an immersive experience, where opulence and nature entwine in harmonious dialogue. Category #6 Contemporary Craft: Studio 8 Designs

Founded in 2014 by Architects Arjun Marwaha and Pankhuri Bhatia, Studio 8 Designs is a practice that redefines commercial and retail interiors through innovation and timeless sophistication. Their philosophy rests on precision, experimentation, and narrative-driven design. Bhatia, the studio’s creative force, imbues spaces with warmth and cultural resonance, while Arjun, with his technical acumen, brings concepts to life. Together, they embody a dynamic duality, crafting environments that are evocative, enduring, and meticulously resolved.

Their project, Nido, is a rooftop lounge in North Bangalore that redefines urban leisure. Drawing references from the intimacy of a bird’s nest, the space with its soaring 20-foot ceilings blurs the boundary between city and sky. At the heart of the design is a striking cladding of lantana twigs that envelops the ceiling, transforming the structure into an earthly cocoon-like canopy that exudes both warmth and sophistication. Feather-like installations above echo this lightness, guiding the eye to a retractable roof that transitions from sunlit open to a starlit canopy. With green terrazzo and soft lighting within the arches, which underscores the material’s opulence, the earthy furnishings, woven chairs, and tropical artwork make Nido more than a lounge. Category #7 The Social Impact & Community Projects : Iksha Design Collectives

Founded by Ar. Yedla Surender and Ar. Geaupally Manish, Iksha Design Collectives is a Hyderabad-based studio that champions a hybrid ethos of architecture and design. The practice blends meticulous research, collaborations, and profound contextual acuity to conceptualise interventions that resonate with the very fabric of the local community. Committed to leveraging design as a catalyst for social impact, the studio partners with nonprofits and local initiatives to deliver projects that empower communities while fostering meaningful change. Also Read: How India’s Top Architects Are Shaping Community Spaces

Their project, the Mahendra Hills Community Project, is an intervention in a rugged terrain. Envisioned as a choreography of steps flanking a central gutter, the design directs overflowing water, conceals pipelines, and channels excess into a communal tank, transforming hazard into functionality. With reimagined “arugu” platforms that double as social hubs and strategic water management systems, the project employs thoughtful interventions to foreground safety, utility, and community experience. This project transforms neglected land into a vibrant, communal space, where design and tradition intertwine. Category #8 The Architecture and Urban Design Category: Architecture Firm

Founded by Ar. Ashish Patel, Architecture Firm is a Mumbai-based architectural atelier that pioneers ingenious, context-sensitive design solutions. The practice navigates the intricate interplay of economic pragmatism and evolving client aspirations, fostering spatial ingenuity. The studio’s projects manifest a careful balance between practicality and aesthetics, transforming challenges into innovative spaces that resonate with its locale.

Their project, Brick Tide House, located in Surat, redefines façades through material ingenuity and reinvention. It animates a cubic volume with a woven brick screen that filters air and daylight, transforming a mere enclosure into a living surface. The project exemplifies how nuanced architectural interventions can radically express identity, transforming façades into performative, functional palimpsests rather than just walls. Category #9 Retail & Brand Environment: Architect Maheshwari And Associates

Headquartered in Mumbai with offices in Kolkata and Ahmedabad, AMA – Architect Maheshwari & Associates was founded by Architect Kamal Periwal and has been at the forefront of architecture for over three decades. Now led by Principal Architect Raj Periwal, the studio has landmark projects across 16 Indian cities, spanning residential, commercial, hospitality, and institutional typologies. Raj Periwal carries forward the studio’s legacy with a contemporary vision that melds global sensibilities with Indian heritage, challenging the traditional role of architecture.  Also Read: 3 New Stores Transforming The Shopping Experience

Their project Unconventional is a retail store located in Alipore, Kolkata, where couture converges with architecture. Conceived as a choreography of draping, folding, and pleating techniques, its layout compels intuitive navigation. Featuring carved voids that double as curated displays and layered enclosures that imbue rhythm and depth, the store employs a muted palette to foreground form and surfaces. Unconventional transforms shopping into an immersive, performative act rather than a transactional routine. Category #10: Textile & Surface Design Category: Studio Rei

Based in Ahmedabad, architect and designer Purvi Tank established Studio Rei. With a practice rooted in resilience and narrative-rich design, she navigates the intersections of art, architecture, and community, imbuing spaces with layers of innovation and neuroaesthetic intent. Passionate about behavioural studies and ecology, she grounds her practice in nature and human connection. For Studio Rei, design is an act of listening, where vulnerabilities evolve into potential design, and every project becomes a bespoke discourse between aspiration and form.

Their project, Nilkanth Ayurveda Clinic, is a compact 593 sq. ft. wellness space in Ahmedabad that features innovative woven paper veneer partitions. Its layout guides intuitive movement through consultation cabins, a waiting lounge, a pharmacy, and ancillary areas. With woven paper veneer partitions that filter sunlight and allow natural ventilation, the interiors imbue softness and warmth while celebrating traditional Indian craft. Handcrafted terracotta lighting and a restrained monochrome palette foreground form and surfaces, transforming the clinic into a restorative environment where modern design and vernacular techniques converge.

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• DP Debut 2025
• Architecture
• Indian Design
• Design Pataki
• Emerging Design Voices
• Design Awards
• Interiors
• Product Design
• Craft
• Innovation