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Interview with Nitin Bhardwaj |
Home > Designer Interviews > Nitin Bhardwaj |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Nitin Bhardwaj (NB) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Nitin Bhardwaj by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
NB: Since childhood, travelling to historical places like Rajasthan palaces and forts imbibed the intricate designs and concepts. During the years of growing up I always had inclination towards art and design. After completing my graduation, there was a choice between Architecture and Engineering, I opted for Architecture considering that Engineering would always be a part of Architecture.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
NB: Ours is a small design studio consisting of 10 designers with very open atmosphere to express ideas. As an Architect I always be there in studio interacting with everyone and grasping ideas. We also take ideas from artisans and we ask them to make small dummies for complicated designs. In our studio we believe to combine design concepts of all designers and also add from the experience of trained artisans to create new possibilities and designs.
FS: What is "design" for you?
NB: Design is probably reinterpretation of Indian architecture concepts which have lot of clues to tackle the environment in presently situation and by combining modern conveniences with concepts of Indian architecture creates good living environment for example central courtyard space in Indian architecture plays very important role in the design layout.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
NB: Mostly we design individual bungalows and commercial showrooms as we can enlist our creativity.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
NB: Personally favorite is my own residence as function and efficiency take priority without the addition of any frills. Its design makes subtle references to vernacular architecture, interpreted with contemporary technology. The facade has a pleasing geometry which combines brick and textured stone. At the centre of the house is the traditional courtyard which draws attention at the wooden jaalis. The cantilevered ledges at the windows provide informal seating recalling the jharokas. Adjacent to the kitchen is the cantilevered staircase with wooden treads and suspended ropes. There is a glass walkway supported by wooden member traverses the central portion of the house which has been left transparent.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
NB: The first thing I designed was a furniture showroom for a company.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
NB: All locally available natural stones like Jodhpuri stones, steel grey granite stones, kota stones, etc. with various finishes like leather finish, sandblasting on these materials.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
NB: When I am in my studio interacting with my designers where even irrelevant ideas can spark solutions to lot many things.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
NB: I always put functionality first during designing. My personal believe is that design should be functional and abound to aesthetics is a by-product.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
NB: At times it is more of euphoria and at times it is more of meditation where I get engrossed in the process that I cut-off from the surroundings.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
NB: In the initial time I really feel good and satisfying but after sometime I start feeling that I could have done better and there would have been better solutions to what I have done.
FS: What makes a design successful?
NB: For me successful design is the person using that space is happy and satisfied and he could relate to it. That makes a successful design for me.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
NB: As I always put functionality at first place, so when judging a design, first thing I always consider is the negative spaces that are created during the process of designing.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
NB: Designers play a complex role in modern industrial societies. Designers not only create useful products and images but they also produce and reproduce cultural meanings through those products and images. In modern societies, designers have become significant creators of meaning in everyday life.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
NB: Designers will be using a completely different tool set in 10 years, we will see a renaissance of applications that make the designing and building process more powerful and efficient.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
NB: Since we are architects, we are not much into exhibitions.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
NB: Nature is my source of inspiration. Normally I take a break and go to forest, just looking at the imperfection and serenity of the nature really inspires me a lot. Also visiting to historical sites also gives lot of inspiration.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
NB: My design style is more of minimalist and contemporary. We try to keep more open to sky spaces and also green spaces inside the building to bring nature inside.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
NB: I stay in India which is culturally rich country with lots of historical palaces, forts, havelis (mansions). India has a distinct architectural styles suited to different areas like “Kath-kuni” architecture style in hilly area, “Bhunga” architecture style in desert areas and many other styles like “Indo-Saracenic” style, “Mughal” architecture style, “Indo-Islamic” style, etc. which really affects the designing process.
FS: How do you work with companies?
NB: We are design Consultant Company so we give design consultancy along with concept development, estimation and tendering process.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
NB: Usually in companies, they have very short deadlines which really affects the quality of design. I would suggest the companies that they should envisage the project a little earlier so that designers get quality time to design.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
NB: There are few basic steps in the whole process:-Meeting and understanding requirements.-Space planning and concept creation.-Design execution.-Build and install.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
NB: 5 most favorite design items at home are: 1. Wooden jaalis in central courtyard. 2. Cantilevered stairs. 3. Art corner around the staircase. 4. Main door having names of family members engraved in wooden strips. 5. Glass Bridge connecting two spaces.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
NB: A typical day starts at 9.45 a.m. by going to the on-going sites, then interacting with the artisans and clients and then coming down to the studio and interacting with designers and guiding them. The day usually ends up at 7.00 p.m.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
NB: My suggestions for young and up-coming architects would be that they should go and explore historical relevant site to seek solutions to present day challenges and believe that history has all the answers for present challenges.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
NB: Positives of being a designer are it influences the lives of people staying in the space that you designed. Since you are exposed to so many good things being a designer which improves your taste that reflects in the quality of life which you live.Negatives are that being a designer you get obsessed with the project or problems which you carry forward long after the working hours.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
NB: The golden rule in my design is “Function First”.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
NB: Basically three skills should be very sharp for a designer and those are visualizing, sketching and verbal communication.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
NB: Tools which are used by me during design are some software like AutoCAD, Revit Architecture, Adobe Photoshop CS3, 3D Max and Sketchup and various magazines like Architectural Digest, Domus, Inside Outside, Interior Exterior, etc.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
NB: Initial concepts are discussed with the designers in the office and then they start working on drawings and again fine tuning is done by me.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
NB: It depends on the detailing of object, basically time ranges from two months to three months.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
NB: Most frequently asked question to me as an architect is “Why you take up architecture as a career option?”
FS: What was your most important job experience?
NB: I never got an opportunity to do job under someone because from day one I started my own firm.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
NB: There are varied clients like from individuals to showroom owners to corporate entities
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
NB: I mostly enjoy doing interior of retail showrooms since showrooms are visited by more number of people, recognition is more instant.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
NB: My future plan for a social cause is to create affordable houses and toilets for the deprived people and for the office, it would be designing hotels.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
NB: We work as a team where lot of interaction takes place on various aspects of designs and lots of suggestions are welcomed from every side.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
NB: We are doing a commercial space with stone finish which resembles a “Haveli” (mansion) with lots of stone carvings and embellishments at the same time creating spaces for exhibiting merchandise.
FS: How can people contact you?
NB: People contact me through mails, calls, messages and even through social media.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
NB: I guess everything is covered in above questions.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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