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Brief Introduction:
I am Aarushi Bafna, an architectural designer. For a decade, I’ve been deeply committed to shaping meaningful, human-centric spaces that blur the boundaries between function, emotion, and experience. Through my independent practice, Studio Aarushi Bafna, and as Co-founder of Studio AaDri. For me, design is storytelling. Every project carries a story that reflects its culture, materials, and the people behind it.
Beyond design practice, I’m deeply invested in mentorship and design education. During the pandemic, I founded “The Business of Design”, an online mentorship initiative that has empowered over 500 students and professionals with practical tools and insights to build sustainable design practices. This platform continues to fuel my mission of nurturing the next generation of creative entrepreneurs in the design industry.
Key Services
Our expertise lies in commercial and retail design, with a focus on creating experiential environments that strengthen brand identity and customer engagement.
We specialise in:
· Retail store design
· Hospitality and F&B spaces
· Window displays and brand installations
· Pop-up experiences and exhibitions
· Spatial storytelling for lifestyle brands
Our approach integrates design, strategy, and execution, ensuring that each space becomes a living, breathing expression of the brand’s essence.
Notable Projects & Achievements
Over the years, my studios have been privileged to collaborate with a diverse spectrum of clients — from global hospitality brands like Westin Resorts and luxury retail houses such as Tira, Reliance Brands, and Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, to visionaries like Isha Ambani and MasterChef Ajay Chopra. Every collaboration reinforces our belief that design is a dialogue — one that grows, adapts, and connects with people.
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Brand collaborations so far:
Tira | Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla | Westin Hotels | Reliance Brands | Allies of Skin | Godrej | and many more
My design journey has been recognised with over 40 national and international awards, including the Godrej Design Lab Award, the Exceptional Women of Excellence title by the Women Economic Forum, and the Women of the Future Award.
· Exceptional Women of Excellence, Women Economic Forum (2017)
· Women of the Future Award (2018)
· Winner, Autodesk BuildSmart (2017) – Featured in national newspapers
· 100% Design Scholarship, Istituto Marangoni, Milan
· Jury Member, WADe Asia & IDAC 2023
· Top 8 Finalist, Godrej Design Lab (2017)
· Jury Choice Award, Design Diva Season 1 by Elle Décor
· Design Partner, IDE Hotelier Summit (2017)
· Publications: AD India, Grazia, Hello!, Surfaces Reporter, iDecorama
· Exhibitions: India Design Week, Godrej L’Affaire, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (2014)
· Kalpana Chawla Memorial Award & Scholarship (2009)
· Featured Interview: First India News
To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it?
1. How did your journey in interior design begin, and what keeps you inspired today?
My journey began with a simple belief — that design has the power to change how people feel and connect with their surroundings. From the very start, I was drawn to storytelling through space — creating environments that evoke emotion and meaning rather than just aesthetic appeal.
What keeps me inspired today is the tangible impact of design. When I see people interact with a space, as in how they touch, move, or simply pause to take it in, that moment of connection reminds me why I started. It’s in those lived experiences that design truly comes alive.
2. What’s next for your studio — any upcoming collaborations, design movements, or projects you’re excited to share?
We have several exciting projects in the pipeline. From new retail concepts to boutique hospitality spaces, each project is offering us a fresh canvas for experimentation, and I can’t wait for it to materialise.
While we’re firm believers in letting the work speak for itself once completed, what I can share is that both Studio Aarushi Bafna and Studio AaDri are moving toward more sensory-driven design, where materiality, emotion, and experience become central to every narrative.
It’s also that, maybe I still believe in not jinxing things before they’re out in the world!
3. What defines your design philosophy, and how has it evolved over the years?
My design philosophy is rooted in the human experience. Every space we create begins with an understanding of how people feel, behave, and engage within it. Over time, this philosophy has evolved to become more empathetic, layered, and responsive, especially as design today must speak to both the digital generation and the tactile world.
Working extensively in the hospitality and retail sectors has deepened my appreciation for designing through the lens of human behaviour and sensory storytelling, where design transforms from something seen to something sensed.
4. How do you ensure each project reflects both the client’s personality and your studio’s signature style?
It’s always a delicate balance between a client’s aspirations and our design intent.
And therefore, our approach is collaborative. We spend time understanding the brand’s vision and consumer psychology, and then align that with our studio’s sensibilities, which lean toward clean lines, rich materiality, and experiential depth.
We demonstrate how people will engage with the space, often helping clients gain a new perspective on functionality and emotion. It is co-creation without compromise, where both visions seamlessly merge into one cohesive story.
5. Of all the awards you’ve received, which one stands out most and why?
The one closest to my heart will always be being among the Top 8 furniture designers in India at the Godrej Design Lab, curated by Elle Décor.
That award was an opportunity to bring a concept to life. Godrej helped us prototype our design, and Elle Décor showcased it at India Design Week. For a 26-year-old designer, seeing my work materialise and be celebrated on a national platform was truly transformative. It validated my belief that ideas, when nurtured with conviction, can create real impact.
6. Being part of platforms like WADE Asia and IDAC, how do you think such events are shaping the future of interior design in India?
Events such as WADE Asia and IDAC continue to shape the design narrative in India, bridging the gap between creativity, industry, and innovation while encouraging collaboration across disciplines.
What I particularly value is how these platforms democratize access, allowing designers to engage directly with brands, materials, and technologies that might otherwise take months to discover. They’re also incredible spaces for learning; one room filled with the entire ecosystem of design.
7. As a design coach and mentor, what key advice do you give to young designers entering the field?
My biggest advice is to start with materials. Understand how they feel, behave, and transform. Design begins with curiosity about the physical world, not Pinterest boards.
Learn by touching, testing, and observing. True design mastery comes from experimentation and persistence, not from replicating trends. And yes, I often tell my students to delete Pinterest, so they can rediscover their own visual language.
8. What’s next for your studio — any upcoming projects or innovations you’re excited about?
Both Studio Aarushi Bafna and Studio AaDri are at a pivotal point, where design becomes a balance of emotion and strategy, storytelling and purpose.
As I mentioned earlier, we’re working on retail and hospitality spaces that push boundaries of sensorial engagement, and exploring new materials and fabrication techniques that make design more immersive and sustainable.
Our goal, at the end, is about crafting experiences that stay with you — long after you’ve left the space.