We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Arundhati Subodh Sathe ("ASS").

Arundhati Sathe a young interior designer Alumni of LAD college running her own firm Callista Interiors, Nagpur from last 5 years. Callista provide design solution and services in retail, Hospitality, Residential and Entertainment industry. Firm took over many projects in and out of Nagpur. Callista realise that creating such an ambience requires a methodical and structured approach. Understanding client’s needs, analyse it and apply knowledge in a creative process. Callista is associated with other big names in the industry and leverage their experience to provide clients with the best possible solutions.

Arundhati Subodh Sathe Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Arundhati Subodh Sathe.

Designer Interview of Arundhati Subodh Sathe:

DI: 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?

ASS : I believe it’s genetic my Father use to design teakwood furniture and had a workshop and from childhood I had a habit of arranging and rearranging things like toys, furniture etc every other day in my house. Whenever I use to go to others place I use to always wonder and see how they can arrange their furniture or other things in their house in a better way. Seeing my interest my parents encouraged me to peruse my passion and take a professional degree, so I took my degree in Interior designing from LAD College Nagpur. It’s truly said if your interest becomes your profession you can give your best and I am lucky that my passion had become my profession

DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

ASS : Callista Interiors has successfully completed 5 years, and I have done many National and International projects like Residential, Corporate houses, Set designing etc and today I am really excited to win such a prestigious award A’ Design Award , which has added a new feather in my cap. I believe sky is the limit and I am sure there are many milestones to be created.

DI: What is "design" for you?

ASS : Design is a planning with an aesthetic sense and designer is a planner. Functional planning, conceptual thought and a war between the material and its durability which i experienced every day.

DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?

ASS : Design a space and playing it in 3dimensional functional space is a definitely a challenge. to support and complete it with furniture is much more challenging. I like to do a complete design to implementation work.

DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

ASS : Pratone chair, it’s a chair but doesn’t look like a chair! It looks as if a piece of huge lawn is kept.

DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

ASS : Not specific because as a designer you cannot restrict yourself to one material , but yes I like natural wood since it has a long life, is a traditional material and one can create anything from it.

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

ASS : Best times are the few minutes i get lying on the bed before going to sleep… my brain starts working there, then I dream of it and next morning I start working on it in detail.

DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

ASS : As a designer I always start thinking on the functional and then the aesthetic aspect.

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

ASS : Every design has some or the other emotions attached to it, but I go crazy when a design stuck in my mind, but it became difficult when i need to compromise on it.

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

ASS : Mixed emotions, At first, very happy and excited but next moment onwards my eyes started looking for the space as a critic.

DI: What makes a design successful?

ASS : A successful design for me is when the need and the goal meet and my client and me are equally satisfied.

DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

ASS : Is it Functional? Will this be technically correct? Is the design balanced in all perspective? These are the basic aspects I always look in any design.

DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

ASS : Everyone has a duty and responsibility for a better environment and society. A designer’s responsibility is to not only make things beautiful but to make things sustain longer and better.

DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

ASS : Awareness of design in the mass is creating challenge for designer. Every day it is evolving with new trend and technology. There is a constant friction between design and technology, which takes the world at a new height.

DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

ASS : Inspiration comes from anywhere; I get inspiration from day to day life. I believe inspiration doesn’t come to you but you have to find inspiration to do better and upgrade yourself.

DI: 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?

ASS : I would describe myself as a modern designer with traditional approach.

DI: 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?

ASS : India is a country full of different culture, tradition and religion, and I feel blessed to be an Indian as I can not only see but experience the diversity. Their are always two sides of the coin and I always try to see the positive and like to grow with it.

DI: How do you work with companies?

ASS : My approach is very simple; I have worked with all types of companies- big corporate houses to retail shops. I try to understand the client and their needs and the most important thing their budget and then try to balance the need and the goal to have a win-win situation.

DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

ASS : Believe your designer as a Doctor. Judge a designer by his / her quality.

DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?

ASS : I try to create options for a particular design and working in tandem with the client and their requirement I try to work on mutual consent.

DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?

ASS : Apple’s I mac, bookshelf, my bracelet , and a puzzle ( which I play every time)

DI: Can you describe a day in your life?

ASS : Being a designer I don’t have a set routine, sometime I work late in the night and sometimes while sleeping any design clicks in my mind I wake and start working on it. apart from work, site visit, meetings etc , I spend time with my family, daily chores of my kids etc but my favourite time is dinner time when my family and I sit on the table together and discuss the our day and enjoy our dinner together.

DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

ASS : Keep experimenting, take risk and dare to dream

DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

ASS : Positive being creative, trying new things and keeping the excitement alive, negative being creative, trying new things and annoying people with your creative push.

DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?

ASS : Creativity cannot be confined with rules. According to me creativity dies if restricted with rules. So the golden rule to break all the rules and just explore

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

ASS : Good observer is the first skill any designer should have and then analysis, and then a futuristic approach towards a design.

DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?

ASS : A piece of paper to make models and cad programs

DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

ASS : I just forget the world around me, until I create a design, which satisfies me.

DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

ASS : Depend on the design I am working for.

DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?

ASS : In how many days the project will complete? And what is the budget?

DI: What was your most important job experience?

ASS : All the work I did, because it not only helped me to grow professionally but personally too.

DI: Who are some of your clients?

ASS : Mostly business man, and event companies

DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

ASS : Research based design I like the most because it makes you experience what I never lived.

DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?

ASS : Many plans and many dreams. It’s just a start, I have to go miles.

DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

ASS : I have a team of designer under me, and the gravity of the work and design defines if I need to work individually or in a team.

DI: How can people contact you?

ASS : Best way to call me or email me at arundhati@callistainteriors.in or call me on +919860416576