Managing Director of Theme Designer Studio (Interview PART-1)
Poonamchand Suthar is a managing director of architecture and interior firm “Theme Designer Studio” and has over 28 years of experience in the field of design and architecture, in a freewheeling interview with Best Creators, he shared highlights of his professional journey and his mantra for success. He also offered practical insights, incisive ideas and actionable pointers that serve as a toolkit while designing solutions for clients’ requirements.
It’s a very interesting journey from a computer engineer to an interior designer and eventually the director of “Theme Designer Studio”.
He started his career in 1995 as an interior designer accidentally. He was not an interior designer by professional degree.
Poonamchand started his career as an interior designer under the Talati & Panthaky group.
He worked with them for 25 years and 15 years back he ventured into his dream which was a design Studio – called “Theme Design Studio”. Initially, it was a very small boutique Studio which offers only interior design services. Today he has a team of 25 people and a full setup and now he is the full-time director of his dream project “theme design studio”. Two years back they expanded themselves in architecture as well. Along with that Theme Design Studio has started working overseas as well.
Poonamchand explored the life of an architect & interior designer, and how clients were the top priority. He shed light on the importance of understanding the clients, in line with the industry’s best practices. He shared insights on the workflow that has helped him achieve the best results consistently.
It’s a very interesting journey from a computer engineer to an interior designer and eventually the director of “Theme Designer Studio”.
He started his career in 1995 as an interior designer accidentally. He was not an interior designer by professional degree.
Poonamchand started his career as an interior designer under the Talati & Panthaky group.
He worked with them for 25 years and 15 years back he ventured into his dream which was a design Studio – called “Theme Design Studio”. Initially, it was a very small boutique Studio which offers only interior design services. Today he has a team of 25 people and a full setup and now he is the full-time director of his dream project “theme design studio”. Two years back they expanded themselves in architecture as well. Along with that Theme Design Studio has started working overseas as well.
Poonamchand explored the life of an architect & interior designer, and how clients were the top priority. He shed light on the importance of understanding the clients, in line with the industry’s best practices. He shared insights on the workflow that has helped him achieve the best results consistently.
Poonamchand Suthar says architecture and interior design is a vast area, and every project is a new challenge, a new responsibility. When you get a new project, then it’s an empty place. You are responsible for making that space useful and visually appealing and making a design according to your client.
He says that the main challenge could be planning and designing any space without understanding the client’s needs and aspirations. To be able to overcome these challenges, it’s important to understand the client, understand their lifestyle, meet with them, understand what they want, how they’ve lived their life, and what is the requirement then start planning accordingly, design it and get approval. This is the best process to learn, understand, execute and win the client’s heart which is the only big achievement as a designer.
According to Poonamchand Suthar, the key to winning the client’s heart is “commitment & transparency”. No false promises on schedules, whether it’s a meeting or delivery of the product. The client might not qualify enough to understand the entire process or the nitty-gritty of that. Providing them with a clear knowledge about the process of the project is one of the responsibilities of a designer. Explain the entire procedure, provide the entire solution, explain dos and don’ts and then let them decide what they want.
Make the client understand the project, make a plan and deliver it on time – an easy and simple rule.
Poonamchand Suthar Says, the best possible way to understand and learn about the new trends and design is to travel a lot be it domestic or international. Interior design or architecture is nothing but an art. In India only, there are different types of architecture and interior styles, different types of cultures, different types of kitchen designs, bedroom designs, and different types of materials which showcase different types of art. So, to be a successful designer or an architect, it’s important to have a certain knowledge of the different types of art and you learn all of those when you travel. So, it’s a good experience to be open to that and learn. To be continued.>>