Smriti Raheja Sawhney - Founder DesignEx
Inherently talented, Ar. Smriti Raheja Sawhney was brought up in an architectural household. Her keen attention to detail, endeavor of revolutionary design while keeping a hold on the reality pushes her towards excellence in execution.
Listed amongst 50 Phenomenal Architects and Interior Designers by Interiors and Decor Magazine, she has been designing out of the ordinary built- environments.
Since her childhood, Smriti had a creative vision of taking her design heritage forward, choosing fine arts in her 12th. Her journey towards the architectural destiny started at TVB School of Habitat Studies where she learnt the intricacies of the built world. Tutored under practically oriented professors, her perspective about the thriving market scenario became distinct and definitive. Further on, she started off her career in Citadel India, offering online design research and solutions back in the 2000s. With the passion of design thriving in her, she was soon to realize her reduced knack for a desk job. She started working for her father at sites, gaining the opportunity to travel around the world, grasping knowledge and ideas beyond books and materials in India.
With her eyes set on making Indian architectural prowess, in 2001 she started her architectural firm naming it DesignEx - an amalgamation of design and execution. With just 6 architects and a small management team focused on integrating the clients into the planning phase while realistically realizing those aspirations, DesignEx worked on major projects and went from a room with 4 desks to 2 large offices in Delhi NCR and Kolkata. Today DesignEx primarily works in the F&B sector with more than 25 restaurant chains as their clientele. The clarity of thought and concept design that she brings in is derived from her varied experience and leaves a lasting impression. Being a firm believer of ‘form follows function’, her designs reflect a relatable interface and an organic touch, much like her role model- Frank Lloyd Wright. Having executed wonders after wonders in the design industry, it’s not hard to see how Smriti manages to maintain high aspirations. Some of her celebrated projects include Home Delhi for PVR Director’s Cut, Anidra, Punjab Grill, Mistral, L’Opera and SETZ.
The book, ‘My Share of The Sky’ by Charu Jain acknowledges Smriti as a “fearless women entrepreneur” whose unsung contribution to the Indian Society is to be saluted. She is also honored with Dr. Sarojini Naidu National Award for women 2019, recently.
She has been featured in esteemed magazines and portals like, Inside Outside, Architecture Time Space & People, The Ideal Home and Garden, Architect and Interiors India, Architecture Update, IFJ and many more.
She has also been a speaker on various eminent events and conferences like Design Circle by The Ideal Home and Garden, 2019 and Indian Restaurant Congress, 2019 and her designs have been showcased at Index Tradefairs 2019.
Being a veteran in the industry has not stopped her from pursuing personal life passions. She is a motorsport enthusiast with Podium positions in National level TSD rallies and more than a semi-pro singer. Her strength is replicated more vehemently in her commitment to keep the team at DesignEx unambiguous about their objectives in delivering uncompromised and top notch design compositions.
