Amidst India’s evolving design narrative, Antariksh Patole’s voice resonates with rare philosophical depth and material innovation. Through his Pune-based Antariksh Design Lab, he’s challenging conventional wisdom about materials and methodologies, most notably in his bold stance against the traditional reliance on wood in furniture design.
Learning through Design Experimentation
A graduate of CEPT University’s specialized program in Design of Building Products and Systems, Antariksh’s approach is distinctly experimental and deeply thoughtful. The Lab’s work with sheet metal and other alternative materials is a conscious choice made after considering sustainability and the future of Indian design. What sets his practice apart is its emphasis on cross-pollination of ideas. His interdisciplinary approach, combined with a strong philosophical foundation, has resulted in breakthrough projects like their modular furniture system showcased at Raw Collaborative.
As a young studio, Antariksh Design Lab embodies the spirit of its name—a laboratory where experimentation is constant, failure is embraced as learning, and innovation emerges from unexpected intersections. In a market often constrained by convention, Antariksh’s work represents a fresh perspective that honors functionality while pushing the boundaries of material exploration and sustainable thinking.
Interview with Antariksh Patole rural-urban design balance
In a compelling conversation as part of DTalks, Antariksh opens up about his design journey and ideas.
Q. How would you describe your signature design aesthetic, and how has it evolved while working in India?
Antariksh Patole: We try to stay away from “signature aesthetic” as our designs are always solutions to specific problems. Each product revolves around the unique context of the problem it addresses, allowing for diversity in form and approach.
Q. What influences and inspires your current work? Could you share some movements, designers, or elements of Indian culture that have shaped your practice?
Antariksh Patole: I’ve been deeply inspired by the work of Honest Structures. While sheet metal has been the starting point of our journey at the Lab, we are now exploring other materials and collaborations with craftspeople to create products that are tailored to the Indian market.
Q. Could you walk us through your creative process? How do you move from initial concept to final execution?
Antariksh Patole: Every product has a unique process, making it challenging to generalize. Fundamentally, our approach begins with a philosophical stance. For example, the SMS stool was designed with the concept of mono-materiality, leading to its pure and functional form.
Q. Your work often involves collaborations with artisans and other creatives. What draws you to these partnerships, and how do these collaborations enrich your design practice?
Antariksh Patole: We are always open to collaborations, not just within product and furniture design but also with professionals from diverse fields like textiles, toys, and game design. Currently, we are collaborating with a production house on an exciting project, which is expanding our creative horizons.
Q. Looking back at your portfolio, which project represents a significant turning point in your career, and among your recent works, what project are you most proud of and why?
Antariksh Patole: It feels too early in our journey to identify a definitive turning point. We are still a young firm, and every project contributes to shaping our path.
Still, our modular furniture system, exhibited at Raw Collaborative, stands out as a highlight. We are particularly proud of how it met most of the checkpoints we had set out to solve, making it both functional and meaningful.
Q. What unique challenges and opportunities have you encountered as an emerging designer in the Indian design industry, and how are you working to overcome these obstacles?
Antariksh Patole: India’s design landscape is a treasure trove of opportunities for designers. The possibilities are endless. However, the Indian market is also a complex system. Our challenge and goal are to take Indian design to a global stage and establish a unique Indian design language and philosophy recognized worldwide.
There’s been a long list of challenges, but we welcome them as they make the process all the more satisfying. The biggest challenge we’ve faced, however, is addressing the strong preference for wood as a material for furniture. While wood is undoubtedly beautiful and versatile, we often ask ourselves: “How can you cut down a tree just to make a chair to sit on?” It feels counterintuitive to harm a living entity when alternative materials exist.
This deep-rooted obsession with wooden furniture in the market has been a primary challenge. Of course, every material has its own drawbacks, but without experimenting with alternative materials, how will we innovate? To overcome this, we’ve been exploring other materials like sheet metal and are planning to work with more unconventional materials in the future.
Q. How do you approach sustainability and eco-friendly practices in your designs, particularly considering India’s traditional wisdom and contemporary environmental challenges?
Antariksh Patole: Sustainability is central to our design philosophy. Our choice to work primarily with metal is a conscious one—it’s infinitely recyclable without compromising on quality or structural integrity, unlike many other materials such as wood.
Q. What’s your most exciting recent design or art discovery that’s influencing your current thinking?
Antariksh Patole: Our most exciting discoveries often come from books. The Lab places significant emphasis on the philosophical underpinnings of design, and it’s fascinating to see those conceptual ideas take shape in our products.
Q. How do you build visibility and reach out to potential clients – what platforms and strategies have worked best for you?
Antariksh Patole: As a young practice, visibility has been a challenge. However, we are actively leveraging social media platforms for their immense reach and visibility. While we’re still in the process of figuring out which platforms and strategies work best for us, the ability to connect with a global audience is something we’re exploring.
Q. From your experience, what are the crucial dos and don’ts for young designers trying to establish themselves in India, and what professional forums or communities would you recommend they join?
Antariksh Patole: One of the most crucial dos is to actively participate in discussions and design-related events around you. Expose yourself to diverse experiences—not just design-related ones but anything that fascinates you. You never know how these seemingly unrelated dots might connect in the future.
The most important thing is to simply Do. In design, there’s no substitute for doing and making.
When it comes to the don’ts, the foremost would be to avoid doubting yourself. This mindset, applied collectively, could elevate the Indian design landscape to new heights. With such a large pool of designers in the country, encouraging experimentation and taking risks will lead to breakthroughs.
As for communities, I’d suggest looking beyond design-specific groups. Non-design communities can often be more beneficial. I’d even recommend staying away from core design-related communities at times. These often foster a group mindset where everyone follows the same trends and share similar ideas (some even start to dress like each other). Instead, focus on developing your unique voice, which will naturally reflect in your designs.
Join book clubs, film societies, or groups with people from non-creative backgrounds. Absurd or unconventional associations often open unexpected doors and provide fresh perspectives that can deeply enrich your work.
As for our practice, we’re always looking for collaborations. If you’re someone interested in working with us or simply want to learn more about what we do, our door is always open.
Q. As you look ahead, what kind of projects or directions would you like to explore?
Antariksh Patole: We call ourselves a Lab for a reason: we’re in a constant state of experimentation. We don’t always know what’s next, but we’re open to collaborations of all kinds. We invite professionals from varied backgrounds—be it computer engineers or dentists—to share their insights. Conversations often spark the most unexpected ideas, and we’d love to hear from anyone with thoughts, design-related or otherwise.
Q. For aspiring designers looking to make their mark in India’s design landscape, what wisdom would you share from your journey?
Antariksh Patole: As a young practice, we’re still learning, but if there’s one thing we’d encourage, it’s to take more risks and try as many things as possible. Work with your hands, expose yourself to new materials, crafts, and ideas, and keep an open mind. It’s in this process of exploration that true growth happens.
Image Courtesy: Antariksh Patole
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