D-Talks: A Series of Contemporary Art Dialogues in South Asia Featuring Young Designers Shaping the Future of Design
At the intersection of innovation, sustainability practices, and contemporary art dialogues in South Asia, Hiloni Sutaria emerges as a transformative architectural voice from Ahmedabad. A postgraduate from the University of Sheffield, she has carved a distinctive path in architectural practice through HSC Designs, her multidisciplinary firm which inspires experiences through built form.
Sutaria’s architectural language is a nuanced dialogue between form, function, and context. Her approach synthesises intricate user experiences with sustainability in art practices and design principles, creating spaces that have an intrinsic experiential value, rendering them more usable and enjoyable for the end user.
Her professional trajectory is punctuated by significant recognitions: named in the 40 under 40 Asia/Pacific by Perspective Magazine, adorned with international accolades including Silver and Bronze A’ Design Awards from Como, Italy, and celebrated with prestigious Indian design honours like the IIID Awards for Residential Interiors. Throughout her career, she has curated viral cultural designs.
Through HSC Designs, Sutaria continues to push architectural frontiers, crafting spaces that are not just built environments or traditional crafts, but profound experiences that inspire, engage, and transform how we perceive and interact with our surroundings.
As part of the D-Talks series, Hiloni Sutaria delves into her design philosophy, emphasizing a holistic approach that integrates client requirements, environmental challenges, and community needs. She discusses her methodology of extensive user research, highlighting how HSC Designs creates experiential spaces that go beyond aesthetic appeal to deliver functional, sustainable solutions.
Q: How would you describe your signature design aesthetic, and how has it evolved while working in India?
Hiloni Sutaria: At HSC Designs, our signature aesthetic bridges client functionality and optimisation with parametric, fluid, and viral cultural designs, drawing on traditional Indian motifs and craftsmanship. We’ve evolved by merging cutting-edge technologies like computational design with India’s rich material heritage, resulting in functional yet poetic spaces. Our style reflects a balance of bold structural forms with intricate details inspired by Indian architecture and sensibilities. Working in India, I’ve embraced the country’s vibrant chaos, which taught me to design adaptable, layered spaces that resonate with cultural depth.
Q. What influences and inspires your current work? Could you share some movements, designers, or elements of Indian culture that have shaped your practice?
Hiloni Sutaria: We draw inspiration from movements like Constructivism and biomimetics for functionality, and organic architecture for its seamless blend with nature. Indian contextual architecture, with its geometric precision, continues to inspire our parametric explorations. Designers like Neri Oxman, Zaha Hadid, and Bjarke Ingels have profoundly inspired our practice. Travel experiences across India’s and the world’s diverse landscapes also feed our creativity and induce contemporary art dialogues in South Asia.
Q. Could you walk us through your creative process? How do you move from the initial concept to the initial execution?
Hiloni Sutaria: We begin with observing and understanding the client’s needs and the site’s context. Our process starts with immersive research sketches and models. From there, refine them using parametric software, and create 3D models. Collaborating with artisans and engineers, we prototype elements before final execution, ensuring precision at every step for traditional crafts. We also integrate the understanding of the artisans in our work to make sure that the execution process is seamless and light on the pocket.
Courtesy – Hiloni Sutaria
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?
Hiloni Sutaria: Collaborations are central to our practice. They bring authenticity, allowing us to celebrate India’s craftsmanship while elevating contemporary design and observing sustainability in art practices. These partnerships enable the infusion of human touch into technology-driven designs, enriching the result. We believe in storytelling through design, and artisans bring soul to these stories. Collaborating with them helps me stay rooted in context while pushing creative boundaries.
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?
Hiloni Sutaria: Each of our projects has taught us something new. The Outhouse project pushed us to break the mould and understand how to work with analogue methods using digital technology. The extension project has given us an insight into how to transform spaces and make versatile spaces and our new playspace has pushed us to explore grassroots sustainability in art practices.
We are very proud of our recent playspace project. That was something that made us explore the best of our abilities.
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?
Hiloni Sutaria: India’s diverse climate, local regulations, and resource constraints present unique challenges for emerging artists and market trends. However, the opportunity to work with skilled artisans, access traditional materials, and cater to an audience embracing design innovation makes it an exciting landscape. Adapting global design trends to local contexts is challenging but rewarding. It pushes me to be innovative while respecting cultural sensitivities. Translating digital explorations to physical exploration is also a huge challenge.
Courtesy – Hiloni Sutaria
The biggest challenge of the Indian design industry is that we have a treasure trove of good craftsmanship and we have an incredible population of individuals who are so good with technology but there are not good enough systems to integrate both. I think if we can systemise and integrate both we have unmatched potential.
Q. How do you approach sustainability and eco-friendly practices in your designs, particularly considering India’s traditional wisdom and contemporary environmental challenges?
Hiloni Sutaria: We prioritize eco-friendly practices, sourcing locally, integrating passive design principles, and sustainability in art practices. India’s traditional wisdom, like using courtyards for natural ventilation, inspires our sustainable strategies. From upcycled materials to solar energy solutions, we aim to design spaces that are environmentally conscious yet aesthetically pleasing. Sustainability is an everyday endeavour for us.
Q. What’s your most exciting recent design or art discovery that’s influencing your current thinking?
Hiloni Sutaria: We’re currently exploring grassroots sustainability in art practices and design—drawing lessons from nature’s forms and using local materials and local labour to inform our designs. We draw inspiration for art from everywhere.
Q. How do you build visibility and reach out to potential clients – what platforms and strategies have worked best for you?
Hiloni Sutaria: Social media is a great tool for democratic reach along with design exhibits and meets.
Courtesy – Hiloni Sutaria
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?
Hiloni Sutaria: The most crucial thing for young designers across the spectrum of design is perseverance, hard work and total belief in yourself. There are so many forums and communities and each has its niche for traditional crafts but communities where there are similar-minded designers help.
Q. As you look ahead, what kind of projects or directions would you like to explore?
Hiloni Sutaria: We aim to expand our portfolio into urban design and public spaces, blending technology and tradition to create meaningful community interactions. We would also love to use this same knowledge in public spaces to create institutional buildings which talk about current India.
Q. For aspiring designers looking to make their mark in India’s design landscape, what wisdom would you share from your journey?
Hiloni Sutaria: Build a strong foundation in viral cultural designs and its principles, but don’t hesitate to innovate. Stay patient and persistent. Authenticity will set you apart.
Image – Valanko Ni Ramat – Shreyas Foundation Playspace. Courtesy – Hiloni Sutaria
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