As part of our constant endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from the ecosystem, we invited yet another passionate designer Rddhima Golyan for an interview with BrilliantRead Media. Rddhima is an Interior Designer and Consultant with proven domain expertise in the interior design space. Let’s learn more about her background, her inspiring journey so far and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Rddhima:
Take us through your journey as an Interior Designer;
While accompanying the client(s) to multiple site visits to choose the most appropriate location for their new home, restaurant, cafe, lounge, etc is the first step of most of the projects until it is an existing renovation.
Visiting the site for the first time, I feel excited as this is just the beginning of the various stages. I tend to have many visions and ideas that come across my mind which I put together by researching for inspiration images.”
The thought is to translate the concepts that are driven from the inspiration images and ideas into real-life functional spaces taking into consideration the function(s) required. After multiple iterations of planning and finalising the layout comes the fun part of playing with the material palette, lighting schemes, furniture selections, etc to enhance the space.
As a designer, I collaborate with specialised people in order to be accurate with every detail that requires attention. Something that never leaves my mind is the budget that is provided by the client.
After creating documentation to bring this vision to life comes the hard challenge of unforeseen circumstances during construction. But the end result is always worth putting all the hard work for any given project.”
What made you passionate about ‘Interior Designing’?
People occupy spaces depending on the various functions each space offers.
In a public setting like a restaurant, people meet, converse and enjoy a good meal. A major factor that comes into play while choosing a restaurant is the atmosphere, mood and vibe the restaurant holds.
As an interior designer, I am able to narrate a story and create an ambience through the mediums of colour, lighting, materials and textures which brings the space to life and enhances the experience for each individual in a different manner.”
The joy of having to be able to create an experience is the reason for me to be attentive to every little decision that is made to create the space.
In a private setting like a home, it is more personal for each client. Having to go above and beyond their expectations and to bring comfort and delight to each individual after bringing their vision to life creates excitement for me.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
I have a strong support system, my friends and family that has made me my biggest source of motivation. The thought that runs in my mind is that I have the power of putting in my 100 per cent effort.
I want to live with no regrets and hence I am motivated to do the best in any given situation. I do not want to think of “What if’s”, rather “do”.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
As a child and in my teenage years, I was a very shy and quiet person. I used to believe that the artwork I created was my way to express my thoughts and feelings. While attending a very competitive high school, The International School Bangalore I realised that it is important to have a voice of your own.
To be able to share my opinions and to stand out in a crowd, I began interacting and conversing with people. This motivated me to forget being wrong or judged in situations. Hence, I started small by participating in not only classes but also social events.
Moving countries over the years have pushed me to become a confident person not only in my work but also in life. Holding conversations with people, to learn from others and see a new perspective on things helped me grow as a person.”
What are the various projects you have worked on and which has been one of your best works till date?
Dhamaka Restaurant, New YorkMerchants NY Restaurant New YorkMandapati Residence, Monroe Township, New JerseyLe Cafe, New york
Brewery, Brooklyn, New yorkNaphri Residence, Woodridge, New Jersey
What’s your dream project?
Having worked in a gallery in the past and enjoying going to museums on a daily basis as a hobby, it is my dream to design, construct and own gallery space.
The experience would not only be limited to exhibitions including paintings, sculptures and artworks but would also include immersive theatrical experiences, social gaming activities and a range of interactive rooms for all age groups which could take place indoors or outdoors.
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
In 5 years, I hope to be practising in my own firm while teaching young individuals who are interested to become creators.
I want to be part of a community where I am able to provide the guidance and knowledge that I was grateful to receive as well as I am able to learn and grow alongside others.”
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
Being passionate about anything that one does. There are so many paths that one can take, but it is the excitement of what is to be done that makes one curious to do more than what is just required.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
In the design field according to me, being different and creative is what makes one stand out. A simple advice would be to not only “look” at things in passing, but also to observe, analyze and question why things have been done the way they are.”
I tend to ask myself questions like what is the concept? What was the driving factor of the decisions in terms of the lighting, colour, material, etc,? What makes that particular space aesthetically pleasing? If I could, what would I have done differently? Questions like this force me to think out of the box while I design spaces.
For students who are attending university, you have the ability to have fun by designing without any constraints. Utilise those classes to push yourself to be innovative because as young professionals you will learn how to bring those innovations to life by collaborating with others.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
