Bio:

Shilpa is an architectural and; interior designer and educator with a Master’s in architectural product design from CEPT University. Her work bridges architecture, product systems, and interiors. She has taught design, history, and; art, and led design thinking workshops that inspire students to explore ideas through collaboration and visual storytelling. With a background in systems thinking and research-driven design, she combines technical expertise with a deeply human-centred approach to design.

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How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

Architecture found me early. Inspired by my architect father, I grew up building with blocks and Lego. Practice, teaching, and research deepened my interest in the built environment and its everyday impact on how people live, work, and connect.

 

What do you do?

OAA Intern Architect & Interior Designer, I most recently taught a workplace design studio at George Brown College.

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What excites you in the work you do?

I like problems that don't resolve neatly. Most of my work sits where the decisions that matter to people usually happen: the material, the joint, whether it can be changed later. I want what I design to last, and to be reusable when it doesn't.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

Intracity in detail, whether it is building technology, a historic pattern detail or even an aesthetic, I like the storytelling aspects of design.

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What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

Becoming Head of the Interior Design Department, I had the opportunity to mentor students, shape curriculum, and build a stronger learning environment. This role allowed me to combine my experience with teaching and design research.

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Featured Project Name: 

Habitation Unit

 

Featured Project Location: 

Ahmedabad, India

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

2023

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Role in Featured Project: 

Team Researcher and Designer

 

Featured Project Description:

The student-driven studio+build project at CEPT University utilized industrial production processes and technologies to realize a compact habitation unit that took into consideration design for environment, design for manufacturing, assembly, and design for disassembly. The design was modular, mass-producible, and an outcome of a product-centric approach to building. Created over a period of 4 weeks, and on-site assembly and finishes were completed in a duration of four weeks.

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Photography Credit:

Gaj-Aakrithi