Designer Interviews | Interview by Frank Scott | 19 March 2024
We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Priyam Doshi ("PD").
Priyam is a designer and founder of Name Place Animal Thing, a design studio that specialises in Furniture, Lights & Décor. Priyam loves to explore materials and infuses quirkiness & joy into the world of design. His passion lies in creating designs which are playful and intriguing - Products which spark joy through design! He has a career spanning over 12 years across diverse disciplines like furniture design, light design, spatial design and ecommerce. Priyam has an impressive track record of developing over thousand SKUs while working at different organisations and over hundred unique pieces since founding Name Place Animal Thing three years ago. He was awarded the prestigious EDIDA award in 2018 by Elle Decor for his bedroom collection design. Priyam has studied production engineering from Mumbai University & has pursued a specialisation in lifestyle product design from National Institute of Design (NID). With a solid foundation in both manufacturing and small-scale artisanal techniques, he possesses the unique ability to create bespoke statement pieces alongside affordable, batch-produced designs.
Designer Interview of Priyam Doshi:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
PD : By education, I have studied Engineering - Production Technology & Product Design. Since childhood, I had a habit/knack of making things out of waste and whatever was available around me. I have always loved creating objects. Yes I have always wanted to be a designer.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
PD : Name Place Animal Thing is a Mumbai-based design studio that specializes in furniture, lights, installations, and decor. We draw inspiration from people, places, animals, and all things that exist in the world around us. We cherish experimenting with materials, processes, and techniques, from new to natural to recycled, to create products with an element of intrigue or play. Our meticulously designed products are carefully crafted and manufactured in India. We like to call our products FUN-ctional, products that are both fun and functional at their core. Along with designing our own products, we collaborate with architects, interior designers & manufacturers on custom projects.
DI: What is "design" for you?
PD : Design is common Sense exectued well. Design should be honest. Design shuld bring a smile to the people seeing/using it. Design can be FUN-ctional.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
PD : I like designing lights, furniture and decor. I love to design products which are FUNctional - Super fun and highly functional.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
PD : One of my favourite designs are Ribbon chair & 88 Secrets Cabinet by Nika Zupnac Form my own designs its the Caterpillar Bar Unit.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
PD : The first thing I designed for a company was a spatial installation for a high-end jewelry exhibition.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
PD : I don’t have favorites; I like being versatile and exploring different materials, right from fabric to wood to metal to paper to terrazzo to clay/ceramics.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
PD : I get most random ideas when I am actually not thinking about design, especially when I go for a walk or when I am in the shower.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
PD : The practicality of bringing a product to life, ensuring the product is not only aesthetically appealing but also good with functionality.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
PD : Joy/ Intrigue/ satisfaction/ Passion.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
PD : I feel super happy, yet always critical about the final outcome, constantly trying to think of ways to better the designs.
Priyam Doshi Design - Moose Multifunctional Cabinet
DI: What makes a design successful?
PD : A product which solves all three - need + problem + desire. To me a successful design is something which is a design which is liked by the user and the non-user too.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
PD : Form + Functionality + Finishing.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
PD : Reduce wastage, reuse whenever feasible. Be conscious about not harming the environment.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
PD : The last exhibition I did Raw Collaborative in Indian in December 2022.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
PD : My inspiration comes from nature and from daily life. There are no specific sources of inspiration - It can be any object, nature, geometry, observations of daily life and things around us.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
PD : My natural design style is Quirky. Designs that spark joy. Love making FUN-ctioanl product - Super fun yet super functional products.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
PD : I live in Mumbai India. Of course the country where you are born does affect the designs.
DI: How do you work with companies?
PD : I do design collaborations with different companies. I understand the brief and design as per the requirements, limitations, must haves, the intent and design products which sell well.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
PD : Have clarity of thoughts and good design brief which cover the requirements/ limitations and expectations well. The intent should be made clear from day one.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
PD : I don’t have any specific design process. It varies from project to project depending on the requirement But in short its inspiration - sketch - 3 d model – Drawing, but juggling between them.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
PD : Brush-Walk/exercise-plan-work-lunch-work-snacks-work-dinner-me time/ free time- sleep.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
PD : Be honest to the design and yourself. Understand the requirement and stay relevant. Design products which do good business.
Priyam Doshi Design - Caterpillar Bar Unit
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
PD : No such golden rule.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
PD : Communication & presentation Representation of Ideas - Software Understanding the brief / intent/ requirements.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
PD : rough Papers + Uniball Pen, Rhino+ Keyshot.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
PD : At times I can manage at times I cant so end putting in extra hours. Recently I have started aligning and creating a to do list, which is helping.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
PD : It can take anywhere between 2 weeks to two months.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
PD : What inspires you?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
PD : All my jobs have taught me a lot. Important job experience was being a brand manager handing 3 brands, it was a 360 degree learning in terms a business. Design being just one part of it.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
PD : Furniture OEM/ Tiling & Terrazzo Company, Ecommerce companies into furniture Architects & Interior designers.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
PD : I enjoy working on design projects which let me add fun/ quirk to the designs.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
PD : Next is to develop a range of furniture and lights which are relevant yet timeless.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
PD : as of now its only me.
DI: How can people contact you?
PD : People can reach out out me on my phone no. +91 9960144136 or email me at priyam@nameplaceanimalthing.com
Priyam Doshi Design - Mushroom Floor Lamps
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