Design Mumbai 2025

Design Mumbai returned to the Jio World Garden for its second edition and revealed itself as far more than a design fair. It became a journey through India’s evolving creative landscape, shaped by craft, material experimentation, and the voices defining a new architectural imagination. The event offered a glimpse into how India’s cultural depth and global exchanges are informing the next chapter of contemporary design.

Visitors entered through Journey Through India, an installation by artist Juan Gerstl that set the tone for the entire experience. It felt like a passage into the sensory world of Indian creativity. Textures, light, and movement framed a narrative that celebrated both heritage and invention. This immersive opening signaled what the fair represents. India is embracing the future while staying grounded in its cultural intelligence.

Inside the grounds, the fair unfolded like a sequence of spatial chapters. One of the most compelling moments came from Materials! Do Touch!, the hands-on material lab by Chris Lefteri. Tomato leather, mushroom-based textiles, fruit waste composites, and plant-based alternatives challenged visitors to rethink the origins of the objects and surfaces that shape everyday life. The experience made material innovation tangible. It highlighted the power of touch as a form of learning and revealed how new sustainable solutions are ready to enter industrial applications.

Nearby, The Object Edit, curated by Kamna Malik, presented objects as active inquiries. Each piece was an exploration of material behavior, structural boundaries, and form as an evolving question. The showcase reflected the energy of designers who use curiosity and experimentation as their creative engine.

The fair’s talks programme, the Design Mumbai Exchange, added depth to this material journey. Architects and designers discussed climate-responsive practices, resilient coastlines, urban rights, and the future of workplace design. Voices like Harsha Kotak and Vinu Daniel underscored a shared belief. India’s design future will be defined by collaboration, responsibility, and a renewed relationship with material culture.

Throughout the grounds, international and Indian brands reflected the same spirit. Flos, String, Racconti, LOCO Design, and Sarvatva spoke about Design Mumbai as a place where long-standing traditions meet contemporary ambition. Creative collaborations emerged naturally, shaped by a sense of community and an appreciation for craftsmanship.

Design Mumbai 2025 presented a cultural portrait of India, seen through materials, stories, and the people redefining what design can be. It was a reminder that India is not only part of the global design conversation. It is helping lead it.

_article written by Daniela Moreira da Silva
_photos courtesy of Design Mumbai