Welcome to Future Talks by RTF, where we engage in conversations with design pioneers who bring captivating design stories to life.
In our latest session, we are honored to have Hiloni Sutaria, founder of HSC Designs, as our guest. Hiloni shares her perspective on finding one’s design voice in a world brimming with ideas and reflects on the challenges and triumphs of building and scaling a design firm. Join us as we delve into her evolving design philosophy, the significance of collaboration, and the art of persuasion in the realm of architecture. Hiloni also offers valuable insights for aspiring architects and design professionals. Stay tuned as we explore the dynamic intersection of creativity and innovation in the ever-evolving field of design.
Join us in this enlightening conversation with Hiloni Sutaria, where her insights promise to inspire and resonate with architects, designers, and enthusiasts alike.
RTF: Hi Hiloni, We are glad to have you as a guest on Future Talks by RTF. Thanks for joining us. What is your idea of finding one’s design voice in a world full of ideas? How does your work at HSC Designs echo it?
Hiloni: Hello, Thank you for this opportunity. Today the world is rampant with a plethora of great ideas due to increased exposure , access to new technologies and increased execution capabilities. In this scenario, what I feel is that a designer’s voice is informed by their experiences, world view , their exposure and their own design assimilation. I often derive my inspiration from art, technology, local materials and context. Our work is also very focused on optimisation of design using local materials but in more evolved ways. Our work at Hsc design is a reflection of this idea of using local materials , educating local laborers but at the same time introducing new skills and making architecture of the current time which strives for timelessness.
RTF: What were the initial challenges that you faced in building and scaling HSC Designs?
Hiloni: For architects often business management is a huge challenge. In a city where people are hesitant to pay architects well, scaling businesses often comes as a huge challenge. Over the years we have learnt better delegation and that finding people with similar vibe works to build the team that can grow and also work very well together and efficiently. Covid was definitely a deterrent in this matter but now with the projects getting back on track it has been smooth sailing for now.
RTF: Track back the evolution that you’ve seen in your designs. How important is it for the designers to shrug off the rigidity in their approach towards design?
Hiloni: From my first freelancing project to now there has been an incredible change in not just the design but also the process and the way that I design. Change is the only constant and the only way to evolve is to constantly update oneself. When it comes to design or design language, Good Architecture speaks of its time and surroundings, which are always changing, hence should the design. Technology, materials and context also change over the time and so do clients in each project and being sensitive and responsive to these things are what makes the design complete according to us. Hence it’s extremely important for designers to shrug rigidity towards design and evolve and collaborate.
RTF: How would you describe your overall design philosophy or approach to design?
Hiloni: I would describe our overall design philosophy as bringing out the best solutions to each design problem. We look at each project as a mathematical formula that we need to get the optimal results for and hence our design and designs ideas are majorly informed by getting the optimal solutions by doing climate studies, context studies, budget requirements, client interactions and analyzing their needs that they have not only mentioned but also predicting their future needs, cityscape and bringing in local materials with the most optimal technological solutions possible.
RTF: Tell us about your most defining projects to date and what makes them so.
Hiloni: All of our projects are very dear to our heart but the few projects that have made a huge impact in how we think are the residential extension project( Symbiotic Parasite) , Outhouse project ( Versatile Decadence) , Residential Architecture ( House of Dynamic Sunlight ) and Mix Use Healthcare ( Qure). In all of these projects we have pushed ourselves to the limit in terms of exploration and even though they are all at very different scales and budgets we have made sure that we give a 100 percent to the projects and try to get the most optimal results for the projects along with the design to suit the times. Our result foray, in making our studio extremely multidisciplinary, into furniture/ installation and product design which are micro experiments of Architecture with grassroots sustainability is a push in a forward direction. We always wanted a “research by design” wing to the firm which furniture design does by letting us experiment with re-used construction materials thus finding a way to re-use them in architectural projects and contributing to lessening the construction waste in the industry.
RTF: What are your views on working collaboratively? How exciting and challenging is it at the same time?
Hiloni: In this day and age collaboration is an extremely important part of design. To work with people who are experts in their fields brings in a new dimension to the project. This is certainly a very interesting and exciting exercise and experience which informs the betterment of the project. The challenges are only there if two creative people cannot work together and are not on the same page about the end goal. Working together with experts in different disciplines is definitely very important when it comes to design.
RTF: How do you look at the importance of staying relevant in the realm of architecture and design? How do you do that?
Hiloni: It is very important to constantly update oneself about new materials, new ideas and new exchanges in design which according to me is the best way to stay relevant. For example AI in architecture is the new tool that we are exploring to make our ideas and illustrations more visually appealing.
RTF: What is the process of establishing a common ground when dealing with a client’s demands and your ideas? How important do you consider ‘The Art of Persuasion’ for architects and designers?
Hiloni: The art of persuasion is probably the most important learning in architecture which is never taught in schools and which most architects have to end up learning themselves through trials and errors. It is very important to understand the clients’ likes, dislikes, their lifestyle, their daily routines to be able to get the best solutions for them and when it comes to presenting it, good renders and visual aides to present the ideas and information makes a huge difference as it makes them gain more confidence in design. The most important aspect of this discourse is honestly, according to me, as it creates confidence in the client on your word and your work ethic.
RTF: What is your perspective on the evolving role of architectural criticism and the influence of architectural critics in the digital age?
Hiloni: Constructive criticism is always helpful in the evolution of any field. Criticism based on ‘trends’ and celebrity likes is very fleeting but architectural critics who understand design and base the criticism on real issues are the ones who help in the evolution of the industry.
RTF: Can you reflect on your journey as an architect and give young students and architects some wisdom to excel in this field?
Hiloni: I often say that one thing that helped me explore design in different ways is naivety and the idea that nothing is impossible so it’s very important for young architects to have that spirit and the other most important thing which is more important than talent or ability in architecture is patience, hardwork and perseverance. Architecture is a long arduous road and you need all these three as companions on your journey.
RTF: What approach would you advise young design professionals to have to excel in the field? And what are some things to be wary of?
Hiloni: Always be yourself, try to have as much honesty that you can about your design and do not fall in the trap of following trends and the attraction to fancy visual imagery. This would be my best advice to young design professionals who are trying to make their mark.
Thank you so much for doing this interview with us. It has been a pleasure getting to know about you and your work. We’re sure that your insights will be highly valuable to our audience which includes architects and design students. We look forward to publishing this interview on our website soon.
