Dialogues in Design

What happens when architecture meets filmmaking? In this episode of Dialogues in Design, I speak with Ryan Berman, an architectural graduate who found his way into the world of film and production design. We explore the unexpected connections between architecture and filmmaking, from designing spaces for characters rather than clients to creating fictional worlds that feel real. Ryan shares how hi...

What happens when an architect finds their calling beyond conventional architectural practice? In this episode of Dialogues in Design: Early Career Conversations , I sit down with Yamini to explore her journey from studying architecture to building a career in content writing and copywriting for architects and designers. We talk about the misconceptions surrounding architectural education, the imp...

What happens to architecture when AI can make almost anything? In this episode of Dialogues in Design , Nikita Daptardar speaks with architect, artist, and entrepreneur Kitae Kim about his journey from architecture and fine art to spatial design, technology, and building Foveate. They explore experiential design, the changing relationship between architects and clients, the impact of AI on archite...

What happens when a career moves from architectural history and web design into the world of AI? In this episode of Dialogues in Design, I’m joined by Dan Frydman, an AI Architectural Designer and visual storyteller with over 25 years of experience in web design and development. We talk about his journey through architectural history and web design, and how these experiences have shaped his curren...

What happens to craft when technology changes the way we design, make and think? In this episode of Dialogues in Design, I sit down with Rishav Jain, Senior Associate Professor at CEPT University, for a conversation about craft, technology, culture and the future of design. We talk about whether craft really needs to be “uplifted”, what happens when traditional knowledge meets contemporary design,...

In this episode of Dialogues in Design: Early Career Conversations, I sit down with Ishwariya Rajamohan for an honest conversation about confidence, perfectionism, and finding your own direction in design. We talk about the pressure to get things right, the fear of making mistakes, and how perfectionism can sometimes hold us back rather than push us forward. Ishwariya shares her experiences of nav...

In this episode of Dialogues in Design, I speak with building services engineer Xin Jin about sustainability, Passive House principles, architecture and engineering, and the unexpected lessons Tai Chi can bring to professional life. We talk about curiosity, career growth, working across disciplines, finding balance, and why sometimes the best approach is to step back, simplify, and return to first...

Why Dialogues in Design? What led to the conversations I’ve been having over the past six months? This episode is a little different. For once, I’m not just the one asking the questions, I’m answering some of them too. Over the past six months, I’ve spoken with designers, architects, and creatives about their careers, choices, uncertainties, and everything in between. Somewhere along the way, thos...

What does it really mean to find your way in architecture? In this episode of Dialogues in Design, I speak with Oriana Fernandez, a chartered architect, urban designer and project design manager with over sixteen years of experience across India and the UK. Originally trained at the Goa College of Architecture and CEPT University, Oriana has built a career spanning architecture, urban design, desi...

The best designer doesn’t always win the project. Is being a good designer enough to build a career in architecture? We spend years in architecture school perfecting our design skills, but rarely talk about what happens beyond the design itself: business, branding, sales, communicating value and winning work. Today, I’m joined by Daniel Patterson, an award-winning RIBA Part 1 architectural designe...

In this episode of Dialogues in Design, I sit down with Caitlin Brady architect, project manager, and creator of Architectette, to explore what it really takes to build a fulfilling career in architecture. We discuss: * Caitlin's journey from architecture school to becoming a licensed architect * Balancing architecture school with full-time professional work * The transition from student to in...

What does it really take to build a successful career in architecture? In this episode of Dialogues in Design, I sit down with architect, mentor, and founder Ryan Wenham to explore the realities of navigating the architecture profession as a young designer. Ryan shares his journey from discovering architecture as a child to building a platform that has helped thousands of students and graduates fi...

What does it truly mean to be a designer? In this episode of Dialogues in Design, I sit down with Dheeraj Akolkar—architect and filmmaker—for a conversation that goes far beyond architecture and cinema. We explore creativity, purpose, education, storytelling, and the courage it takes to follow a path that isn't already laid out. Dheeraj shares his remarkable journey from studying architecture...

In this episode of Dialogues in Design , I sit down with Abdur Raafay , an architectural designer and mentor helping international architects navigate the UK job market. From arriving in the UK as an international graduate to securing his first role through self-learning and persistence, Abdur shares practical insights that every architecture student and young professional should hear. We discuss:...

Architecture is often surrounded by conversations about long hours, low salaries, and uncertainty. But what if we shifted the focus towards optimism, confidence, and taking control of our careers? In this episode of Dialogues in Design , I sit down with Chris —architect, mentor, content creator, and podcast host—to explore what it really takes to build a meaningful career in architecture. We talk...

In this episode, Nikita has a dialogue with Ayush Hazare, to explore architecture as a deeply cultural and human practice. We discuss Indigenous knowledge systems, decolonial education, and how design can emerge from lived realities, memory, and place. A conversation about learning from communities, and rethinking what it means to design for people. Ayush Hazare is an architect, independent resear...

In this episode of  Dialogues in Design , I speak with Moritz Rietschel, co-founder of Raven, a company working at the frontier of AI capabilities and CAD. His work builds on research at UC Berkeley exploring how early large language models can be integrated into CAD as AI collaborative tools, alongside work in robotic fabrication. In our conversation, we explore the evolving relationship between...

In this episode of Dialogues in Design: Early Career Conversations, I speak with architect, educator, researcher, and founder of NTAR, Nicolas Turchi. Nicolas shares his journey from architecture school in Italy to working with great architects, before establishing his own research-driven practice and pursuing a parallel career in academia. Together, we discuss: • How architecture education differ...

In this episode of Dialogues in Design: Early Career Conversations, Nikita talks to Erin Pellegrino. Erin Pellegrino is a registered architect, educator, and co-founder of Out of Architecture: a career platform and community helping architects understand and expand their value within and beyond traditional practice. Through Matter, her design and fabrication studio, Erin maintains an active practi...

In this episode, Nikita speaks with Tim Ung , a New York–based architect whose professional work focuses on behavioral health facilities and whose parallel YouTube practice explores conceptual residential design. The conversation traces Tim’s journey from uncertainty in architectural education to developing a clear, human-centred approach to practice grounded in empathy, communication, and mentors...

Ar. Mahesh Rameshwar Bangad is an Associate Professor at BNCA. He is a registered PhD Scholar at SPPU. He has a Masters in Environmental Architecture, A post graduation in Project Management from UK and a Diploma In Indian Art & Architecture. He is the current Chairman of AESA and an EC Member of IIA Pune Centre and INTACH Pune Chapter. In this conversation, we talk about how Mahesh has built...

Morgan Chawaga is a career and business coach and the founder of The Healthy Architect, dedicated to helping CEO architects create MORE IMPACT and MORE INCOME. Through her evidence-based coaching, Morgan has successfully guided architects to become true firm owners and leaders, 2.5x their revenue in less than 6 months, create +20% profit margins, and lead people with integrity, all while achieving...

Hiloni is the Founder/Lead Architect of Hsc Designs. Hsc Designs is a young award winning, Multidisciplinary firm based out of Ahmedabad. Hiloni believes in combining the client's requirements, context challenges, climate and community requirements to come up with unconventional solutions for projects. All of her projects have an intrinsic experiential value that makes the spaces more usable and e...

Mike is an Architect and Writer from Buffalo, NY empowering other Architects to overcome chronic burnout, engineer self-awareness, and build thriving careers. As an Associate at Trautman Associates with over 18 years of experience in the field, Mike served two consecutive terms as a Board Member and Secretary for the AIA Buffalo/WNY. During his tenure with the AIA, he Co-Founded the Buffalo Emergi...

Sana Tabassum is the creative director of :scale, a communications studio and platform dedicated to empowering emerging creatives and helping brands tell authentic stories. For the last 6 years, she has built a global community through content, events, and mentoring, while expanding into strategic communication services for creative professionals in architecture and design. Her work focuses on sim...