With an emphasis on emotion, identity, and long-term impact, Kolkata-based Vivek Studio is reinventing interior and architectural design in a crowded field that is becoming more and more dominated by trends and surface aesthetics. Since its founding in 2014 by designer and businessman Vivek Bhagat, the studio has quietly but assuredly established a reputation across the country for designing elegant yet soulful spaces.

Vivek Studio (https://vivekstudio.in/) began as a construction company but has since grown into a full-service, multidisciplinary firm that has completed more than 100 turnkey projects throughout India. Its portfolio includes everything from upscale restaurants, corporate offices, banquet halls, and large retail establishments like Pantaloons to urban homes and opulent farmhouses.

The Kolkata Mail correspondent Priyanka Dutta caught up with Vivek Bhagat about Vivek Studio and his plans. Excerpts..

How did you start your journey as an interior designer?

Vivek Bhagat- I started learning from others by observing them and acquiring skills. After I acquired the necessary skills, I established my own company.

What challenges did you face after starting the company?

Vivek Bhagat- I faced many challenges. I did not know about marketing or approaching clients. In interior design, new things come up every day. I learn daily and try to incorporate that into my work. This helps in the proper running of the company.

What kind of projects do you handle?

Vivek Bhagat- I handle hospitality, residential, and commercial projects.

AI is the new buzzword. Will it affect interior design?

Vivek Bhagat- No, I do not think AI will affect that much. It will help with productivity, but other than that, it will not affect the work of an interior designer. AI can tell how much wood you need to make something, but where to place a piece of furniture or what wood to use, that will depend on the experience of the interior designer.

Can AI overshadow interior designers?

Vivek Bhagat- No, this is simply because AI is not interacting with the clients. That is the job of the interior designers. They know what their clients want. AI can work as per your command and cannot suggest anything more. They will enhance productivity and decrease the time. But the interior designers can tell what will suit your home or office, and also how to save money in some cases as well.

What is your next plan for the company?

Vivek Bhagat- I have no grand plans. I will not tell that I plan to do so many projects in the next month, or I will not work in the next month. I will work if the project interests me and I can help the client in telling a story with his/her home or office. The role of the interior designer is to tell a story with the way he designs the interior space, and that must also reflect the owner’s persona. That is what I do. I make small changes to bring in a new look.

What is your advice to young and aspiring designers?

Vivek Bhagat- They must love what they do. They will learn more due to this love. And this will help them further their career.