‘Creating design out of a challenge is an art I love!’ Bijal Panchmatia

 

Bijal Panchmatia was interviewed by StarDust Magazine for their Women in Interior Design segment, with the feature published on 11th March 2018. The published interview experts shared here for our readers.

Are female designers accepted by all? What are your experiences and facts? 

The need for the question to be asked itself speaks about the answer; we shall truly know that there is no gender bias when one doesn’t need to ask or answer questions about gender inequality.

Having said that, the Institution where I completed my Interior Studies had more male students in comparison to female students. Over a period, I have seen progress in the number of Female designers, but the change is rather slow-paced.

Fortunately, most people I work with are very welcoming to all female colleagues, leaving a few percentages of unruly men mostly at the construction sites.

Almost 60% of Indians still believe that women are less in calibre and are meant to only do household work. What is the future of women in the current market scenario?

I am all about gender equality, but if we have more people who believe that women are less in calibre, I think women in our country will bring women’s empowerment much sooner to prove such old-fashioned thinking wrong.

Skills, talent, and creativity are never bound by gender. As the saying goes, ‘The future depends on what we do today.’ When women put their heart into their work and stay clear in their vision, they don’t need anyone to pave the way for them; they are paving their own path forward.

Outdoor visits where you are required to spend the whole day on site as a woman tell us what is lacking and what are the basic prerequisites?

Even though working on sites is a challenging task but I love being on site.

Clean air, clean water and clean toilets are a struggle to find on a site, but that’s a prerequisite irrespective of the gender.

Nobel laureates/awards and shortlists have women designers been justified, or do you feel selection is partial?

I do not see any gender bias for Nobel laureates/awards, but I feel the need to sub-categorise all the categories into a Male and a Female section, so both genders are equally recognised.

Personally, the recognition & appreciation I receive from my Client and the satisfaction for my own work is the Award I look forward to.

Who is your Inspiration a woman architect/interior designer?

Zaha Hadid. Her unconventional & radical design methods have always inspired me.

World over, offices are called the “second home”. Is it true for a woman, too?  Share your views?

Yes, even for women, offices are their ‘second home’.

The qualities like empathy & compassion ‘additionally’ help create a comfortable environment in the workspace rather than building up a competitive environment amongst the genders. The workspace environment & morale have a major impact on productivity & quality of work.

How did you get your first project? What & when was it? What were the challenges you faced then, and is it still the same, or has it comparatively eased?

My college professor recommended me to my first client. That was over a decade ago, in 2004, a three-bedroom residential in South Bombay. Accommodating clients’ requirements in unique and creative designs, given within a set timeline and different sets of budgets, is always a challenge. But Creating Design out of a challenge is an art I love!

Payment to professionals is there a discrepancy amongst the genders, or what is your opinion?

I personally haven’t experienced or heard about gender wise discrepancies over professional fees.

Do women practically disappear either after marriage or children in this profession? 

They do not disappear; for most of the female designers I know personally, take a break for a few years to fulfil social & cultural roles as the primary caretakers of children, and once they are settled in their new life, some do rejoin the work. Social pressure does exist & is rather subjective;

But as I mentioned earlier, the society is progressing slowly, but the change is there.

How do women who have taken a break from work after marriage or having children find their way back to working again in this profession?

Comebacks are better than setbacks!

The common mistake one makes after taking a break is not staying updated with rapidly changing professional requirements! Keeping in the loop with the latest trends and upgrading yourself accordingly is a must.

How can architects/interior designers be more productive in their field?

One can be more productive by deciding which tasks need to be done, determining clear priorities for each task and then executing them, starting from the most difficult tasks first, then to the easiest tasks. Also, taking a break every once in a while is necessary. One shall self-practice & maintain discipline, it helps!

What do you like most about being an Interior Designer?

Creativity! This profession has made me discover the Immense potential in myself to work on diverse, unique projects & constantly creating varied spaces functional as well as aesthetically appealing at the same time.

What do people not know about Interiors or Interior Designers?

For many, designing is all about Look & Feel, but there is so much more to it!  The Interior design is developed on the basis of immense planning, which has to comply with the requirements, space & timeline.

Also, there is a difference between an Interior Designer & an Interior Decorator.

Interior Decorators work on adorning the space with the finishes of Surfaces like drapes, colours, wall coverings, artwork or styling the space.

Whereas Interior Designers encompass everything by formatting a space based on an immense combination of art, science & calculations, which shall also come in terms with the client’s vision, requirements, functionality & making it visually appealing simultaneously.

One favourite material you love to work with?

Wood! With hundreds of species to choose from, the natural elements of woods never fail with their texture, unique knots, gradients & the grains.

Any last words that you would like to share with my readers and other female friends?

Would like to enlighten all readers with the wisdom shared by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe:

“Knowing Is Not enough; We Must Apply. Wishing Is Not Enough; We Must Do.”