Design Mumbai hosts the Sustainable Design Collective

The Sustainable Design Collective recently joined forces with Design Mumbai to host panel discussions at this rapidly expanding event. Attracting over 9,000 visitors and 100+ leading, global brands, Design Mumbai’s launch in 2024 marked India’s first-ever B2B international contemporary design trade show for design, architecture, and interiors professionals.  The second iteration was held at Jio World Garden on 26th-29th November 2025. The event has already become a platform, both for Indian brands seeking global recognition and for international companies that want to tap into the prosperous and fast-growing Indian design market.

With chapters in the UK and India, the Sustainable Design Collective was invited to join the Design Mumbai Exchange Talks Programme which brings together an international line-up of architects, designers and thought leaders, alongside India’s most influential industry voices to discuss questions of creativity, urbanism, sustainability, and how design impacts global culture.

The first panel, hosted on Day One, was ‘India-focussed’. Moderated by Harsha Kotak, co-founder of the Sustainable Design Collective and founder of Women in Office Design, the theme for the discussion was ‘Designing Locally: Indian Materials, Craft and Climate-Responsive Habitats’.

Speakers included one of India’s most celebrated multidisciplinary designers, Pinakin Patel. With a deep-rooted understanding of Indian philosophy, his eponymous studio has, over the past 45 years, championed the aesthetic of India Modern. He was joined by Roshani Karekar of award-winning firm, SJK Architects. The architecture, interior design and master planning practice has built its reputation by highlighting how contemporary design can be rooted in craft.

As a founder member of SDC India and Senior Principal Sustainability at Jacobs, Shuchita Gupta offered insight into the integration of sustainability principles within the technical requirements of engineering challenges. Alex Webb, Sustainability Manager at Future Works, part of The Furniture Practice, highlighted the opportunities for collaboration and learning across international markets.

The panel on Day 2 had an international theme: Global Innovations & Systems in Sustainable Workplace Design. Moderated by Harsha Kotak, fellow SDC co-founder, Joanna Knight was joined by Johan Lindau, owner at Swedish furniture manufacturer, Bla Station; Phil Towle, Associate Director of Sustainability and Supply Chain at The Furniture Practice; and Senior Director and Head of Design and Workplace, India at Cushman and Wakefield, Zainab Makadam.

Discussions were primarily focussed on the drive for greater circularity and lifecycle management together with certifications and initiatives, such as Digital Product Passports.

Originally formed four years ago, The Sustainable Design Collective is a think tank group of workplace architects, designers and specifiers focussed on educating and driving greater commitments towards sustainability. As part of that mission, SDC is committed to knowledge sharing and collaboration through events, presentations and panel discussions as well as an online training academy and magazine. SDC India has an established chapter in Banglalore with Mumbai following in 2026.