Introduction: In contemporary architecture and interior practice, the boundaries between space, brand, and experience are increasingly dissolving. Ritika Singh, Associate Director at Interics Design Consultants, represents this evolving paradigm where design is not merely about creating functional environments, but about crafting narratives that people inhabit and experience. In this conversation with SSMB, she reflects on her journey, her design philosophy, and the evolving role of materials, technology, and leadership in shaping meaningful built environments.
Every architect has a defining moment that sets their creative course. What was that moment for you?
One defining moment for me came while working on a workplace project that began with a largely functional and conventional brief. As the design evolved, I started exploring how the space could move beyond efficiency and begin to reflect the organisation’s culture and identity.
Rather than treating branding and spatial design as separate layers, I tried to weave them together through planning, materials, and the overall experiential quality of the space. When the project was completed, the response from both the client and the users was deeply encouraging. It was no longer perceived as just a well-designed office, it felt like a true extension of the organisation itself.
That experience shaped my understanding of how powerful design can be when it integrates spatial thinking, brand storytelling, and user experience. It ultimately influenced the direction of Interics Design Consultants, where architecture, interiors, branding, and experiential design converge to create spaces that are both functional and deeply contextual.
“Spaces should not just function efficiently, they should communicate meaning.”
Interics is known for blending design, brand strategy, and spatial experience. How do you approach this intersection?
Our approach begins with people. Design, for me, is inherently user-centric. The way people move, interact, and inhabit a space informs the planning, circulation, and overall spatial logic. Functionality becomes the foundation, ensuring that the environment works intuitively.
One of the biggest lessons has been relentless commitment to the work. In the early stages of a practice, you are responsible for everything, from design and presentations to site coordination and administration, before you gradually build a team.
Another reality young architects must accept is that rejection is part of the journey. In the beginning, perhaps 75 percent of proposals may not convert into projects. The real test lies in whether you continue despite that. Persistence becomes the defining factor.
“Design for me is about imagining an idea and then carefully bringing it to life through detail.”
How would you describe the design philosophy guiding your practice?
Our approach begins with people. Design, for me, is inherently user-centric. The way people move, interact, and inhabit a space informs the planning, circulation, and overall spatial logic. Functionality becomes the foundation, ensuring that the environment works intuitively.
Layered onto this is the expression of brand identity. Through materials, colours, textures, and spatial rhythm, we translate the client’s values into a built language that feels authentic rather than imposed
The emotional dimension emerges through balance and coherence. A space should feel calm, intuitive, and engaging. When functionality, identity, and emotion align, the result is an environment that performs efficiently while also resonating with its users.
How do you perceive steel as an architectural medium beyond its structural role?
For me, steel represents precision, lightness, and structural honesty. It allows architecture to be articulated with clarity through slender sections, exposed frameworks, and expansive spans that open up possibilities for fluid and adaptable spaces.
Aesthetically, it introduces a refined industrial quality. Its clean lines establish a visual rhythm that can define spatial identity while maintaining restraint. When combined with materials like glass, timber, or composites, steel acts as a unifying element, balancing transparency, warmth, and strength.
From an experiential standpoint, steel contributes to openness and flexibility. It allows spaces to feel contemporary and breathable, while also supporting the narrative of the environment. It is not merely a structural solution, but a medium through which spatial identity can be expressed with elegance.
“Steel brings clarity to space and allows structure to become expression.”
Your projects reflect strong brand storytelling. How do you translate a company’s essence into spatial form?
Capturing a company’s essence begins with understanding its culture, not just visually, but operationally and experientially. It involves studying how people work, how they interact, and what the organisation stands for.
This narrative is then translated into spatial planning, material selection, and visual language. The way spaces are zoned and connected often reflects the organisation’s working style, whether collaborative, dynamic, or structured.
Brand expression is introduced through subtle cues that include colours, textures, and materials that resonate with the identity without overwhelming the space. The intention is to create environments where the brand is experienced intuitively, rather than applied superficially.
How do you integrate sustainability into your design process?
At Interics, sustainability is most effective when it is embedded from the outset rather than introduced as an afterthought. It begins with planning, orienting spaces to maximise natural light, ventilation, and thermal comfort, thereby reducing dependence on artificial systems.
Material selection is equally important. We prioritise durable, locally sourced, and low-impact materials, while also considering their lifecycle and sensory qualities. Today, sustainable materials offer a wide aesthetic range, allowing environmental responsibility to coexist with refined design expression.
Energy efficiency is addressed through lighting strategies, adaptable layouts, and systems that can evolve over time. The aim is to create spaces where sustainability feels intuitive and seamlessly integrated into the design language.
“Sustainability is most powerful when it is invisible, when it becomes inherent to design.”
How is technology shaping your design process today?
Technology has become a critical enabler of collaboration and precision. Tools like BIM allow all stakeholders to work on a unified platform, ensuring coordination and reducing discrepancies during execution.
Parametric tools enable us to test multiple design iterations efficiently, refining spatial and material decisions. VR walkthroughs, on the other hand, bring an experiential dimension, allowing clients to engage with the space before it is built.
These tools enhance clarity and decision-making, but the core of design remains human. Technology supports the process; it does not replace the intuition and creativity that drive it.
Designing with Precision and Empathy
- User-centric planning as the foundation
- Brand identity expressed through spatial language
- Materials as carriers of narrative
- Technology enabling coordination and clarity
- Sustainability embedded within design thinking
As a woman leading a multidisciplinary practice, what defines your leadership style?
My leadership approach is rooted in collaboration, clarity, and empathy. I believe design thrives in environments where people feel encouraged to share ideas and challenge assumptions.
At the same time, discipline and accountability are essential. Design is not only about creativity, it requires rigour, attention to detail, and a clear understanding of context.
Mentoring young designers is about helping them find confidence in their voice while strengthening their technical and conceptual skills. I encourage continuous learning and dialogue, so the team evolves both individually and collectively.
What challenges have shaped your journey as a designer and entrepreneur?
One of the key challenges has been balancing creative aspirations with the practical realities of running a design practice. While design is driven by ideas, a practice demands equal focus on management, timelines, and client relationships.
Another challenge has been establishing credibility in a competitive environment. This required resilience, clarity in communication, and confidence in decision-making.
These experiences have broadened my perspective. They have reinforced that design is not only about aesthetics, but about solving real problems and creating systems where creativity can thrive responsibly.
What advice would you offer to young women architects entering the field today?
I would encourage young architects to nurture both their creative voice and their understanding of the broader design ecosystem. Strong fundamentals, curiosity, and attention to detail are essential.
At the same time, developing leadership skills like project management, communication, and decision-making is equally important. These abilities allow designers to shape projects more holistically.
Most importantly, remain authentic and resilient. Architecture benefits from diverse perspectives, and meaningful design emerges when creativity is supported by clarity and strong professional values.
“Design is not about being louder, it is about being more meaningful.”
Editor’s Note:
Ritika Singh’s work reflects a growing shift in contemporary practice, where architecture is no longer seen as an isolated discipline, but as an intersection of space, identity, and experience. Her approach demonstrates how design can move beyond functionality to become a narrative tool, one that communicates values, enhances user experience, and builds lasting connections. In an industry navigating rapid change, her emphasis on integration of materials, technology, sustainability, and human-centric thinking, offers a compelling direction forward. It is a reminder that the most impactful spaces are not those that simply impress, but those that resonate.
