DE Spotlight Interview - IN CONVERSATION WITH MANU MANSHEET RAI

MANU MANSHEET RAI, is a New Delhi-NCR based ace interior designer and stylist. DE Editor in chief Anirudh Datta had a detailed interaction with the designer for the DE Spotlight interview series where Manu talks with DE INDIA about his design journey and shares his latest interior creation - a gorgeous INDOSARACENIC apartment in Gurugram, India.

- Anirudh Datta

AD: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN INTERIOR DESIGN?

MANU: I was always artistically inclined. As a child I was the teachers favourite in painting, clay modelling, wall decor etc. But alas everybody around me took it as a hobby only. I was not sure what I wanted to do myself except that I wanted a glamorous job, a fun job, something that would make me happy & rejuvenated. Due to societal and family pressures I pursued academics and completed an MBA from Fore school of Management (Delhi) after which my heart was not in the corporate/MNC/bank jobs that were much sought after in the 90s. I thought of joining the hospitality world - at least I would be in the glamorous environs.

Destiny took me to Taj hotels, where I got hired to design & do displays for the Khazana shopping arcades all over the country. That was my incubator, where I learnt a lot and worked with many prestigious brands and product categories. I performed exceptionally well and got accolades. After only 2 years of full time job, I moved abroad as a consultant and bagged multiple retail clients of that time. Interiors was always on the periphery (actually I was involved with various projects since the age of 13 only).This is when I realised my calling was in the field of Visual Merchandising and Styling.

I got another opportunity to train in IKEA (Delft) and work in UAE for the biggest guru of store design/communication & retail experience. After a very gratifying and successful stint abroad, I returned to a very inviting list of existing and new clients. Now I also had the confidence to start teaching in various institutes. Rest is history.

AD: WHO WERE YOUR EARLY DESIGN HEROES AND ROLE MODELS?