Design Democracy, India’s premier platform for design, craft, and future thinking, officially commenced its 2025 edition at the HITEX Exhibition Centre today. The three-day festival, which will run until September 7, brings together the country’s top creators and thinkers to discuss the future of Indian design on an international stage. Featuring over 120 leading brands, insights from more than 80 influential speakers, and an expected turnout of over 15,000 participants, the event reinforces Hyderabad’s reputation as the creative hub of South India. The festival began with a grand opening ceremony attended by notable dignitaries such as philanthropist Pinky Reddy, Mr.
Gummi Ram Reddy (Chairman and Managing Director of ARK Group and Secretary of CREDAI National), and Gagandeep Kalsi (Associate Vice President – Strategy and Home Decor at Asian Paints). They were joined by the visionary founders of Design Democracy: Pallika Sreewastav, Shailja Patwari, and Arjun Rathi. Guests arriving today will encounter a vast, cross-disciplinary display that includes furniture, lighting, home furnishings, and fine art. The exhibition space is divided into three immersive pavilions—Atelier, Canvas, and Muse—each crafted as a sensory experience that blurs the lines between craft, design, art, and culture. The festival’s intellectual segment, DD Talks, starts today with two days of engaging keynotes and panel discussions.
Visionaries like Reza Kabul, Pavitra Rajaram, Sussanne Khan, and Akshat Bhatt will address pressing topics influencing India’s future, including climate resilience, circular economies, and cultural storytelling. In addition to the main stage, DD Focus offers intimate, in-booth conversations with India’s design leaders, providing authentic insights into their creative processes. A key highlight of the festival is a series of exclusive curated exhibitions that delve into the evolving landscape of Indian design through materiality, memory, and imagination: • Museum of Telangana (MOT): Curated by Supraja Rao, Stone and Shade poetically explores architecture grounded in India’s climate. • Gallery of Sustainability: Co-curated by Abin Chaudhuri and Snehashri Nandi, this exhibition presents conscious design practices that promote an ethical and resilient future.
• Precious Objects: Curated by Farah Ahmed, this immersive gallery celebrates objects that are both beautiful and meaningful, sharing stories of craftsmanship and emotion. • FLOW: A site-wide spatial intervention by Nuru Karim (Nudes) that reimagines movement and transforms the exhibition experience into a dynamic narrative. The founders, Shailja Patwari, Pallika Sreewastav, and Arjun Rathi, expressed their collective vision, stating, “Our goal with Design Democracy is to create a platform that nurtures authentic connections within the design community. Hyderabad’s vibrant growth makes it an ideal setting for this dialogue.
We believe design is the silent language of beauty that elevates a place from mere function to emotion, and this festival celebrates that transformative power.” The festival’s scale and immersive experience are supported by industry leaders, including the Charcoal Project as Title Sponsor and Beautiful Homes by Asian Paints as Platinum Sponsor. Gold Sponsors include ANCA and Bondtite, while FIMA, Osum, Dimore, Tabu Veneers, MCI, and West Elm serve as Associate Sponsors. Event Information: • Event: Design Democracy 2025 • Dates: September 5–7, 2025 • Venue: HITEX Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad • Registration & Details: https://designdemocracy.in/
