“There is far more acceptance of women in this field than when I started working, but problems still exist. Personally, societal and professional expectations and beliefs about women’s leadership abilities are the challenges I’ve faced most often,” says Dakshayani Sheth.

Dakshayani Sheth is the Regional Head for Pune at Edifice Consultants. She is optimistic about inclusivity in the design industry, and maintains that a lot more women need to be brought into this profession if design is to be more empathetic to different genders or for persons with varied abilities. An interior designer with nearly 15 years of experience at Edifice Consultants, she aspires to create impactful spatial experiences through well-designed interiors that integrate green features and sustainability.

“In our design for CISCO’s office building, we experimented with new methods and techniques of design — this was a learning experience for the studio, and we managed to accomplish this novel approach in our final design while keeping the client’s philosophy intact,” says Dakshayani, the designer for the project.

Edifice Consultants designed the interiors for Cisco's Pune Facility, translating its high corporate standards into its spatial planning. The furniture layout is designed to cater to a hot-desking seat culture, with various occupants of the space. Sophisticated indirect task-lighting systems over the workstations allow for streamlined use throughout the day. The central collaborative area is a visual delight, as a bespoke interpretation of CISCO's graphics and colour palettes enhance the interiors. The office space visually interacts with the employees, giving them a sense of community in the corporate culture.

This March, Edifice Consultants celebrates the exemplary women of our team, inspiring a new generation to #ChooseToChallenge and helping shape a more equitable future through their lives and work. Our practice is committed to rewarding talent and fostering growth regardless of differences, and we continually strive to ensure the same for all our members.