From a childhood fascination with car design to earning his Master of Architecture, Designer Utsav Kalathiya’s path has been fueled by curiosity, creativity, and a love for designing spaces that bring people together. This November, we sat down with Utsav to talk about his aspirations and inspirations for his career. Read his Q&A below!

Q: What inspired you to become an architect/designer?

As a kid, I was fascinated by automobile engineering and dreamed of designing cars, which led me to take a Technical Drawing course. I became aware of how much I enjoyed thinking spatially and creating with purpose after spending time with those drawings. That curiosity naturally shifted toward the built environment overtime and inspired me to pursue architecture.

Q: If you could give advice to a young designer, what would you say?

I’d tell a young designer to stay curious and experiment fearlessly. Build relationships and talk to other designers, networking is a great way to learn, get inspired, and open doors.

Q: Do you have any guiding design principles in your process?

I believe in designing spaces that positively impact their surroundings and uplift the community. Every element should feel purposeful, creating a cohesive and inspiring experience for the people who use it.

Q: What have been some of your career highlights/proudest achievements so far?

One of my proudest achievements so far has been graduating this year with a Master of Architecture. Completing my degree was a journey full of challenges, growth, and learning, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see all that effort come to fruition.

Q: Do you have a favorite city to visit for architecture?

I don’t have a single favorite city for architecture, but the next place I’m excited to visit is Tokyo. I’m eager to see its dynamic urban spaces and see how people experience it.