Leaders

From sketching competitions as a child to founding her own architectural firm, Yashasvi Mehta’s journey has been shaped by an innate creative spark and an entrepreneurial spirit inspired by her father’s business legacy. A graduate from Rizvi College of Architecture, Yashasvi began her professional career in interior design, eventually launching Yashasvi Mehta Architects (YMA) in 2024.

Her design roots trace back to childhood encouragement toward the arts, which blossomed into a clear calling for architecture. Influenced by both her architect sister and her father’s business acumen, Yashasvi found her purpose in creating meaningful spaces. Today, she leads YMA with projects spanning across Mumbai, Baroda, and Ahmedabad, driven by a deep-seated belief that design isn’t just a profession, it’s what she was born to do.

Tell us about your educational background. What inspired you to foray into interior design?

I completed my A Levels at Mumbai’s Rustomjee Cambridge International School and then went on to earn my Bachelor of Architecture degree from Rizvi College of Architecture. Later, I also completed a Design Thinking course from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, which shaped how I approach business in design. Interior design is something I genuinely connected with early on, even though I am an architect by profession.

You are designing someone’s home or workspace, spaces where they will spend so much of their lives. And if that space doesn’t reflect who they are, it just won’t feel right. That’s a big responsibility, and it’s something I value. I love it when I get to help reimagine a space that resonates with my clients. The appreciation they show at the end is what makes it all worth it.

Take us through your professional journey and core areas of specialization as an interior designer.

Professionally, I started off with my relative's project, who took a chance on me. From there, one project led to another.

Over the years, a user-centric approach has become my core specialization. We spend ample time with clients to fully understand their vision. Spaces are designed entirely around the client's needs.

We don't impose our personal opinions on how a space should look or feel because, at the end of the day, it’s their space to live or work in. Our portfolio showcases varied design styles,, from project to project. We don’t like repeating ourselves and try to bring something fresh and new to every space.

What inspired you to establish Yashasvi Mehta Architects? Tell us about the underlying idea and vision behind the venture.

Initially working as a co-founder of an architectural studio for four years, I always knew I wanted to build something of my own, not just a personal brand, but an actual company that stands on its own. That's when I started Yashasvi Mehta Architects.

The vision was always clear. I wanted to create spaces that matter, spaces that truly make a difference in people’s lives. I am passionate about offering innovative solutions to clients, and now we also conduct R&D to explore new design approaches. At the core, it’s about making our mark, developing a strong identity in the industry, and is known for doing work that’s thoughtful, different, and impactful.

Tell us about the core design philosophies that you follow as an interior designer. Where do you draw inspiration from?

I believe in user-centric design, which is always the top priority. I also believe in creating spaces that reflect the person who is going to live or work in them. We invest time and effort into building a solid design brief before the design process begins.

Further, I design through emotion as I think spaces should speak to people on a subconscious level, whether it’s a workspace meant to spark creativity or a home that makes you feel calm and grounded. It’s subtle, but as designers, it’s our job to get that right. And finally, I am all about timeless elegance. We don’t chase trends, we want to create spaces that last and still feel meaningful years down the line.

For inspiration, I like to stay updated, whether that’s through magazines, articles, or podcasts I listen to while traveling. I am a big book collector, my collection includes several books related to architecture, design, business, and biographies. I also follow digital platforms such as ArchDaily and AD that showcase bold, creative work that others are doing.

What are some challenging aspects of being an interior designer? How do you navigate through these challenges?

While I can easily visualize a space, sometimes the client can’t, which is understandable as they are not trained to see what we see. Translating that vision for them can be tricky. But we have a process in place. We sit with them, go over the 3D designs, walk them through every space, and make sure they are clear on what the outcome will look like before we even start execution.

Communication is another challenge we try to overcome. With many people involved, clients, teams, contractors, it’s crucial to keep everyone aligned. When communication is strong and transparent, the whole project tends to run smoothly.

I ensure open communication, both with clients and my team. In the office, we share an honest, upfront culture. Instead of sugarcoating things, we discuss issues in a straightforward manner. I also extend that same transparency to clients, whether it’s the design process, materials or contractor coordination, I keep them fully in the loop.

Looking back, which key professional mile­stones standout? What is your success man­tra?

Last year, I was recognized on LinkedIn as one of the most notable personalities of 2024 through a magazine feature, which was an important professional milestone. Prior to that, in my last company one of our projects was featured as a spotlight project at IDAC, which was also a proud moment for me.

I truly believe in discipline over consistency. Its discipline that leads to consistency, and once you have that, you can achieve anything.

Yashasvi Mehta, Founder & Principal Architect, Yashasvi Mehta Architects

Yashasvi Mehta is the Founder and Principal Architect of Yashasvi Mehta Architects (YMA), a Mumbai-based design firm known for its emotionally intelligent, user-centric, and timeless approach to architecture and interiors. A graduate of Rizvi College of Architecture with an additional certification in Design Thinking from Stanford Graduate School of Business, Yashasvi began her professional journey in interior design, transforming personal passion into a thriving practice.