Design Democracy 2025: Revolutionizing Indian Design at HITEX
An Unforgettable Inauguration
Design Democracy, India’s defining platform for design, craft, and future thinking, has officially launched its much-anticipated 2025 edition at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad. This year’s festival, which runs until September 7, promises to unite over 15,000 attendees and feature more than 120 leading brands alongside insights from over 80 influential speakers. The event is poised to solidify Hyderabad’s status as South India’s creative capital, an accolade that reflects the city’s vibrant art and design scene.
Kicking off with a grand inauguration, the opening ceremony was graced by a host of dignitaries, including philanthropist Pinky Reddy, Mr. Gummi Ram Reddy (Chairman and Managing Director, ARK Group and Secretary, CREDAI National), and Gagandeep Kalsi (Associate Vice President – Strategy and Home Decor, Asian Paints). They were joined by the visionary founders of Design Democracy: Pallika Sreewastav, Shailja Patwari, and Arjun Rathi.
A Multi-Sensory Experience
Attendees are greeted by an expansive showcase that spans various disciplines—furniture, lighting, home furnishings, and fine art. The exhibition floor is thoughtfully structured into three immersive pavilions: Atelier, Canvas, and Muse. Each pavilion has been designed to dissolve the boundaries between craft, design, art, and culture, providing a sensorial experience that invites attendees to engage with each display genuinely.
Intellectual Dialogues: DD Talks
At the festival’s intellectual core is DD Talks, which features dynamic keynotes and panel discussions over the next two days. Esteemed visionaries, including Reza Kabul, Pavitra Rajaram, Sussanne Khan, and Akshat Bhatt, will explore pressing themes that affect the future of design in India, such as climate resilience, circular economies, and cultural storytelling. Complementing the main stage, DD Focus offers intimate dialogues within booths, allowing attendees to gain authentic insights into the creative processes of India’s design luminaries.
Curated Exhibitions Celebrating Indian Design
One of the festival’s standout features is its quartet of exclusive, curated exhibitions, each focused on different facets of Indian design through the lenses of materiality, memory, and imagination:
- Museum of Telangana (MOT): Curated by Supraja Rao, the exhibition titled Stone and Shade takes a poetic look at architecture grounded in India’s multifaceted climate.
- Gallery of Sustainability: Co-curated by Abin Chaudhuri and Snehashri Nandi, this exhibition shines a spotlight on conscious design practices that aim to shape an ethical and resilient future.
- Precious Objects: Curator Farah Ahmed presents this immersive gallery, showcasing objects that are as beautiful as they are meaningful—each telling its own story of craftsmanship and emotion.
- FLOW: A site-wide spatial intervention by Nuru Karim (Nudes), this installation reimagines movement and transforms the exhibition experience into a living narrative, beckoning visitors to walk through and engage actively.
A Vision for the Future
Reflecting on their mission, the founders—Shailja Patwari, Pallika Sreewastav, and Arjun Rathi—shared, “Our goal with Design Democracy is to build a platform that fosters genuine connections within the design ecosystem. Hyderabad’s dynamic growth makes it the perfect home for this dialogue. We believe design is the silent language of beauty that lifts a place beyond function into feeling, and this festival is a celebration of that transformative power.”
Industry Support
The scale and immersive nature of the festival could not be achieved without the support of industry leaders. The Charcoal Project takes the lead as Title Sponsor, with Beautiful Homes by Asian Paints fulfilling the role of Platinum Sponsor. Additional Gold Sponsors, including ANCA and Bondtite, along with Associate Sponsors like FIMA, Osum, Dimore, Tabu Veneers, MCI, and West Elm, have all contributed to the festival’s success.
Event Information
- Event: Design Democracy 2025
- Dates: September 5–7, 2025
- Venue: HITEX Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad
- Registration & Details: Design Democracy Website
As the festival unfolds, it promises not only to be a showcase of creativity but also a platform for meaningful dialogues surrounding the future of design in India—a true testament to the country’s rich heritage and innovative spirit.
