Connecting the Dots: Industry Leader Conversations
Join us for unfiltered conversations with India's leading architects and designers. We are cutting through the design noise to talk business, ego, and the real-world challenges of building beautiful spaces.
Season 1 of 'Connecting the Dots' was a fantastic journey of ideas and inspiration. We thank all the architects and designers who joined us. Get ready for Season 2, which promises to be even bigger.
Get ready for bigger insights and bolder conversations. Season 2 of our podcast is loading, bringing a whole new perspective on design and innovation.
This trailer gives you a sneak peek into our 'Connecting the Dots' series. See how we bring together industry leaders to share their stories, discuss innovation, and reshape the landscape of creativity.
Here is the announcement for the first episode of Season 2, featuring architect Alhad Gore. We kick off the new season with deep conversations about design, business, and the lessons learned along the way.
"Keep your footwear and egos outside." We start our conversation with architect Alhad Gore by discussing this powerful line outside his office. It's a great reminder that real learning happens when we are open to new ideas.
In this clip from our first episode of Season 2, we discuss how success can bring ego, and how clients without a design background can sometimes create challenges. It is a real look at the professional lives of architects.
Here is the promotional image for Episode 2 of Season 2, where I, Mona Menon, sit down with Architect Girish Chatpar of OCDS. We dive into his design vision and what it takes to create transformative spaces.
As designers, we are ultimately service providers. In this clip, Ar. Girish Chatpar explains why a house must be an identity of the people living there, not just a reflection of the latest trends.
How do you handle clients who come with Pinterest images and say "ये चाहिए"? Ar. Girish Chatpar shares his approach to managing client expectations while staying true to good design principles in this podcast clip.
Announcing Episode 3 of Season 2 with Ar. Rajat Kabra and Ar. Shilpa Kabra of The DesignBox. We had an insightful conversation about their journey in architecture and creativity.
About Connecting the Dots: Industry Leader Conversations
These are not your typical, scripted interviews. We sit down with architects like Alhad Gore, Girish Chatpar, and Shahen Mistry to discuss the topics most professionals avoid: losing money on early projects, handling client egos when Pinterest meets reality, and the struggle of starting a firm from scratch. If you are a designer, contractor, or business owner, you will hear the expensive, hard-won lessons that do not usually make it onto Instagram feeds.
Why We Are Connecting the Dots
In our 50-year journey at Marshalls, we have learned that the most valuable education does not come from textbooks. It comes from the experiences of people in the trenches—the architects, the interior designers, and the contractors who build our cities. We started this podcast series to create a space where we can drop the professional masks and talk about what actually happens on-site and in the boardroom.
What You Will Learn
Each episode peels back a layer of the design industry:
- The Business of Design: How to price your services, when to say no to a client, and how to maintain profitability without compromising your vision.
- Handling the Ego: We discuss the inevitable clash between professional expertise and client requirements. It is a raw look at navigating difficult projects where your technical knowledge hits a wall.
- From Mistakes to Mastery: Our guests share their most expensive failures. You will hear about losing lakhs on projects and the pivotal moments that taught them how to scale successfully.
- Industry Trends vs. Reality: We talk about what is truly sustainable, what works in the Indian climate, and how to handle everything from monsoon leakage to changing design aesthetics.
This is not about promoting ourselves. It is about building a community of builders. Whether you are an architect looking to refine your business model, a student trying to understand the reality of starting a firm, or a contractor wanting to add more value to your projects, there is a lesson in these conversations for you.
Marshalls Wallcoverings
We have been transforming walls for 50 years, but we know the real magic happens in the conversations between the lines. My team and I started this series to bring together the people who actually build our cities, sharing not just our wins, but the hard, expensive lessons that do not make it onto Instagram.
Looking for specific design insights?
Search our conversations with experts or explore professional workshops for your team.
More from Wallcovering Industry Training & Workshops by Marshalls Wallcoverings