DesignAsia Team
Shriya Kolte – Founder & CIO, Imagination Inc
Imagination Inc (www.imaginationinc.in) is a team of interior designers, architects, artists, stylists and decorators, creating wonders in designing space by virtue of their passion for creativity and innovation. They focus on every minute details and intricacies that can add an edge to the designs that a customer expects from them. Every design is a unique mission for the team to execute with high degree of precision and efficiency. Imagination Inc’s expertise ranges from high-end residential schemes to commercial projects, including everything from rustic retreats to plush penthouses. Every space it designs is tailored to recreate the client’s vision. The multi-award-winning team offers an unparalleled level of customization, thereby exceeding customer satisfaction.
Imagination Inc started its journey in 2016, which is rightly steered to the epitome of success by Shriya Kolte, Founder & CIO of this interior designing firm. Having studied Interior Designing from Istituti Callegari Milano and Central Saint Martins, London, Shriya combined her passion for designing with art exposure from across the globe, before venturing into her own firm. She describes ‘creativity’ as her DNA and that indeed shows in her work. Her personal art shows have been held across the country, displaying her astute sense of design. She is known for her sophistication, brilliance in style, innovative ideas and attention to the minutest of details. At Imagination Inc., Shriya has handpicked a team of young, edgy and zealous designers, who further contribute to her ‘Imagination Edge’.
The firm presently offers its services in Pune and Mumbai, and have completed 350 plus projects across the two cities. In the coming days, it is looking to expand in Bangalore as well. Speaking about her firm’s USP, Shriya points out that,
“We believe in designer homes irrespective of the budget and give it utmost importance, keeping in mind functionality and aesthetics, and thereby provide people with spacious designer and artistic spaces.”
Getting to know client psyche is an important step in this line of business. The first and most important stage in the design process is getting to know them. A detailed interview is conducted with them in form of a questionnaire which aims to essential guidelines necessary to begin the project. Discussion about pleasant topics such as the colour scheme, materials, and the desired style are done along with the kind of budget the client has allocated for the project. This gives a wholesome understanding to start conceptualising and planning. Experts then create a 3D model of the interior which provides a starting point for the work on the concept design following that the creation of computer visualisations happens, which is intended to show how the investment will look after the remodelling is completed. Specific furniture, lighting, colour schemes, and materials are chosen that goes well with the theme.
Imagination Inc offers a one-stop-solution to style spaces for individuals who are busy and doesn’t have time to put in effort to beautify their living spaces. Shriya believes that fear of hiring an interior designer in India is a predominant reason and a false notion that interior designers are expensive, has always been the biggest challenge in the sector. Through her venture she wanted to break that myth and offer artistic / designer solutions in every spaces, without pinching the pocket. Further she feels that a creative mind with great visualization capability and a good listener can shine in this line of business. One should be able to listen to the requirements of every owning member of the space we are designing, and understand and reflect the same through design outputs.
Having a background in finance, jewellery design, creativity development and interior design helped her to grow as an entrepreneur. Being in the creative field has helped her to create holistically viable spaces. Working with intricate jewellery designs has helped enhance attention to the finer details.
While sharing her learnings as a successful entrepreneur, Shriya elucidates that any space whether a home, office, store, etc has a specific sentimental value and an emotional connect for the client. For most professional agencies, it’s simply another project. But, at Imagination Inc, the designer’s step into the client’s shoes and feel the space and connect with it before starting to design it. This makes the entire experience more personal for the client and the agency. It builds a lovely bond and everyone eventually is part of this beautiful creative family called Imagination Inc.
With some great awards and accolades from the industry, it is needless to mention how Imagination Inc is marching ahead successfully. In last few years it has bagged several awards. In 2018, Realty Plus identified it as Best Interior Design, followed by next year’s Interior Design Firm of the year 2019 award by Realty Plus. Economic Times awarded then for 2019’s Innovative Design of the year. Next year in 2020, Realty Plus again identified them as Luxury Interiors of the year. To all the budding designers, Shriya advices to follow their heart and put in the best foot forward irrespective of the circumstances.
