Design power houses weave their magic wand on our 100th issue covers

As Elle Decor India scores a century, we celebrate this milestone by inviting three design legends – Karim Rashid, Paola Navone and Patrick Schumacher – To bring alive their vision of India on the covers.

KARIM RASHID, Industrial Designer, New York

He is one of the most prolific designers of his generation, who has churned out over 4,000 designs, won 300 awards, and worked with clients across 40 countries. His ability to transcend typology continues to make him a force to reckon with among his peers. About the cover:  “To honour ELLE DECOR India’s special 100th issue, I revisited a sacred building, the Taj Mahal. I call it the ‘Karmausoleum’, a 21st century take on the heritage structure. The idea is not to replace it but to set it in a different location in India and make it a monument of worship. Designed with lightweight cement and displaying perforations, the structure houses large, seamless spaces for prayer and attaining spiritual bliss.”

PAOLA NAVONE Deisgner, Milan

She is Italian by birth, but a piece of her heart lies in South -East Asia, having spent almost 20 years in this part of the globe. She effortlessly switches between the roles of architect, designer, art director, critic, teacher and organiser of events. The multi-award-winning polymath is idolised because of her ability to wield together contrasting tastes of East and West. About the cover: “Blue, white, pink, red and green, this cover is a melting pot of colours. They also define me and my approach to design. Over-scaled drawings splashed with loud, energising hues reflect the overflowing beauty and richness of India.”

PATRIK SCHUMACHER Architect, London

The Principal of Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has led the practice since Zaha’s demise. Post joining the firm in 1988 he has been seminal in developing ZHA into a renowned global architecture and design studio with five offices around the world. Patrik teaches at universities globally and has recently held the John Portman Chair in Architecture at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. About the cover: “Celebrating ELLE DECOR India presenting the new ideas for 100 issues, our cover showcases the innovative digital design and fabrication methods explored by our research team (ZH CODE); using algorithms to generate complex geometries that provide optimal structural, material and environmental performance.”