5 questions with Nagabhushan Hegde, Head of Design, Script, Godrej & Boyce

An industrial designer and engineer by education, Nagabhushan Hegde’s design interests cover a spectrum of products—from furniture to consumer electronics, from tableware to transportation design. Since 2007, the multiple award winner has been heading the design team at Godrej & Boyce’s brand Script and is credited with creating a number of collections, including the Pulse workstation chair range. Hegde’s passion for materials, crafts and manufacturing processes is evident during this conversation. Excerpts:

What is the role of colour in designs by Script?
We like to keep a neutral palette of grey, blue or beige for furniture with big surfaces or volumes such as a sofa, bed or wardrobe. Muted tones like these easily blend in with existing decor schemes or can even provide a soothing backdrop for the client to experiment against. Our pastel-hued accessories and accents, on the other hand, bring in a dash of cheer and quirkiness to spaces.

The brand’s offerings are in shapes that promote comfort… 
Forms at Script are intuitive, familiar and easy to understand. With their attractive appearance, customers feel the urge to touch and experience just how comfortable they are. Just like customers are less inclined to try food that is not appealing and stick to a menu that is tried and tested, the attractive curves seen in most of our products are equivalent to comfort food.   

What are your views on sustainability?
At Script, sustainability is at the forefront of all design. All our products are manufactured with minimal effects on the environment, thus lessening the carbon footprint. We use wood from FSC certified forests as well as recycled materials such as steel, aluminium extrusion and particle board, eco-friendly packaging and transportation. Our processes consume lower amounts of fuel and, therefore, pollute less. We also upcycle used furniture and scrap.

Which of Script’s products do you recommend for a home office?
Depending on one’s preferred way of working, I’d recommend four. First is the Float study ecosystem, which allows several products to be aligned in various configurations with an inspiring desk and multiple storage solutions. The Ridge Dining table would be ideal for architects as it provides a level surface to spread out drawings. Our Oasis work lounge ecosystem comes with a desk, seater, storage and a relaxation chair, which gives it the perfect balance between work and play. And finally, the Lagoon bed is an unconventional but much-needed setup presently. Several people use their bed for activities such as watching a movie, working on a laptop or even read. But the bed may not be an ideal place for all of these. Lagoon is the ideal solution because of its desklet, storage and ergonomic back support.

Minimalism or maximalism?
Minimalism. It is simple, timeless, and far likely to be the key to a comfortable and relaxed lifestyle. It brings in a wonderful feeling of serenity, enhanced all the more by subdued colours and soft textures.