Six design practices that need to be on your radar!

Godrej Design Lab’s 2026 cohort works at the intersection of craft, community and ecology

21 Oct 2026

Does the domain of design stay limited to an act of making? Or can it perhaps bloom into a way of questioning the world as it exists and imagining how it might be otherwise? The Godrej Design Lab by the Godrej Enterprises Group is built on this premise, supporting practitioners who interrogate the simplicity of convention. The 2026 cohort brings this spirit to life through distinct explorations across products, spatial design and construction materials, each reflecting a broader reappraisal of design’s capacity to shape how we live, build and inhabit the future. For Henry Skupniewicz, Head of Godrej Design Lab, design is fundamental to this endeavour: “a lens that shapes how we innovate, how we build sustainably and how we anticipate the future of everyday life.”

“Through the Godrej Design Lab Fellowship, we aim to support practitioners driven by curiosity and grounded in purpose, those who ask harder questions and pursue ideas that deliver meaningful impact”

Henry Skupniewicz

Started by architect Dhwani Mehta, Leel is her practice where she brings forth her passion for textiles and colour; Photography courtesy of Godrej Design Lab

MEET THE 6 FELLOWS

The 6 designers and collectives engage in their projects as a dynamic dialogue between people, place and planet. Chaal Chaal Agency is a design and research collective advancing small-scale infrastructures through participatory, low-tech spatial interventions. Imon Raza and Dr Priyanka Das Rajkakati of CEPT University and Atelier Arth are using research and data-driven filmmaking to tell climate stories, tracing flowing narratives between Indian and French rivers. Leel is exploring textiles and materials rooted in ecology, natural fibres and craft-led processes. Lila is reimagining children’s furniture and the changing dynamics of Indian homes. Tiny Farm Lab is applying natural building systems grounded in craft and bioregion. Urbz is an interdisciplinary collective specialising in participatory urbanism, design and governance. These explorations will also be guided by various learning modules and expert mentorship, and the support of generous project grants and access to the wider Godrej ecosystem through the fellowship.

The Interdisciplinary collective Urbz specialising in participatory urbanism, design and governance; Photography courtesy of Godrej Design Lab

Raghav Kumar and Ansh Kumar (pictured here) of Tiny Farm Lab explore natural building systems; Photography courtesy of Godrej Design Lab

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The Lab’s commitment to fostering innovative design talent not only supports the development of impactful solutions but also aligns with the broader vision of sustainability and environmental responsibility championed by Godrej Enterprises Group. By prioritising restorative practices and community engagement, these future-ready projects will contribute significantly to reshaping design narratives, ultimately helping to create a more sustainable and equitable world. As we look forward to the 2026 fellowship showcase, the anticipation grows for the transformative ideas that will emerge, paving the way for a brighter, greener future.

Kruti Shah and Sebastián Trujillo-Torres started Chaal Chaal Agency, a design and research collective advancing small-scale infrastructures through participatory, low-tech spatial interventions; Photography courtesy of Godrej Design Lab