The vibrant city of Kolkata recently witnessed a turning point in its design narrative with Design Milestone, held at the iconic Swabhumi. This first-of-its-kind event seamlessly blended art installations, panel discussions, curated exhibitions, and a dynamic marketplace to redefine how design is celebrated in East India. With impeccable curation and an innovative approach, Design Milestone has set a new benchmark for luxury design showcases in the region. In an exclusive interview with The Ideal Home & Garden, Deep Gupta, founder of Design Milestone, speaks to Nikitha Sunil about the journey of curating this groundbreaking event.
Nikitha : Catalyst for Creation: What inspired Design Milestone, and what were your goals for its debut?
Deep: Design Milestone is a collaborative venture by four of us—myself, Seema Gupta, Ajay Arya, and Sweta Arya. Partnering with Ajay Arya, founder of A Square Designs, and Sweta Arya, the visionary behind Ochre at Home, has been an inspiring journey. Both bring a wealth of experience from their thriving design businesses.
Seema and I, with 18 years in the PR industry, have been fortunate to travel extensively and attend global design showcases like Salone del Mobile, Maison & Objet, and leading events across India. These experiences opened our eyes to the potential of unexplored markets, particularly in East India.
Recognizing Kolkata’s untapped opportunities, we saw this as a perfect moment for Media Milestone to evolve into hosting luxury design shows. With our expertise in luxury interior and retail brands, coupled with strong connections in the architectural and interior design communities, our vision was to create a platform that would bring something fresh and meaningful to the design world.
Nikitha: Kolkata as the Canvas: Why did you choose Kolkata over traditional venues like Delhi or Mumbai for East India’s premier luxury design showcase?
Deep: Kolkata was a deliberate choice. Unlike Delhi and Mumbai, which are saturated with design events, Kolkata—and East India as a whole—presented a clean slate. This city had never hosted a luxury design show before, and we wanted to change that.
Our goal was to unite the interior design community, architects, and designers from Kolkata and neighboring cities. We wanted to highlight the incredible range of local brands and products available right here in East India—resources often overshadowed by the pull of Delhi, Mumbai, or Hyderabad.
Additionally, we aim to expand into tier-two and tier-three cities where real estate is booming. Every year, alongside Kolkata, we plan to introduce a capsule edition in cities like Raipur, Pune, or Indore, bringing the essence of Design Milestone to new audiences and markets.
Nikitha: Bringing Vision to Life: How did your vision for Design Milestone manifest during the event? Were there specific themes or experiences you aimed to highlight?
Deep: It took nearly nine months of meticulous planning and teamwork to bring our vision for Design Milestone to life. The event was a tremendous success, attracting East India’s AID community and high-net-worth individuals. The thoughtful curation and synthesis of brands from Kolkata, East India, and beyond earned glowing feedback from participants and visitors alike.
The show featured distinct pavilions to enrich the visitor experience. For instance:
- Panel Discussions Pavilion: Partnering with *India Today Home*, we hosted stimulating discussions on emerging trends in the interior industry.
- Bengal Art Pavilion: A showcase of indigenous artistry, celebrating Bengal’s rich cultural heritage.
- Installation Arena: Engaging outdoor installations by interior brands and designers.
- Marketplace Arena: A retail space offering home accessories and decor items.
We also launched the ‘Design Milestone Awards’, India’s first awards dedicated to the retail community, recognizing excellence in product categories like bathrooms, kitchens, flooring, and rugs. This initiative marked a significant step in honoring retail alongside architecture.
In addition to the main event, satellite events added local flavor. For example, during Durga Puja, we curated “Aagomani”, a niche experience featuring pandal hopping and cultural performances, offering architects from across India a glimpse into East Indian traditions over wine and cheese.
Nikitha: Reality Check: How did the event’s actual experience compare to your expectations? Were there any unexpected challenges or pleasant surprises?
Deep: We were fortunate that everything went as planned. Thanks to our highly skilled production team, the event’s execution was seamless. Professionals from across India brought their expertise to the table, ensuring that the event stayed on track and exceeded our expectations.
Nikitha: Lessons from the Journey: What key insights did you gain from organizing Design Milestone, and how will they influence future editions?
Deep: Organizing East India’s first luxury design show was a humbling and rewarding experience for all four partners. The warm reception from the design community and architects visiting from outside Kolkata reaffirmed the region’s potential. Visitors were amazed by the curated selection of brands and the overall aesthetic of the exhibition, which highlighted East India’s innovation and uniqueness.
This journey taught us that even in relatively untapped markets, there is an appetite for high-quality design experiences. It encouraged us to continue bridging gaps and creating platforms for collaboration and growth.
Nikitha: Envisioning the Future: What are your plans for the future of Design Milestone? Do you plan to expand to other regions or introduce new elements in upcoming shows?
Deep: Looking ahead, our priority is to establish Kolkata as an annual event. The city’s response has validated its status as an emerging design hub. Simultaneously, we plan to expand into one tier-two or tier-three city each year.
This year, we’re eyeing Raipur for a capsule edition, with plans to announce it by August. Beyond that, our broader strategy will unfold over the next few editions as we refine and grow the platform. With just one year behind us, this is only the beginning of Design Milestone’s journey.