Meet Nandan Pemmaraju

We recently connected with Nandan Pemmaraju and have shared our conversation below.

Nandan, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I never stop after a third failure. I keep going, failing repeatedly, pushing myself to the limits until I hit my lowest point—yet I endure, always determined to keep trying. During my second year in architecture school, I almost gave up. I was seriously considering leaving to pursue my growing interest in graphic design. For a month, I moved to Mumbai, one of India’s largest metropolitan cities, to work with a graphic design studio. However, my father’s advice changed everything. In a faint, almost whispered voice, he said to me, “Never leave anything midway. Complete it.”

Listening to him, I returned to architecture school, and I’m glad I did. Not only did I complete my degree, but I also honed the graphic design skills I was eager to learn in parallel. I also discovered my current passion—Spatial Experience Design—a fusion of spatial design and branding that I now actively practice. A simple push from my father that day taught me a valuable lesson: perseverance leads to growth. Things take time to blossom, and the key is to stay committed, to rinse and repeat until you achieve something meaningful. You’re always winning every time you fail, you just gotta see where to pick yourself up to win better next time.

Design has been my lifelong passion, and I’ve learned to approach it with patience and persistence. I work on my craft until I find closure, understanding that true refinement doesn’t happen in a single attempt. Every action, thought, and idea needs time to mature. Sometimes, I let an idea sit in my mind for days, allowing it to evolve before refining it further. This principle guides me—progress takes time, and dedication is the bridge that connects failure to success.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am and always have been a multidisciplinary designer with a diverse portfolio spanning architecture, interior design, furniture design, graphic design, and branded space design. My approach to each project is rooted in heavy influences from abstraction, the context I am in, art (Basquiat is one of my biggest sources of inspiration), and a focus on user experience, drawing from my experiences at both large, established firms and small, dynamic startups.

I am currently an Associate Designer at Andrea Claire Studio, a renowned American studio specializing in architectural mobile lighting fixtures. My role involves contributing to various stages of the design process for product/spatial design to fabrication. This position has given me the opportunity to stay true to my multidisciplinary self and work with high-profile clients and design studios. I wear multiple hats in the studio from managing client briefs, designing large-scale mobiles with Andrea, presenting work to clients, fabrication management, and then ultimately package and delivery design. I also spearhead the visual and

I recently spearheaded the design strategy and branding for a few projects. One of them is a cricket tech AI company called Pitchwold. As the Chief Design Officer for Pitchwolf, I led the complete redesign of the brand and developed data viz design for the product. Collaborating with world-renowned bowling coach Steffan Jones, I’ve leveraged data-driven design to improve the app’s functionality and enhance the performance of cricket bowlers. This role has allowed me to blend design thinking within the realm of technology which was a very interesting exercise for my visual designer side. Currently, I’m leading the design and development of Pitchwolf’s website and web app, set to launch by the end of 2024—a significant milestone for the startup.

Last year I co-founded my life-long idea, Pivot with an MIT grad Saloni Bedi, a startup tackling the global college furniture waste problem with a modular furniture design system. This venture reflects my passion for sustainability and my commitment to finding innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Pivot has gained special recognition and is advised by industry leaders like Bala Rammurthy, who was Director of Flight Safety with SpaceX. Pivot being selected by MIT Venture Mentoring Services, has opened exciting opportunities for further development and growth.

I’ve taken on various freelance projects. I developed a functional architectural lighting fixture for a glass artist/designer and assisted with the conceptualization and design development of architectural-scale exhibits for artist Jason Peters. These experiences have enabled me to apply my skills across diverse design contexts and demonstrate my ability to work independently on unique and impactful projects.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Don’t feel bound by the norms and titles the world has already established. You have the power to create your own path and define your own domain of work, becoming your unique version of what you think is right. You’re indeed taking those first steps for others, making it easier for them to dream like you do.

Admire your role models, but don’t place them too high—they’re human too, capable of mistakes. Stay curious, keep learning, and always question your creations, but remember to take time to smile at what you’ve made, You made it from scratch, you made it work!

One more thing to remember is to strive for perfection, even that last invisible detail. Charles Eames once said, “The details are not the details. They make the design.”

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

There’s something truly exciting about connecting with others and finding common ground—it’s such a simple, great feeling isn’t it? More than being solo, I always work with people on projects across architecture, interiors, graphic design, furniture, and lighting, all things design!

Speaking of my expertise, my foundation lies in designing branded environments, brand design, small environments, exhibits, totems, hospitality spaces, workplaces, residences, and brand strategy.

I do respond to emails and Instagram DMs…nandanofdesign@gmail.com or @nandanofdesign on Instagram. I can send/show you a booklet of my current projects once we connect. Look forward to seeing your work too! Lookout for me, I might DM you too!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: nandanofdesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nandan-siva/
• Other: Behance:
  https://www.behance.net/nandanpemmaraju

Image Credits

-Alice Wibisono – for Profiles