Nien Siao, Dean, JS Institute of Design, offers a glimpse into the future of interior design, highlighting emerging trends, industry opportunities, and the institute’s commitment to providing students with a world-class design education. From the integration of AI and technology to the importance of sustainability and wellness, Siao shares her insights on what’s next for the industry in a conversation with Tejaswini Paranjape.
1. What trends do you see shaping the future of interior design, and how is JSID incorporating these into its curriculum?
The interior designing world is ever-changing, with emerging trends driving its future. A major trend leading this is the integration of artificial intelligence and technology into the designing process. Advanced AI tools are significantly shaping the design industries by enhancing creativity, automating design processes, personalising designs, and providing data-driven insights to meet the market demands and user experience. Additionally, the design industry is leveraging augmented reality and virtual reality to transform how users interact with digital content, offering immersive and interactive experiences. Another significant trend is increased focus on sustainability and biophilic designs, as people are switching to more eco-friendly solutions. This reflects a shift toward energy-efficient designs, use of natural elements, and recycled products to promote sustainable living. At JSID, we ensure our curriculum remains aligned with burgeoning industry trends and advancements through regular curriculum updates, industry collaborations, and feedback from our extensive network of industry partners. We design our programs to enhance our students’ understanding of the latest tools, techniques, and trends that are highly sought after in the industry. Additionally, we host international workshops and invite global experts to provide insights into multicultural design challenges, helping students stay ahead in a rapidly evolving field.
2. How does the JSID interior design program address the evolving needs of the built environment, such as sustainability and wellness?
The current interior design curriculum must address the advancing needs such as sustainability and wellness. Incorporating natural elements into the living spaces profoundly impacts our physical and mental well-being. Students must be taught these principles to prioritise eco-friendly practices, utilise recycled products, and reduce waste generation. As a result, JSID’s interior design program stays abreast of evolving sustainable and wellness needs. The curriculum has a focus on the integration of sustainability and wellness in the course. During the knowledge transfer phase, research, discussion and practice on sustainable material and processes, traditional and contemporary practices in sustainability, human-centred design, environment responsibility are highlighted. Project briefs for design of interiors across myriad spaces including residences, retail, hospitality and corporate emphasise on fulfilling needs of the requirements but also address the overall arching issues of well-being of the users and application of sustainable values.
3.What opportunities and challenges do you see for interior designers in the Indian market, and how does JSID prepare students to capitalize on these opportunities?
In India, the interior design market is ballooning because of the emerging real estate sector, rising income levels, and rapid urbanisation. According to a Mordor Intelligence, a market research company, the Indian interior design market is forecasted to grow at a rate of 18% from 2024 to 2029. This trend is likely to continue, as individuals are investing into modernistic and aesthetic remodelling projects. As a result, the interior designing world will offer lucrative career opportunities, allowing students to explore diverse creative options, contributing to innovative projects and growing in a dynamic industry. However, with this comes increased competition. Aspiring interior designers lacking adequate industry skills and hands- on-experience will find themselves struggling to keep up with the competition. At JSID, we aim to prepare our students to sustain in the dynamic market by providing extensive classroom instructions and hands-on-experience. Our curriculum helps students grasp the modernistic and leading industry trends and learn key business and entrepreneurial skills.
4. What are the steps you take to maintain the industry interface for the students to gain real-world experience?
Practical, industry-based education has become paramount in the design industry. Industry-relevant experiences enable students to immerse themselves in a real-work environment and gain first-hand understanding of work. Founded by Jagdish Store, a symbol of quality home decor, JSID blends traditional design principles with valuable industry insights. Our specialised programs provide cutting- edge teachings in various fields such as Interior Design, Game Design, UI/UX, and Digital Design, equipping students with industry-knowledge. Beyond traditional academics, we integrate workshops, seminars, guest lectures, and extracurricular activities, fostering both personal and professional development. Students engage in project-based learning, working on real design projects that allow them to test their theoretical knowledge in practical settings.
5. What are your future plans of expansion?
Looking forward, our aim is to continuously grow as a pioneering design institution by strategically expanding our curriculum to include emerging design fields, enhancing industry partnerships, and increasing our global footprint. As our vision is to evolve as a global focal point for design education, we aim to introduce innovative design programs, invest in modernistic technologies, and strengthen our bond with international institutions. We are currently focusing on launching an avant-garde and innovative campus, set across 5 acres in Knowledge Park V, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR, endowed with smart classrooms, state-of-art infrastructure, and a range of world-class facilities such as libraries, dining areas, sport playgrounds, common lounges and boys’ and girls’ hostels. Our vision is to evolve as a global focal point for design education, where students learn and grow in a holistic and collaborative environment. This new campus is scheduled to be ready in August 2025.
