Creating Legacy of Consecutive Wins at The Park Elle Decor Student Contest

The Park Elle Decor Student Contest, known for identifying emerging design talent, draws participation from design schools across India and challenges students to develop innovative interior design solutions. 2023 and 2024 marked the years of two consecutive wins for IIAD students representing a significant achievement in its journey. The winning streak began when two students from the Interior Architecture & Design department made their mark in 2023: Isha Gupta (Batch 2019-2023) and Nitika Jain (Batch 2020-2024).

Isha Gupta's winning entry, 'Craft Integration - Experiential Spaces', showcased an approach to revitalising traditional practices in contemporary settings. Her design focused on creating spaces that cater to both mental and physical well-being while engaging people across generations. The project demonstrated how traditional craft elements could be integrated into modern spaces while maintaining their cultural significance.

Nitika Jain received an Honorary Mention for her 'NVR Experience' project. Her work explored Non-Visual Reasoning, focusing on how spaces can be designed for enhanced verbal reasoning and problem-solving. The project emerged from extensive user research and analysis, proposing innovative solutions for learning environments. Both were felicitated by Priya Paul (Chairperson, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels), Mrudul Pathak Kundu (Editor, Elle Decor, India) and Ruchika Mehta (Corporate Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels).

The winning tradition continued in 2024 when Rashika Lungani (Batch 2020-2024) from the Interior Architecture and Design programme secured the award in the Interior Design category. Her project, "Reimagining Heritage," developed under the mentorship of Prof. Snehanshu Mukherjee, Course Leader for Interior Architecture & Design, tackled the challenge of revitalising historical monuments at Sunder Nursery, Delhi.

Lungani's design centered around the "Peacock Secret Garden," featuring a distinctive "Feather Bridge" observation platform integrated with a bird aviary. The space serves dual purposes: as a visual attraction and an educational resource for visitors to learn about India's indigenous bird species. The design balances historical preservation with modern functionality, creating interactive public spaces that connect past and present.

Each winning project reflects IIAD's studio-based learning approach, where students engage with real-world design challenges. Gupta's focus on craft integration, Jain's user-centric approach to learning spaces, and Lungani's heritage revitalization project demonstrate different aspects of contemporary design challenges. Their solutions highlight technical proficiency while addressing practical needs—from cultural preservation to educational innovation and heritage conservation.

Looking back from 2025, these achievements highlight how design education has evolved to meet changing societal needs. The winning projects tackled diverse challenges: integrating traditional crafts in modern spaces, creating innovative learning environments and revitalizing heritage sites for contemporary use. Through these works, IIAD's students demonstrate their ability to address complex design challenges while respecting cultural and historical contexts.

These consecutive wins at the Park Elle Decor Student Contest stand as milestone achievements in IIAD's first decade, reflecting the institute's focus on practical, innovative design solutions that respond to real-world challenges. IIAD’s focus on integrating sustainability, heritage and modern design ensures that its students are not just shaping spaces, but are helping to shape the future of design itself.