Understand people and context.
A project begins with the activities, aspirations and practical requirements it must support. These establish the brief and provide a clear basis for the design.
Architecture is the frame.
People are the purpose.
Founder & Principal Architect of RAW Design. Dubai & USA.
ProfileArchitect.
Architect.
Designer. Studio founder.
I founded RAW Design in Dubai in 2012. Over more than eighteen years of professional experience, my work has developed across hospitality, workplaces, retail, healthcare and private residences.
I bring an architectural perspective to interiors: how space is organised, how people move through it, and how proportion, material and light shape their experience. A clear concept provides direction, supported by the discipline of planning, detailing and coordination.
As Founder & Principal Architect, I lead the studio’s creative direction, working with clients, architects, interior designers and specialist consultants to establish a coherent identity for each project. The practice’s portfolio spans eight countries.
Visualisation is central to my process. It allows spatial relationships, finishes, lighting and furniture to be considered together, helping clients and design teams make informed decisions throughout development.
18+
Years of professional experience
2012
RAW Design founded in Dubai
8
Countries across the portfolio
1M+
Sq ft of commercial space
Define a coherent idea.
A distinctive concept should organise the space and guide decisions throughout planning, material selection, lighting and detailing.
Develop the experience.
Proportion, texture and light work together to shape atmosphere. The relationship between these elements gives a place its character and continuity.
Lead through collaboration.
Clear communication connects clients, designers and specialist consultants around the design intent, programme and requirements of the project.
My Career
2006—presentJune 2012–present
Founder & Principal Architect
RAW Design · Dubai, UAE
Founded and led the practice, connecting creative direction, client development, project design and studio operations. Set the design direction for hospitality, residential, healthcare, workplace and retail commissions.
Lead concept reviews, space planning, visualisation, design development and documentation. Coordinate multidisciplinary inputs and client approvals, while reviewing budgets, schedules, staffing priorities and delivery interfaces.
January 2020–December 2024
Co-Founder & Creative Director
ZAZA Design · Dubai, UAE
A concurrent leadership role alongside RAW. Shaped the studio’s creative identity and developed design concepts, client presentations and a distinctive spatial vocabulary.
The ZAZA office explored the relationship between a working studio and a communal event space, using adaptable partitions and social settings to support different modes of occupation.
September 2010–June 2012
Senior Interior Architect
3 Square Interior Design · Dubai, UAE
Developed interior architecture through design, technical coordination and client communication.
This period strengthened the connection between concept development, working drawings, materials and the practical demands of delivery.
September 2009–September 2010
Senior Architect
ARCHIDENTITY · Dubai, UAE
Worked across architectural design development and project coordination.
Developed an approach that connects spatial planning and architectural expression with the needs of clients and multidisciplinary project teams.
February 2008–July 2009
Architect
M3Ar Consulting Engineers · Dubai, UAE
Early professional practice in architectural design and consultant coordination.
Built a foundation in the relationship between design proposals, technical information and the wider engineering team.
September 2006–February 2007
Intern / Junior Architect
Venkatraman Associates · Bengaluru, India
A six-month internship undertaken during architectural education.
An introduction to professional studio practice, architectural development and the discipline of communicating design ideas.
Creative direction.
Operational responsibility.
My experience combines design leadership with client relationships, multidisciplinary coordination and the day-to-day responsibilities of running a practice.
Design direction
Research, concept development, space planning, zoning, mood boards, material and furniture direction, and design reviews.
Client communication
Translate a brief into a coherent spatial proposition. Use visualisation and structured reviews to support clear, informed decisions.
Team & resource planning
Experience leading teams of up to 15 people, with five direct reports, and coordinating up to five concurrent projects.
Commercial & delivery oversight
Coordinate consultants and delivery partners, review budgets and programmes, and maintain alignment between design intent and project requirements.
Leadership figures describe experience recorded in the detailed CV, rather than current studio staffing.
An architectural foundation.
Bachelor of Architecture
2002–2007 · R.V. College of Engineering / RV School of Architecture, Bengaluru, India
Affiliated with Visvesvaraya Technological University.
Professional memberships
American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
Society of Engineers, UAE
Professional memberships are distinct from local registration or licensure.
Design & visualisation
AutoCAD, SketchUp, D5 Render, Lumion and Enscape. Basic Revit capability.
Communication
Adobe Photoshop, Canva and Microsoft productivity tools.
Languages
English, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada and Tamil; basic Urdu.
Documents
The executive CV offers a concise professional overview. The detailed CV and professional profile expand on leadership, selected work, recognition and capabilities.
View all professional documents ↗Dubai roots.
A USA presence.
My practice connects an established base in Dubai with a presence in the USA. Across locations and project types, the focus remains consistent: understanding a client’s ambitions, giving the work a strong design narrative and leading the team through considered decisions.
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesBasking Ridge, USA
Connect with the practice ↗
Industry dialogue
Sharing a point of view.
Beyond projects, I contribute to industry conversations on design, technology, leadership and the spaces we create. The press archive brings together profiles, interviews, award coverage and my participation in Design Forum 2025.
Read the interviews ↗