India Mahdavi
India Mahdavi (born April 4, 1962, in Tehran, Iran) is a Paris-based architect, interior designer, and furniture/object designer known for her vibrant color palettes, sensuous forms, and playful yet refined approach to contemporary design. Born to a Persian father and an Egyptian-English mother, she spent her childhood across Iran, the United States, Germany, and France — a multicultural upbringing that shaped her eclectic, globally attuned aesthetic.
Mahdavi studied architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris (1980–1986) before pursuing additional training in graphic design at the School of Visual Arts, furniture design at Parsons, and industrial design at The Cooper Union in New York. She served as artistic director for designer Christian Liaigre during the early phase of her career, later founding her own studio in Paris in 1999 and opening her first showroom in 2003.
Celebrated for creating immersive, emotionally expressive spaces, Mahdavi has designed world-renowned interiors—including hotel suites, restaurants, museums, and private residences—alongside furniture collections and limited-edition objects. Her work blends cosmopolitan influences, bold chromatic storytelling, and a strong sense of joy, leading to iconic projects like London’s Sketch Gallery, the Ladurée boutiques, and numerous collaborations with global brands. She has also authored a design book, Home Chic, reflecting her belief that interiors can turn everyday living into artful experience.
Recent Work and Updates (2024–2025): Mahdavi continues to expand her influence internationally. In 2025, she launched a new hand-knotted rug collection with CC-Tapis, unveiled an immersive rose-themed installation for Art Basel Paris (“Rose, c’est la vie”), and advanced the upcoming opening of PoMo, a new contemporary art museum she is redesigning in Trondheim, Norway. She was also appointed Head of the Jury for the Design Doha Prize 2026, highlighting her leadership in global design culture.
