Aman: I was born and raised in New Delhi, India, and I’ve always lived here. It is a layered city deeply rooted in history and tradition that shows up everywhere, even in everyday streets and buildings. It’s a place full of contrasts—old and new living side by side—and this balance feels ingrained in me. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate it, and it quietly shapes how I think and work.

Sugandhi: I was born in a city called Lucknow in India, renowned for its food and language. Even though the city has much to explore and indulge in through its rich history, my years growing up were mostly tucked within my courtyard house. It was there that I truly felt the power spaces had over me, and through those experiences, my curiosity to discover more began to grow.

The desire to take it all in; to feel the wind, the textures on the walls, the sunlight, and the quietness at night. Stealing everyday moments from my regular life, I now realize how much those small experiences shaped the way I look at objects and spaces. They unknowingly became my foundation and inspiration.

Aman: My first connection with the art world came early on. I remember when my parents traveled to Australia and brought back a box of crayons with nearly ninety different shades. The moment clearly stayed with me, because I can still remember how exciting it felt. For me, my connection to art wasn’t shaped by encountering someone else’s work—it grew from my own exploration. I was naturally drawn to creating, and that instinct has stayed with me.

Sugandhi: Although I had many experiences in my early years where I was around the subject of design in one way or another, I was never good at sketching. This led to a constant afterthought that, as much as I was interested in design, I never knew if I could contribute to it. However, in 2016, during my solo trip to Auroville, I was so ecstatic about living every moment of the experience that, for the first time, I journaled every day. In those moments of sheer happiness, I wanted to let my heart pour out, and in that process, I sketched memories of myself within those spaces as line drawings. I don’t know how it came to me, but intuitively, I felt the need to capture all the small details that built up this collective experience. It was then that I realized and felt truly excited that I could create if I allowed myself to feel deeply about something.

Aman: What drew me to design was its ability to shape the way we live and the way we feel. Design has a quiet but powerful influence on our daily lives, on our moods, our sense of self, and the rhythms we move through. As designers, we have the responsibility and the privilege to influence lifestyles. Good design can calm the mind, lift the spirit, or, if done poorly, have the opposite effect.

Sugandhi: I have always been a firm believer that our surroundings reflect who we are and significantly contribute to shaping who we become. It is a constant exchange. As a designer, I have been curious to study this effect in my own life. It gives me the freedom to introspect, and through creating objects, I discover parts of myself, my values, and beliefs. This emotional essence, embodied in the design process, becomes the core identity of the object. And I feel drawn to share these objects and their story with people who connect with them.

Aman: I studied interior design and have worked as a designer ever since. That experience has fundamentally shaped my approach to product design. I am always thinking about where an object will live, how it will be encountered, and how it will age within a space. Context is not an afterthought; it is the starting point.

Sugandhi: Like Aman, I come from an interior design background, and design has always been a part of my professional journey. Over time, I found myself becoming more interested in the emotional relationship between people, objects, and spaces, which naturally led me toward the work we do at Stem today.