Manuu Mansheet, director of Mansheet Design and a renowned interior designer and visual merchandiser, always desired to be artistic, but he had started his journey in academia. “I always wanted to become an artist and a creative person but I didn’t know which field to choose, and because of family pressure mainly, I got into academia.”
“I did an MBA programme but my heart was not there because I wanted to do something different and creative as well as more fulfilling, and that took me to this route. I found my calling and started in the profession with visual merchandising and styling, and now it’s been over 25 years that I’ve been working in this field.”
Speaking of how he ended up in designing, while working with reputed companies and building his repertoire, Mansheet said, “I did not know where this kind of education could be pursued but visual merchandising happened to me by chance. From the start, 9-to-5 jobs didn’t suit me and interestingly, Taj Khazana, a chain of luxury lifestyle stores, offered me the post of doing visual merchandising and window display for them, and it really opened up doors.”
The desire of studying in a design school stayed with Mansheet but there were no such institutes in those times. However, working with IKEA changed directions for him and he designed for them in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for a year which gave him a lot of practical training and confidence. “It helped me understand visual merchandising a lot and I learnt about lighting and colour and communication which has stayed with me.”
But stepping into his career wasn’t a cakewalk. Mansheet opened up about the reactions he received from people, saying, “I am proud of this journey, mainly because when I had gotten into this, there had been a lot of backlash about what I was doing and why an MBA graduate would be doing this kind of work. It was looked down upon by my family, extended family, neighbours and society in general and I had to win that battle.”
Mansheet talked about one of his biggest milestones and recognised work, Swadesh Bazaar, which he designed for Mukesh Ambani’s daughter, Isha Ambani’s pre-wedding celebration. “Initially, I wasn’t aware it was for the Ambanis but I got very nervous when I realised the world would be watching it. But the whole team and everybody was very encouraging. It was a huge project for me and I don’t think I slept for 72 hours, and I was working non-stop. But in the end, it came out very well and was received well and appreciated by the family and people all around.” Adding to his achievements post the wedding, Mansheet was featured in the Huffington Post, a renowned international publication, and they shot a feature movie on him, recognising his work.
The designer also happens to be a lecturer in many reputed design and management institutes, honing young and creative minds with his expertise for over 20 years now. “During the early 1990s, when I was looking for creative career options, I didn’t find any institute to go to and learn, but I want to give back to society now and I really look forward to Mondays, which are reserved only for teaching and interacting with those young, passionate people.”