Banana Chat 9.0, hosted at AKFD Studio, Jaipur, brought together members of the design and creative community for a thought-provoking conversation centered around collaboration in design practice.
This edition featured Asha Sairam, Principal at Studio Lotus—one of India’s most respected architecture and design firms—in conversation with designer and AKFD founder Ayush Kasliwal. Titled “The Creation of Collaboration: A Trust-Fall Exercise,” Asha’s talk delved into the nuanced and often vulnerable nature of collaborative work. She spoke candidly about the importance of trust, empathy, and creative friction, offering insights drawn from Studio Lotus’s acclaimed design ethos.
“Genius really is an act of the collective—and we can get there each time with our collaborators,” she shared.
The session attracted a vibrant mix of architects, designers, students, and cultural thinkers, all engaging in an informal yet deeply resonant dialogue. Among the notable attendees were:
Ar. Shamini Shanker, Ar. Sangeeta Maithel, Prof. N.S. Rathore, Archana Rathore, Ar. Rekha Nemani, Ar. Ritu Khandelwal, Sonal Chitranshi, Neelum Narang, and Chinar Farooqui.
As with previous editions, Banana Chat 9.0 stayed true to its spirit—creating space for reflection, inquiry, and genuine connection within the creative community.
“Banana Chat was envisioned as a space where like-minded creatives could come together to interact, exchange ideas, and inspire one another,” said Geetanjali Kasliwal.
Now an evolving forum, Banana Chat continues to nurture honest, insightful dialogue and foster a culture of collaboration across the design ecosystem