In the ever-evolving world of design, where innovation often clashes with convention, Archana Menon is making her mark as a designer to watch. Based in New York, this emerging multidisciplinary talent is capturing attention with her sculptural approach to furniture and objects. Her debut collection, Primal-Forms, has already found its way to prestigious platforms like Design Miami and New York Design Week, highlighting her growing influence in contemporary design.

Menon’s work offers a refreshing critique of Western-centric norms in furniture and product design. Her bold, sculptural forms challenge the boundaries of functionality, reflecting a belief that design is a medium for storytelling and cultural exploration. Menon’s fresh perspective invites us to rethink the connections we have with objects and the stories they carry.

Her collection, Primal-Forms, embodies her design philosophy, celebrating raw, elemental shapes as a counterpoint to the homogenization of global design. Menon’s work reflects the cultural duality of a modernizing India, blending tradition with global influences.

Notable pieces include Seating I, a tactile, low-sculptural form that challenges conventional ergonomics and fosters emotional connection, and her alabaster lamps, Lighting I and Lighting II, which reinterpret ancient Indian architecture as contemporary, functional art.

Launched at ICFF in 2021, Primal-Forms is already earning accolades on the global stage. Her work has been showcased at sought-after events like Launch Pad at ICFF with Wanted Design, and she’s collaborated with major brands like West Elm for her lighting collection. As a panelist and presenter at design forums, Menon is steadily carving out a space for herself as an emerging thought leader in the field.

With a focus on free-form sculptural furniture, Menon’s designs celebrate simplicity and material integrity, sidestepping excessive ornamentation in favor of fluid forms that resonate with both tradition and modernity. Her creations explore the intersection of symbolism, usability, and artistry, making her work not only relevant but also deeply meaningful in today’s design landscape

Archana Menon’s journey is just beginning, but her work is already sparking conversations about design’s potential to bridge cultures and foster connection. In a world increasingly influenced by uniformity, her perspective underscores the potential of design to inspire, question, and connect. Her pieces remind us that design is not just about utility—it’s about the meaning and relationships it fosters, transcending borders to tell stories that resonate universally.