AIR MILES

Business Traveller India speaks to Bikram Mittra, Design Head at Smartsters, a furniture and decor brand with products designed for children.

Can you share some insight into the brand's origins?

Childhood experiences significantly influence the adults we become, with home environments playing a crucial role in children's emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development. At Smartsters, we questioned why indoor spaces weren't better designed to encapsulate the essence of childhood. To find answers to the questions we had, we consulted children, parents, child development experts, and designers. We explored, questioned, refined our ideas, and pushed design boundaries until Smartsters came to life.

What are the primary inspirations behind your designs?

Featuring over 150 products in furniture and decor exclusively for children's spaces in Indian homes, Smartsters adopted a fresh approach that combines global standards in ergonomics, design, and children’s engagement. Our design team collaborates with child development experts and parents, ensuring that each design contributes to the holistic development of the children using them.

Tell us a few things that we would always find in your carry-on luggage?

When I travel, I prefer to keep my carry-on luggage as light as possible so it's convenient and quick to pass through airports. I always carry mobile charging devices with me and a good pair of headphones. If I travel internationally on a long-haul flight, I carry a spare change of clothes which I change into in-between flights.

What role does travel play in your life?

Travel shapes our vision of the world. It opens our minds to new foods, architecture, and people. Travel, therefore, plays an important role in my life and it makes me grateful for this world of ours.

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