Mother Gone Mad Design Studio was born to create lights with personality, lights that are modern, out of the box, whacky and infused with an element of fun. They’re designed for imperfect homes with a sense of warmth reflecting the people who live in it. For the client who says, “My house may not be totally practical, but that’s the way I like to live.”
After graduating from NIFT with a specialisation in jewellery design, a lot of my work was defined by design briefs outlining market constraints and consumers who wanted evergreen heirloom jewellery. In an industry where funky was a bad word, it taught me detailing, subtlety and fine craftsmanship.
Ritika Nanda
I joined a group of colleagues from college who had their own design studio; this gave me an all round perspective of architecture, interiors, exhibition design and graphics. Being a novice, becoming a learner again meant I didn’t have to pretend, or know. The room for experimentation was left open to me.
With a new freedom of spirit that comes with age and experience, I wanted to be me; the prime aim was to be wildly creative. The name Mother Gone Mad Design Studio was honest, had attitude and gave me a creative licence.
In and Out
This product uses wires which laces “in and out” of holes
Experimenting with interiors and furniture, I found a niche in decorative lighting. Thus began my journey in the world of lights. One of the early innovations in this segment is the Pleat light, available in light white to deep maroons and shocking reds. The detailing and attention to the wire is an important feature in this product.
Lighting trends have developed a contemporary taste; from suspension lights to table and floor lamps, they have become a symbol of visual stimulation. This idea served as a design inspiration for one of my creations In and Out, where a colourful thread simply laces “in and out” of holes; again the colour combinations available for this lamp ranges from lime green and neon orange to pink and turquoise.
Cycle Stand Light
The light makes good use of an old cycle stand
The lights I design have two important aspects, the electrical aspect and the decorative aspect. When I was scourging through the local market to find a well finished two-point plug or a bed switch, it was next to impossible.
Thereon I became very specific in terms of choosing materials for my creations. Depending on the project I am assigned, I source few materials from Europe. However with respect to the decorative element, from the colourful streets of Chandni Chowk in Delhi to the quaint objects, woodcrafts and ceramics at Chor Bazaar in Mumbai, I feel the grass is greener on our side.
Funnel Lamp
The funnel lamp is available in suspension and table version.
Apart from niche materials even daily objects inspire me to come up with design ideas; a testimony to this example is the Funnel lamp and the Cycle Stand Light.
In the varied collection of lighting solutions that I have developed, the Black Wrap utilises the concept of wrapping in a systematic or random manner with various textures and colours. A part of the wrap collection, in this lamp the black fabrics and red frame form a playful contrast.
Black Wrap
This lamp uses a concept of wrapping black fabric and with a red frame
As a designer I feel product design and development will always be my first love and I can do it endlessly. I was surprised by the response I got for my first few products. The madder it got, the more it was appreciated. The change was a sign of the design variations that people wanted to experiment with.
I believe the future is wide open and free. I think the greatest projects would be to customise light installations or do themed works for restaurants, cafes and other projects. I’m not in a hurry, not looking to end this. I’m loving the process – here and now.
XRayonhi
True to its name it makes use of an X-Ray film
Ideas are like popcorn. Its starts with one pop and before you know it, you’ve got hundreds. Daydreaming is not a waste of time. I believe some of the most interesting products start with a ridiculous idea.
Contact
email: ritika.mgm@gmail.com
