About // the studio

Who We Are

At Design Matters, we believe exceptional design is a blend of structural rigor, intuitive functionality, and artistic detail. Founded in 2011 by Principal Architect Kiran Hanumaiah, our Bangalore-based practice specializes in architecture, interior design, and bespoke product design. We transform space into thoughtful, highly tailored environments that reflect the unique vision and lifestyle of every client.

The Design Matters studio entrance, the wordmark set on a board-marked concrete wall behind a plumeria in flower
A materials flat-lay on a timber table, oak and walnut veneer samples, a copper section, tile swatches and an open book
A terracotta jaali screen filtering light onto a planted courtyard with a pale green chair on patterned tile
The studio meeting room, a hand-painted palm mural facing a deep green wall above a long timber table

The philosophy

“A house is judged by the parts nobody photographs. Where the light lands at four in the afternoon, whether the kitchen works when three people are in it, how the place feels in the second year.”

Ar. Kiran Hanumaiah, Principal Architect

Led by Deep Expertise

Kiran Hanumaiah

Kiran Hanumaiah, Principal Architect and founder of Design Matters

Principal Architect · founded the studio in 2011

Kiran brings over 23 years of industry leadership to the firm. An alumnus of B.M.S. College of Engineering (B.Arch) and the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (M.Arch), Kiran spent 12 years as a Senior Associate Architect at Team-2 Architects and Engineers.

Managing diverse, high-scale projects across multiple sectors laid the foundation for Design Matters: a firm built on technical precision, collaborative management, and uncompromising design standards.

The record

Recognized for Excellence

Over the past decade, Design Matters has established itself as one of Bangalore's premier design practices, distinguished by an impressive portfolio and outstanding client trust.

  • 01

    Award-Winning Service

    Consecutive winner of the Best of Houzz Service award (2020-2022).

  • 02

    Featured In Print & Media

    Recognized across top architectural publications including Buildofy, The Architect's Diary, and national press outlets.

  • 03

    Client-Centric Philosophy

    Driven by transparency, meticulous execution, and lasting craftsmanship.

The people

The Team

11 architects work out of the Indiranagar studio. Kiran Hanumaiah leads the practice; the projects on this site are theirs.

Senior architects

  • Harshitha Chandrashekhar, Senior Architect at Design Matters
    Senior Architect

    Harshitha Chandrashekhar

    Bangalore, IN

  • Jerin Sabu, Senior Architect at Design Matters
    Senior Architect

    Jerin Sabu

    Bangalore, IN

  • Pallavi VK, Senior Architect at Design Matters
    Senior Architect

    Pallavi VK

    Bangalore, IN

Architects

  • Mrudula VR, Architect at Design Matters
    Architect

    Mrudula VR

    Bangalore, IN

  • Reshma S, Architect at Design Matters
    Architect

    Reshma S

    Bangalore, IN

  • Anusha Kolli, Architect at Design Matters
    Architect

    Anusha Kolli

    Bangalore, IN

  • Diya Shah, Architect at Design Matters
    Architect

    Diya Shah

    Bangalore, IN

  • Divya Malviya, Architect at Design Matters
    Architect

    Divya Malviya

    Bangalore, IN

  • Prathamesh Jadhav, Architect at Design Matters
    Architect

    Prathamesh Jadhav

    Bangalore, IN

  • Nidhi V Senan, Architect at Design Matters
    Architect

    Nidhi V Senan

    Bangalore, IN

Life at the studio

The Design Matters studio at work, a long shared desk running beneath a deep blue wall
The Design Matters team on the rock at the summit of Nandi Hills, the plain behind them under heavy cloud
The studio gathered along the edge of a pool in Wayanad, surrounded by coconut and banana palms
The whole studio seated along one long timber table for lunch, a green wall of creeper behind them
The team on the lawn in front of a tiled-roof estate house in Wayanad
A studio celebration on the office terrace under a green canopy, the team holding yellow balloons
The whole Design Matters studio lined up on the bank of the Kabini backwaters under a bright, cloud-stacked sky
The studio on its Kabini trip

Featured in

All 10 features →
  • The Architects Diary
  • Deccan Herald
  • Buildofy

The method

How we work

  • 01

    Listen before drawing

    A brief that is only a room count tells us very little. We would rather hear how the mornings go, who cooks, where everyone ends up on a Sunday. The plan comes out of that.

  • 02

    Design for this climate

    Bangalore is kind to buildings that are oriented properly and shaded properly. Get those right, along with cross-ventilation and materials that suit the weather, and the air conditioning has much less to do.

  • 03

    Take the details seriously

    Where two materials meet, how deep a reveal is, which way a door swings when your hands are full. These are the things you touch every day, so they are worth the argument.

  • 04

    Stay through the build

    A drawing is not a house. We are on site from the first visit through to handover, because that is the only way what gets built resembles what was agreed.

Work with the studio

Tell us about your project.

A sentence or two is plenty, we’ll reply within a working day. Prefer to talk it through?

What are you planning?