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Founder: Mansi Shah Christi
Founder · Principal Designer

Mansi Shah Christi

Founder and principal of Footprints Design Inc. since June 2010, with prior experience as Senior Designer at IDO Design (2008–2010) and earlier training at Aakirna Architectes and Associates.

A graduate of CEPT University, School of Interior Design, Mansi describes herself as an "experienced owner with a demonstrated history of working in the design industry," skilled in AutoCAD, Design Management, Adobe Photoshop, 3D Visualization and Space Planning, and a "strong business development professional." Alongside the studio, she has been a Visiting Faculty member at five Ahmedabad universities since 2020.

"I think the best part of design is connecting with the client and understanding what their needs are for a space in the most comprehensive way. Often times a client has a hard time articulating what it is they actually need their space to do for them. Diving in, building a relationship and asking the right questions allows me to solve design dilemmas and create the best possible space for them."

— Mansi Shah
LinkedIn profile
Studio Philosophy

Space, light, material
— in that order.

Every commission begins with a long conversation about how the space will actually be used, who will use it, and what constraints the site brings. Plan, daylight and circulation are resolved first; styling decisions are kept for last.

The studio works on a small number of projects at any time so each receives studio-led attention from brief to handover. We believe in restraint as a creative discipline — fewer surfaces, longer-lived materials, and details that don't need to announce themselves.

Areas of expertise

From the studio's published professional profile — capabilities that span residential interiors, commercial design and the studio practice that surrounds them.

  • Interior Design
  • Interior Architecture
  • Architectural Design
  • Residential Design
  • Retail Design
  • Space Planning
  • Concept Development
  • Concept Design
  • Design Management
  • Design Research
  • Design Strategy
  • Design Thinking
  • Custom Furniture
  • Furnishings & FF&E
  • Industrial Design
  • Product Design
  • Exhibit Design
  • Sustainable Design
  • 3D Visualization
  • Rendering
  • New Business Development

Studio toolkit

AutoCAD · SketchUp · 3D Studio Max · 3D Visualization & Rendering · Adobe Photoshop LinkedIn Skill Assessed · Adobe InDesign · Drawing

Teaching & Academia

Alongside the studio, Mansi has held Visiting Faculty positions at five Ahmedabad universities — a parallel teaching practice that informs the studio's design-research instincts.

Since Aug 2024

Gujarat University

Visiting Faculty · Part-time

Since Jun 2023

Anant National University

Visiting Faculty

Since Jan 2023

LJ University

Visiting Faculty

Since Apr 2022

Nirma University

Visiting Faculty · Freelance

Since Jul 2020

Indus University Ahmedabad

Visiting Faculty

Practice timeline

A long apprenticeship
in design.

  1. Jun 2010 — Present · 16+ yrs

    Founder & Principal · Footprints Design Inc.

    Studio practice in interior design, architecture, spatial planning and turnkey execution. Greater Ahmedabad.

  2. Jan 2008 — Sep 2010 · 2 yrs 9 mos

    Senior Designer · IDO Design

    Greater Ahmedabad.

  3. Jun 2007 — Oct 2007 · 5 mos

    Design Trainee · Errol Reubens Architects

    Greater Ahmedabad.

  4. Jun 2004 — Jan 2005 · 8 mos

    Internship Trainee · Aakirna Architectes and Associates

    Greater Ahmedabad.

Education

CEPT University,
School of Interior Design.

2001 — 2006

CEPT University · Ahmedabad

Bachelor's degree, Interior Architecture.

A CEPT training shapes the studio's first-principles approach: drawing as a thinking tool, planning before styling, and a respect for the long life of materials.

Begin

Work with the studio.

For new project enquiries, collaboration, press, teaching or speaking — write to the studio.