Shalini Amin
Program Chair – BDesign
Assistant Professor
Shalini Amin is an architect with a specialization in Interior Design with over two decades of experience in the field. She is the Program Chair of the Bachelor of Design Interior Program at the School of Environmental Design and Architecture for over a decade.
Her portfolio spans projects from residential, retail with expertise in adaptive reuse. She is associated as Interior Designer at S3D, an architectural collaborative, based in Vadodara.
Committed to hands-on design education, she leads workshops and mentors’ undergraduate theses and studios at the School of Environmental Design and Architecture.
Academic background/Qualification
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA) – Interior Design, Brenau University, USA
- Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.), Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara
Professional or Industrial Experience
Shalini Amin is the Design Head at Navrachana University where she has been involved in a wide range of interior /architecture projects of the University, Vadodara. She is also associated with S3D studio where she has been involved in design and execution of interior projects from residential to corporate interiors in Gujarat.
- 2016 – till date – Assistant Professor & Program Chair – B. Design (Interior) Program, at The School, of Environmental Design & Architecture (SEDA).
- 2011 – 2016 – Visiting Faculty at SEDA
- 1997 – Jury Critic – IED, Vallabh Vidyanagar, School of Interior design, Vallabh Vidyanagar, India.
- 1996 – Visiting Faculty – Department of Architecture, M S University, Baroda, India.
- 2004 – till date – Associated with S3D as Freelance Interior Architect/ Independent Practice.
- 1996 – 2009 – Rachna Niket, Vadodara, Senior Architect
Teaching
INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO COURSES
The approach has positioned the conception of Interior Design within the broad discourse including spatial, material, natural elements. The studio has emphasized the importance of prototyping and making.
The studio has also allowed critical thinking and enhanced design decision-making. The main purpose was to make students more aware of the relationship between designing and building. The second aim was to introduce the students to a collaborative design process. The third aim to create a collective, shared knowledge that has been derived from the experience of design-build studio.
The design process was built on a critical inquiry, which itself was built upon a goal directed problem-solving, an ability to analyze meaningful information and evaluation. It provided for adjacency of research and creativity as the major principles of design studio.
BASIC DESIGN
This module develop hands-on skills in model making and composition using various materials while understanding their physical properties, precision, and potential applications. Learn the fundamentals of form, scale, proportion, and structure through exercises that explore mathematical order and design principles. This approach emphasizes the relationship between parts and the whole within a composition, guiding learners to integrate design vocabularies and develop cohesive, aesthetically balanced models.
WORKSHOPS
The workshop module is formulated for students to gain hands-on experience with designing and prototyping. The course helps students to translate an idea through design thinking and detailing into a finished product. The idea may stem from a functional need, a behavioral observation or a creative impulse. Students will be guided through the steps to identifying the premise or narrative context before developing the design concept and furthermore to craft the idea into a functional object or finished product.
THESIS
A thesis in the field of design & architecture can be either research-based or design-based. A research thesis requires students to pose relevant questions, conduct empirical studies, and present arguments in a systematic manner, supported by credible, peer-reviewed literature and authentic data from primary and secondary sources. A design thesis, on the other hand, involves identifying a problem, establishing the project background, and formulating a brief with programmatic requirements based on contextual analysis. Students are expected to explore design possibilities and present their analytical outcomes as detailed design solutions, backed by thorough research and credible sources.
CRP
Collaborative Research Project (CRP) initiative at SEDA bridges academic research with student learning. Faculty members propose pre-approved projects based on their research interests and profession. s domains. Students have the opportunity to sign up for these faculty-led CRPs and pursue them as their thesis projects. This unique approach allows students to engage in research or design work while benefiting from the guidance and mentorship of experienced faculty members. CRP offers a dynamic platform for students to apply their skills to real-world challenges, fostering a collaborative environment that enhances both academic and professional growth.
Area of Expertise and Research
- Primary Area: Adaptive Reuse, Hands-on Material exploration
- Secondary Area: Vadodara Narrow-Gauge Railway Heritage research & documentation
Publications
List of publications in the chronology (APA Style Guidelines)-
- Amin, S (2024) Tenable Craft Practices, POTENCY OF THE VERNACULAR SETTLEMENTS: Recent Scholarships in Vernacular Studies: In Proceedings of the 11th Seminar on Vernacular Settlements (ISVS 11): Potency of Vernacular Settlements. Routledge.
Conferences/Seminars
International
- Amin,S. (2024). (2024). Tenable Craft Practices. 11th Seminar on Vernacular Settlements (ISVS 11): Potency of Vernacular Settlements, Organised by Navrachana University, India
Training/Workshops
- CITI Program course: Social & Behavioral Research – Basic Course, by Brenau University, USA (2023)
- CITI Program course: Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research, by Brenau University, USA (2023)
- Canvas Basic Technical Training (CV20) in the use of the Canvas Learning Management System – Brenau University, USA (2022)
Professional Affiliations /Membership
- 1996 – 1931 Member – Council of Architects (CA/97/21922)
- 1997 – till date Member – Indian Institute of Architects (IIA)
- Life Member – Indian Institute of Interior Designers (IIID), Vadodara Chapter (ALM – 10653) Associate Life Member
- 1997 – till date Permanent Member – Kala bhavan Architect’s Alumni (KAA)
