Vrushali Mahatre

Assistant Professor

Role
Assistant Professor
Section
Dubai
Department
Textiles and Design
Email
Vrushali Mahatre

About

Vrushali Mhatre shines as Assistant Professor and programme lead for postgraduate studies in Interior Architecture and Design at Heriot-Watt Dubai’s School of Textiles & Design. With over a decade of industry experience as a skilled interior designer and project manager, Vrushali has successfully delivered a wide range of international design projects across India and the UAE.

In 2006, Vrushali transitioned into academia while remaining closely connected to the design industry. She brings a wealth of expertise to courses like design research, design studios, professional practice, lighting and acoustics, exhibition design, while supervising thesis projects at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Vrushali’s dedication to teaching and industry engagement bridges the gap between academia and the professional world, empowering students to excel in their creative pursuits and make a difference in the real world.

Biography

Academic Leadership and Affiliations:

Vrushali has been appointed as the Associate Director of Learning and Teaching for the school and also chairs as the school disciplinary committee.

Qualifications:

  • MSc in Interior Design Specialisation with 1st Class from VHD College, 1996 - Bangalore (Equivalency obtained)
  • BSc with 1st Class from Mount Carmel College, 1994 - Bangalore University
  • Diploma in Interior Design from Jenson & Nicholson, 1996
  • Diploma in Auto Cad R-2008 & 3D Studio 9, 1991
  • Ministry Approved Revit Certificate, 2012
Research

Vrushali is deeply passionate about cultural heritage and sustainability, exploring ways to integrate traditional design principles and innovative sustainable practices into contemporary contexts.

Human-centred design is a key area of her interest, focusing on creating meaningful and user-centric experiences that prioritise the well-being and satisfaction of habitants.

She has a keen interest in design education management, aiming to enhance and optimise the learning experiences of students in the design field.

Vrushali is now in the process of her PhD application at Heriot Watt University converging on the topic of Heritage Design, Cultural Identity of Sacred Spaces in Dubai, and their influence on Interior Architecture.

Publications

“The Influence of Vernacular Sustainability Contemporary Interior Design.” International Journal of Visual Design ,16(2), pp. 53–68,2022.  

“Impact of heritage on contemporary sustainable interior design solutions.” WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 238, pp. 47–58,”2019.

Enhancing Occupants’ Well-Being Through Qualitative Indoor Environments.” In book: Architecture and Urbanism: A Smart Outlook, Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Architecture and Urban Planning, Cairo, Egypt Springer 202 DOI: 10.1007/978-3030-52584-2_13

“Integrating Human-Centred Design Approach to Create Mindful Successful Design Solutions”. Conference Proceedings_ICSC2023 (March 1, 2023)