Sarika Bajoria

About Sarika Bajoria

How can we design a built world that not only supports well-being but actively promotes human flourishing using methods that are validated through rigorous research? This question has been the north star guiding my work as the founder of Contemplative Designer, an educational and research organization, my design practice, Sarika Bajoria Unlimited and as an educator.I believe that to create transformative “outer spaces” of flourishing, designers must first cultivate an “inner space” of flourishing within. I have developed the Contemplative Designer framework, a training-based pedagogical approach that integrates diverse contemplative practices within the design process tailored to how designers think, imagine, and create. It draws on the science of human flourishing, neuroaesthetics, psychology, and my experience of studying and teaching contemplative practices.With over 23 years of architectural experience at firms including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Perkins & Will spearheading commercial, residential, and hospitality projects worldwide, I bridge practice, education, and research. As adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design and the University of New Haven, I bring this framework to students in studio and seminar classes. I’m also leading a multidisciplinary research study with co-investigators evaluating the impact of the Contemplative Designer framework on students’ design processes, project outcomes, and well-being. These findings will lay the foundation for further robust methodologies for deepening design education and practice, offering evidence-based contemplative design technologies to create spaces of human flourishing.Beyond academia, I extend this research-backed approach into practice through workshops and keynotes at design firms, academic institutions, and conferences—equipping designers with resources of empathic imagination and meaning to infuse into the built environments they design.My journey began at fifteen, sparked by a transcendent experience in a sacred space in Calcutta. It led me to earn a B.A. in Physics, Mathematics, and Art at Luther College, followed by a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.Recognized as a \"BD+C 40 Under 40\" & \"ENR New York Top 20 Under 40\" honoree, I also served as the Founding Director for Architecture for Humanity NY, designing pro-bono projects for underserved communities. I am a Lighthouse Fellow at the Center for Conscious Design.If you find synergies in our work and mission, email me: s•••••@contemplativedesigner.com

Experience

1. Lighthouse Fellow

   The Centre For Conscious Design Ccd

   Apr 2024 — Present

   Serve as a thought leader in the global CCD network, contributing to the evolving field of conscious and neuro-informed design grounded in principles of health, well-being, and ecological synergy.• Present provocations and research at the CCD’s “Lighthouse” events and festivals offering talks and engaging in breakout dialogues to shape inquiry questions for future scholarly and design initiatives.

Education

• Luther College

  Bachelor of Arts, Majors: Mathematics, Physics and Art Minor : Computer Science

  1995 — 1999

• Syracuse University

  Architecture, Florence

  1998 — 1998

• University of Pennsylvania

  Master of Architecture, Architecture

  1999 — 2002

• Architectural Association, London

  Architecture

  2001 — 2001

Skills

• Architecture
• Interior Design
• Renovation
• Architectural Design
• Mixed-Use
• Sustainability
• Urban Design
• Master Planning
• Sustainable Design
• Autocad
• Indesign
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Photoshop
• Urban Planning
• Illustrator
• Rhino
• Rendering
• Branding
• Exhibit Design
• Retail Design
• Hotel Design
• Institutional Design
• Business Development
• Project Management
• Comprehensive Planning
• Submittals
• Design Research
• Sketchup
• Revit
• Architectures
• Residential Design