When I heard the JD Design Awards theme — “Tribute” — I wasn’t sure where to begin. But then I looked inward. As someone who has been singing Carnatic music since childhood, my inspiration felt obvious: the legendary M. S. Subbulakshmi.

I decided to create a modern Airbnb villa — traditional at heart, yet contemporary in design — as a tribute to her musical legacy. I named it Vaasathin Isai — “the fragrance of music.”

What made my project stand out was something Shruthi Ma’am suggested: go beyond the brief. So, I collaborated with Metro Tiles and created a one-of-a-kind material board — no one else in my batch had done that. It felt amazing to take that extra step and see it pay off.

I remember struggling with software like Autocad and SketchUp at first, but with Keerthana Ma’am’s support, I learned to bring my ideas to life in 3d. Every single faculty member had a hand in shaping my final presentation — from the concept to the branding to the jury day visuals.

If I’ve learned anything through this journey, it’s this: speak from the heart, give your 100%, and never look back with regret. JD gave me more than design skills — it helped me grow into someone I’m proud to be.