As part of an ongoing series of panel discussions presented by Avid Learning in collaboration with the National Gallery of Modern Art and INTACH, design enthusiasts gathered to explore Motifs, Materials & Makers: Mid-Century Modern Design. Hosted by Asad Lalljee of Avid Learning, the event brought together leading voices to reflect on the past, present, and future of this iconic movement.

The panel featured Architect & Restorer Nikhil Mahashur, Principal Architect at Nikhil Mahashur & Associates & Founder Walkitecture; Shivani Ajmera, Co-founder and Principal Designer at Quirk Studio; Rohit Mehndiratta, Architect, Artist, Urbanist, and Principal & Co-founder of SVR Foundation and MD of MRC Pvt Ltd; and moderator Sanaeya Vandrewala, Assistant Professor in Architectural and Urban Conservation, KRVIA.

The conversation was rich with insights, exploring the essence of mid-century design, the craftsmen and collaborators who shaped it, and the responsibility of contemporary practitioners to carry forward its principles with integrity.

One moment in particular stood out: Nikhil’s heartfelt tribute to the mentor who shaped his philosophies and practice. At X & Zero, we believed it deserved more than a fleeting mention at an event; it deserved storytelling that honours where creativity is born.

So we crafted “Ode to My Mentor,” a tribute to the quiet guidance, the formative lessons, and the people whose influence shapes a designer long before the spotlight does. It reflects our ongoing content direction for Nikhil Mahashur & Associates: honouring the legacy that anchors the practice, while celebrating the work that continues to evolve from it. Because great design isn’t created in isolation. It is learned, nurtured, and passed forward, one mentor, one idea, one shared belief at a time.