Studio Sorted architecture is gaining attention in India’s design and architecture space for its clear focus on people, emotion, and use. Founded by Abhishek Durani and Netra Ajjampur, both aged 28, Studio Sorted brings a younger voice to a field that often feels formal and cautious. The studio works across architecture, interiors, branding, retail spaces, workshops, and public installations, with one shared goal: make design feel alive and accessible.

Based in Bengaluru, Studio Sorted does not follow a fixed visual style. Instead, each project responds to its setting, users, and purpose. The founders believe good design should feel natural in daily life, not distant or decorative.

How the Partnership Took Shape

Abhishek Durani and Netra Ajjampur met while studying architecture at CEPT University in Ahmedabad. From their early student projects, a pattern became clear. Durani focused on ideas, stories, and concept-building. Ajjampur focused on structure, planning, and execution.

Durani has said Ajjampur brings patience and clarity to projects, while he brings imagination and narrative. Ajjampur has said the balance allows them to move fast without losing control. Over time, this division of roles became the base of their collaboration.

Both founders also share a background in music. They say music shaped how they think about rhythm, mood, and movement in space. This influence shows up in their work, which often feels fluid rather than rigid.

Why Studio Sorted Was Created

After working on several projects as students and young professionals, the duo noticed a gap in India’s design landscape. Many studios focused on safe formats and repeated styles. Younger brands and communities struggled to find designers willing to experiment.

Studio Sorted was created to fill this space. The founders wanted to build a practice that welcomed curiosity and play, without losing discipline. They chose not to limit the studio to architecture alone.

Today, Studio Sorted handles residential architecture, interior design, brand identity, retail spaces, exhibitions, workshops, and online design competitions. This range allows the studio to think across scales, from furniture and graphics to buildings and public spaces.

Commercial Projects and Clients

Studio Sorted’s client list spans lifestyle, retail, music, and mobility brands. The studio has worked with Toni & Guy, MG Motor, Sony Music, Vahdam, JBL, and Theka Coffee.

One of their better-known projects is the rebranding of Float Brewery. Instead of a standard menu, the studio designed a newspaper-style drinks menu. It included comics, puzzles, crosswords, and trivia. The idea was to turn ordering into a shared experience rather than a transaction.

Another project involved branding for Theka Coffee. The studio created a visual system built around an animated bottle character. This mascot helped the brand connect with younger customers and stand out in crowded retail spaces.

These projects show how Studio Sorted blends spatial design with storytelling.

Awards and Industry Recognition

In 2023, Studio Sorted won the ‘Commercial Projects and Futuristic Designs’ category at the National Architecture & Interior Design Excellence Awards. The award recognised their work for a Toni & Guy salon in Varthur, Bengaluru. The project focused on flexible layouts, bold graphics, and customer flow.

The studio also received a special category award for innovative entrepreneurs and designers of the year. This was for their work on LiteStore’s flexi-retail stores in Bengaluru, which used modular systems to adapt to changing retail needs.

These recognitions helped place Studio Sorted among emerging design studios to watch.

Learning Beyond Design

In the same year, Netra Ajjampur joined the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women programme at IIM Bangalore. The programme focuses on leadership, finance, and business growth.

Ajjampur has said the programme helped the founders see gaps in their business systems. It brought more structure to planning, budgeting, and long-term strategy. Since then, Studio Sorted has taken a more measured approach to growth.

The studio now chooses projects more carefully and focuses on long-term impact rather than volume.

Community and Public Space Work

Studio Sorted also works on public and community projects. One such effort is the Alli Serona Bus Stop project. The studio worked with women from less connected neighbourhoods to design an interactive bus stop installation.

The goal was to make the bus stop safer, more visible, and more useful for people who depend on public transport for work. The project treated infrastructure as a social space, not just a structure.

This reflects the studio’s belief that design should serve people who use it every day.

How Studio Sorted Operates

Unlike traditional design firms, Studio Sorted works with a flexible team model. The founders act as generalist leaders and bring in specialists based on project needs.

For branding projects, they collaborate with illustrators, animators, and writers. For architecture, they work with engineers, fabricators, and material experts. This approach keeps the studio adaptable without losing design control.

Durani says this system allows Studio Sorted to respond to context rather than force a fixed method.

What Industry Voices Say

Mexican architect Gustavo Carmona, with whom Durani interned, has described Studio Sorted’s work as grounded and optimistic. He has noted that the studio avoids surface-level design and focuses on meaning.

DesignUp director Shiva Viswanathan has said the studio brings a systems approach to design. He points to their ability to plan for the future without ignoring local context.

The Road Ahead

Over the past year, Studio Sorted has expanded its work in retail and experiential design. The studio is also exploring digital brand systems that work across online and physical spaces.

The founders say their focus remains steady. Build honest spaces. Keep design open. Avoid trends that fade fast.

As India’s architecture and design sector continues to grow, Studio Sorted architecture reflects a larger shift. Young studios are shaping their own paths, grounded in clarity rather than scale.

FAQs

Q1. Who are Abhishek Durani and Netra Ajjampur?
They are Indian architects and designers. They are the co-founders of Studio Sorted.

Q2. What is Studio Sorted?
Studio Sorted is an Indian architecture and design studio that works across interiors, branding, retail spaces, and public projects.

Q3. What is the age of Studio Sorted founders?
Abhishek Durani and Netra Ajjampur are both 28 years old.

Q4. Which brands has Studio Sorted worked with?
Studio Sorted has worked with Toni & Guy, MG Motor, Sony Music, Vahdam, JBL, and Theka Coffee.