A landmark global moment unfolded as Amy Astley (Global Editorial Director & U.S. Editor-in-Chief, Architectural Digest) in conversation with Kelly Wearstler (renowned American designer & creative director) explored their design philosophies and cross-cultural inspirations
The Geoffrey Bawa Pavilion emerged as a standout attraction, presenting reissues of the Sri Lankan master’s iconic furniture and product designs within an evocative, contextual installation designed by Bangalore based studio Phantom Hands
The show also featured péro’s much-anticipated homecoming showcase, an exclusive presentation that celebrated craft, textile traditions and contemporary storytelling in design.
The sixth edition of the AD Design Show, India’s most influential design fair, concluded on a high note, drawing record footfall and extraordinary participation across the Indian design communities. Presented by AD (Architectural Digest) India in association with Pidilite and ICA Pidilite, the 2025 edition brought together over 200 exemplary brands, celebrated designers, young innovators and design enthusiasts for a landmark three-day event. This year’s edition was widely regarded as the most ambitious yet, offering audiences a rare convergence of architecture, design, artistry and cultural dialogue. Notable attendees included Nandita Mahtani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Deanne Panday, Kajal Aggarwal Kitchlu, Saba Ali Khan, Nisha Jamvwal and more.
“I’ve witnessed the magic of the AD Design Show from its inaugural edition back in 2018, and each year it has grown from pillar to pillar, diversified and experimented with programming, design interventions, and good old community engagement. It’s truly a melting pot, it offers a glimpse into the creative spark of the design industry, and this year’s show particularly represents the soft cultural power of India for a global audience.” – Komal Sharma, Head of Editorial Content, AD India
“At Pidilite, we believe structures and buildings are more than construction. They are imagination brought to life — designs that lead to iconic creations. Our installation at ADDS 2025 reinforces how pioneering solutions shape the spaces we inhabit. Through Pidilite Professional Solutions, we are enabling a sketch-to-site approach that empowers the design and construction fraternity to build boldly and sustainably.” – Kavinder Singh, Joint MD, Pidilite Industries
The show opened with a welcome address by Komal Sharma, Sandeep Lodha and Kavinder Singh at the AD Lounge.The day featured the headline session with Amy Astley, Global Editorial Director & Editor-in-Chief of AD US, and Kelly Wearstler, internationally acclaimed American designer and creative director. Design enthusiasts joined Channa Daswatte for a walkthrough of the Bawa Pavilion, where he shared histories and anecdotes behind each piece, along with a guided tour by Ridhi Khosla Jalan and Samir Wadekar and an exclusive runway presentation, p é r o’s homecoming, accompanied by music by The Jass B’stards powered by Pidilite.
Day two included the Grohe Design Party, followed by an insightful talk by Khushnu Panthaki Hoof and Sönke Hoof on the Doshi Retreat at the Vitra Campus in Germany, followed by another a panel featuring Phantom Hands’ co-founder Aparna Rao with Channa Daswatte and Deepak Srinath, moderated by Divya Mishra. The evening culminated in a performance by Lifafa at the Bombay Sapphire Creative Lab party and co-hosted by Meenakshi Kuwadekar.
The final day began with a brunch hosted by Matteo Brioni and Rhea Mehta, followed by the AD PRO DIRECTORY Party, marking the rebranding of the AD List to align with AD’s global professional network. A panel with Abha Narain Lambah, Anupam Sah and Régis Mathieu explored restoration and conservation. The show concluded with a walkthrough by Imran Khan and Lekha Washington.
ICONIQA were the exclusive culinary curators for the AD Lounge for all three days.
