Breaking into hospitality design isn’t just about what you learn in the classroom. It’s about how you learn to apply it in the real world. For a lot of emerging designers, that transition can feel uncertain. Mentorship, for me, has been the thing that makes it feel possible.
Having access to experienced hospitality designers—people who have actually made the decisions we’re just starting to think about—completely changes how you understand the work. You start to see how choices around materials, layout and flow aren’t just technical. They shape how people feel, move and connect within a space. That’s especially true in hospitality, where design is directly tied to human experience.
But mentorship isn’t just about technical guidance. It also opens the door to bigger conversations—about sustainability, inclusivity and what it really means to design with people in mind. It gives you the confidence to test ideas, trust your instincts and figure out your own voice as a designer.
At the same time, mentorship doesn’t just show up—you have to go find it. For me, that meant getting involved with industry organizations, going to events and being open to conversations with people at all stages of their careers. Those connections end up shaping not just your network, but how you think about design itself.
A lot of my growth has come through the International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter (IIDA NY), which creates real opportunities for students to connect with professionals in meaningful ways. This year, I was honored to be selected as a recipient of IIDA NY’s fifth annual Hazel Siegel Scholarship, which recognizes students for their academic work, community involvement and design perspective.
The scholarship is named after Hazel Siegel, a textile designer and educator who was deeply committed to mentorship and the design community. Being connected to that legacy and what it represents made the experience feel even more impactful.
As part of the scholarship, I attended IIDA’s SHIFT Conference in Dallas last February, a multi-day program that brought together students, educators and industry professionals from across the country. What stood out most about SHIFT was how hands-on and collaborative it was. Through firm visits, portfolio reviews and design challenges, we weren’t just listening. We were actively working, learning and getting feedback in real time.
Collaborating in teams, often with people I had just met, pushed me to think more quickly and trust my instincts. It also showed me how different perspectives can shape a design solution in ways you wouldn’t get to on your own. That kind of environment makes mentorship feel less like a formal structure and more like an ongoing exchange of ideas.
Those experiences really shifted how I think about hospitality design. Every decision—whether it’s material, layout or lighting—has an impact on how someone experiences a space. SHIFT reinforced that design isn’t just about how something looks, but how it feels and functions on a human level.
Growing up in Mumbai has also influenced how I approach that idea. I’m interested in how design can respond to the pace and intensity of modern life, especially as technology becomes more embedded in everything we do. My work focuses on creating spaces that encourage people to slow down, be present, and connect—whether that’s with others or just with their environment.
The conversations I had at SHIFT, especially with designers from different backgrounds and regions, pushed that thinking even further. It made me realize how much hospitality spaces are evolving—not just as places to stay or dine, but as environments that support well-being, inclusivity and a sense of connection.
Mentorship has played a huge role in shaping that perspective. It’s helped me understand that good design isn’t just intentional. It’s empathetic. It considers how people actually experience a space, not just how it’s planned.
As I keep learning and growing, I’m interested in exploring how hospitality design can better respond to both the physical and emotional needs of its users. That means thinking more about material choices, sensory experience, and accessibility—not as add-ons, but as core parts of the design process.
At the end of the day, mentorship isn’t just about getting advice—it’s about being part of a community that pushes you to think differently and do better work. And for me, that’s what’s really shaping the kind of designer I want to become.
Rahil Mandalia is a Pratt Institute student whose work explores how hospitality design, sustainability and thoughtful materiality can create human-centered environments that counter digital overload and foster connection, accessibility, and well-being.