Vikram Goyal’s is a name that stands out among the Indian design fraternity. To take his practice to the next level, he has launched a new pret line called Viya. “We seek to redefine everyday objects by infusing them with the essence of Indian culture, innovative craftsmanship and contemporary design,” he shares, speaking about the collection.
Goyal’s fresh vision for Viya was most evident at the launch of the new collection showcased at Delhi’s Bikaner House recently. Moving away from focussing on collectible pieces, Viya offers a wide array of lifestyle products that are described as being “accessible, versatile and borderless in design as they have been crafted with meticulous attention to detail.” The collections feature tables, chairs, vases, trays, and lighting instruments along with a range of soft furnishings.
According to Goyal, “Viya’s design philosophy draws inspiration from the vibrant and diverse elements of Indian history, myths, and fables. By incorporating these rich narratives, each piece is significant and tells its own story, ensuring that every product enriches the home with cultural depth and a touch of joy. A hallmark of Viya’s offerings is the diversity of materials and techniques employed in crafting each item. The brand explores possibilities of craftsmanship, resulting in a mastery in brass work, stone inlay, cane, and rope techniques. Block printing, screen printing and hand embroidery find a unique language through motive and colour. The resulting products are rich in heritage and craftsmanship, making them ideal for various occasions, including gifting.”
The products can be bought online at viyadesign.com, as well as on AjioLuxe and

TataCliqLuxury’s websites. Plans are also in place to host pop-up events across the country, so that customers can experience the brand’s unique offerings for themselves.
Goyal describes Viya as a natural extension of his life’s work, marked as it is by a deep respect and understanding of the Indian tradition of visual arts. He shares, “We wanted to create a brand that brings the richness of our cultural stories into everyday living. Viya’s designs aim to bring joy and meaning into the heart and home.”
Further explaining the vision behind the brand, he says, “Viya draws upon the rich narratives of Indian history, myths, fables, and collective imagination to create unique design objects. Our collection includes tableware, furniture, decor, and lighting, each crafted to bring cultural richness and aesthetic beauty into everyday living. Through skilled craftsmanship and contemporary design, Viya aims to infuse homes with meaningful and joyful pieces that tell their own stories.”

Goyal’s work has always strived to revive artisanal techniques whose foundations lay in historic objects. He has therefore become adept at translating India’s rich legacy of craft excellence into modern, timeless designs. For this, he draws on the expertise of specialist artisans from across the country and deeply explores Indian metalwork traditions to create limited-edition furniture and objects that celebrate material and form in abstract new ways. “By diligently refining and re-inventing techniques that have been cultivated in the region for centuries, my work draws on the sophistication in Indian craft and conceptual and cultural narratives.”

Goyal is an engineer by training who studied development economics at Princeton University, before working in the field of finance in the USA and Hong Kong. He returned to India in 2000 and set up his design studio. “I have strived to advance the art of collectible design in the region ever since, reintroducing intricacy and elegance into modern Indian design. Even motifs commemorating ancient narratives, traditions and philosophies are subtly reimagined and contextualised in novel material applications across my work.”
He describes Viya’s mission as the revival of metalwork and other traditional crafts in a more accessible form. Goyal also co-founded beauty and wellness brand Kama Ayurveda which elevated and gave modern relevance to an ancient system of medicine. Another personal project he undertook is ‘Shringara of Shrinathji’, which is a collector’s edition book released in 2022. It features miniature paintings of the Hindu deity Lord Shrinathji from his own family’s collection.

Among his other achievements, Goyal’s name is included in Architectural Digest’s list of the 100 most influential architects and interior designers in India. He is also a winner of an Elle Decor International Design Award and is represented by Nilufar gallery in Milan. His work has been exhibited at India Art Fair 2023 and 2024 and at PAD London 2023.
Speaking about the collection, Goyal says, “Viya’s offerings are a balance between artistry and design. Our creative process leads to objects of beauty that spark a sense of joy and wonder. A deep curiosity about history and the nuances of global cultures becomes the guiding foresight, creating a distinctive language that underpins each piece. Our objects emerge from an intuitive exploration of craft and an inventive approach to materiality. Each of our pieces is embedded with the intergenerational knowledge and skills of craft practitioners and are made from a remarkable palette of materials.”

The techniques used in this collection include casting, which is a manufacturing method that transforms molten metal into a specific shape; pietra dura which originated in Italy and involves inlaying highly polished coloured stones, creating intricate narratives or patterns; repoussé (repoussage), which is an ancient metalworking technique where malleable metal is expertly shaped and embossed by hand using hammering from the reverse side to create intricate designs and textures in low relief; bamboo weaving, a craft deeply rooted in the culture of North East India, which fashions flexible bamboo strips into a diverse range of woven items; metal spinning or turning, where artisans skilfully spin and mould sheets of metal into graceful curvilinear forms by rotating it on a lathe, while using specialised tools to form it into three dimensional shapes.

There are also techniques like screen printing or silk screening which involves transferring a stencil or design onto a fine mesh screen and forcing ink through the open areas onto a substrate, like fabric or paper, to create printed images or patterns; the decorative art of embroidery on fabric using a needle and thread; quilt making involving the stitching together of layers of fabric to create warm and decorative coverings; and hand block printing where artisans use intricately carved wooden blocks to manually stamp colourful patterns and designs onto fabric.

Noor Anand Chawla pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com.