The Art of Interior Designing | An Interview with Borhan Ghofrani

Borhan Ghofrani has always had a special connection with evocative designs. Drawing his inspiration from spiritual and thought-provoking influences, he is particularly known for bringing luxury and a sense of belongingness in his works. With over 450 commercial projects, 20 years of international experience and award-winning work, Borhan's craft reflect meticulous research while every decision is curated keeping the concept of the space in mind.  

Throughout his prolific career, he has been creating designs that aim to adorn the ideology of brands with everlasting charm. A true believer in bringing well-rounded execution, he states how every curve, colour and style has a purpose. "Every shelter, every construction, every temple must befit its purpose. If this purpose fails, so has the designer," says Borhan. 

With countless innovations in the designing industry, inexplicable creativity and remarkable knowledge, we realized that there is a lot more to learn about Borhan. So we met him, hoping to hear more about his incredible stories and art pieces that he is coveting now.  

Q1) What encouraged you to get into the designing industry and, how would you explain the evolution of this industry? 

I’ve been surrounded by creative women all my life. In particular, my grandmother who built an iconic beauty salon from humble beginnings and my mother who shared her amazing knowledge of colour and ratios. Both powerful, confident women fostered my love for design.  My mother encouraged curiosity and taught me that everything has a reason. Whether it’s colour, shape, or even movement – there is a reason behind all things.  

I feel that the design industry has evolved into a committed, creative sharing of knowledge and concepts. It’s an interpretation of intention, community, culture, and values. It’s not enough to simply match wall colour, floor coverings and furniture. Design should tell a story – the clients’  story. It should be original, purposeful, and philosophical. 

Q2) Like every creator, I suppose you must have created your philosophy towards aesthetics. How would you describe that?  

My philosophy is that there is a reason for everything. I have never drawn or designed anything without first knowing the background story. I am passionate and curious, listening ardently and enquiring intuitively. My process allows me to instill a sense of narrative throughout the design process. I then present concepts and see which one resonates most closely with the client.  Once a decision has been made, everything naturally flows from that point. The chosen story  becomes the foundation and from there we choose colours, textures, material, graphics,  furniture and even accessories. I have become known for creating concept narratives through my intuitive interpretation of each clients’ story.  

Q3) Have you ever been in a situation where your client wants to incorporate some of their existing pieces with your design idea? What's your approach in such situations?  

That’s another great reason for hearing and understanding a client’s story. I determine what has brought them to this point in time and discover where they would like to be going forward. If existing pieces form part of their journey, then we’ll find ways to incorporate each piece. 

Q4) Do you think the countries and their cultural heritage impact a designer's approach?  How would you explain the importance of choosing the right interior designer to people in such cases?  

I think my journey (my life story) has impacted my approach to design. I have a genuine empathy for each client, and I recognise the importance of encompassing culture and truly becoming immersed in the surrounding community. I feel that the right interior designer will wholeheartedly engage with the client. They will seek to understand the clients’ purpose and it will be second nature for them to intentionally motivate, reassure, and inspire. 

Q5) Every individual has a different idea of success. How would you define your project's success?  

Success is ensuring the clients’ vision is realised by ingenious planning, intentional decisions,  and effective delivery. It’s guaranteeing each client begins their new journey through an original narrative and arrives at a destination of evocative design.