“Interactive, Insightful, Inspiring, Actionable.”

Designer. Contemplative practitioner. Educator. Researcher. Speaker.

Hi! I am Sarika.

I founded Contemplative Designer and my design practice Sarika Bajoria Unlimited with the singular vision to bring about a built world where every day “outer spaces” are mediators of human flourishing, not just well-being. To achieve this goal, I believe that we as designers have to intentionally build an “inner space” of flourishing within.

I have been practicing architecture for over 22 years in New York City, and although I have survived relatively unscathed, I deeply understand your world and the challenges you navigate every day. I am also humbled by the rare privilege and responsibility we have as designers to transform the futures of people, communities and societies.

As a long time student and teacher of ancient contemplative practices, I have learned how the timeless wisdom of contemplative practices and their “inner technologies” can be synergized with the timeless ingenuity of design and their “outer technologies” to not just transform how we design and what we design but also profoundly shape “who” we can become as designers.

As an educator and researcher, I bring valuable insights and practical applications from cutting-edge research at the intersection of science of human flourishing, neuroaesthetics, psychology and diverse contemplative practices to inform the intentional design of equitable spaces that promote human flourishing.

In my keynotes and workshops for audiences big and small, I present the holistic and practical framework for a contemplative design process for the built environment to empower you - architects, designers, educators and students with the contemplative design technology to transform challenges and burnout into resources of empathic imagination and meaning. These tools and practices can enable you flourish in your daily design practice and design “spaces of flourishing”.

“ I knew from the time we first spoke that Sarika Bajoria’s keynote would be the highlight of the AIA Connecticut’s CACX’23 conference.”

Gina Colabro, Hon AIA, Executive Director & CEO, American Institute of Architects, Connecticut (AIA CT)

Bringing Contemplative Design Technology to audiences large and small

“Sarika’s presentation was nothing short of exceptional. Her depth of knowledge, infectious enthusiasm and skill as an educator and public speaker make her a standout figure in the field of architecture.”

Nesrine Mansour, Ph.D. Associate AIA, Assistant Professor of Architecture, South Dakota State University

Our Keynotes and Workshops

Our mission is to make Contemplative Design technology accessible to all architects and designers everywhere. We can custom-design our keynotes and workshops to the objectives and needs of your audience.

Learn from cutting-edge research in allied fields of design

You will learn about ground-breaking findings from neuroaesthetics, neuroarchitecture and psychology that will expand your ability to design “spaces of flourishing” more intentionally.

Engage in Contemplative Design technology

You will engage in evidence-based design practices that draw on the new science of human flourishing and ancient contemplative practices to help you build greater creative agency, foster conscious collaboration, deepen self-knowledge, and instill momentum in your daily design practice right away.

Become a Contemplative Designer

You will begin to embrace an expansive, inclusive and interdependent way of doing Contemplative Design to create environments imbued with empathic imagination and meaning as a Contemplative Designer.

Authentically transforming our built environment one designer’s mind at a time.

  • “Sarika has the rare ability to communicate profound insights in simple and clear language.

    All participants were impressed by Sarika’s comprehensive approach in her theoretical grounding, practical and skillful means.

    Dennis Winters, OALA, ASLA Principal, Tales of the Earth

  • “I was profoundly moved by Sarika’s passion, deep knowledge and wisdom.

    Her approach is deeply relevant to the problems of our contemporary design culture: loneliness, alienation, burnout, and heightened anxiety.”

    Sanda Iliescu Professor of Architecture and Art, University of Virginia

  • “Sarika’s gentle and skillful instruction on the mental-emotional rubric of resilient creativity inspires excellence!”

    Randall Anway, AIA, Principal, New Tapestry AIA Connecticut 2022 President

  • "This is a groundbreaking process essential for all designers and innovators.

    The tools and practices were incredibly powerful to move through mental blocks, limitations and deepen my creative potential.”

    Vellachi Ganesan, Senior Lighting Designer, Associate Principal, Spectrum Engineers Adjunct Faculty, University of Utah

How we are different

We are not a generalized well-being training program for a broad audience. We are a flourishing training program for designers by designers. We don’t just teach contemplative techniques to designers. We make the practice of design itself contemplative. That distinction makes all the difference.

Contemplative

Beyond generalized professional development and mindfulness programs, we deploy an expansive array of contemplative design technology.

Complementary

Methods have been carefully constructed to be integrated into daily design practice and 40+ work week of each designer. Not on top of but part of.

Custom-designed

Our framework is specifically designed for designers by designers aligned with how they think, work and imagine and catered to their challenges and expertise.

Book Sarika. Ignite transformative conversations.

Let’s start a conversation on how our framework of Contemplative Design Technology can empower your designers, architects, leaders and teams to flourish and design spaces of flourishing. Our keynotes and workshops can be customized to your audience’s needs and aspirations.