When work is driven by a mission, the results naturally become a gift.
This philosophy has guided Radhika Raj, Founder and Principal Designer of Eso Torra Indesigns, through three decades. Shaped by a diverse global journey—from her roots in Mumbai and Kabul to her education in the US and her current home in Singapore—she approaches design as a tool to solve complex challenges. Through continuous learning, creativity, and precision, she refines spaces with profound purpose.
Could you tell our readers about your firm?
I founded Eso Torra Indesigns in 1996, a Singapore-based interior design practice operating globally with offices across Singapore, India, Italy, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. We deliver high-value design-and-build and consultancy projects, with a strong portfolio spanning high-end residential, commercial, and luxury hospitality. Designing across such diverse typologies has sharpened my belief that good design adapts to people and purpose. Nearly 99% of our business comes from client referrals—a testament to the trust earned through sincerity, excellence, and unwavering dedication. I instil that same spirit in my team: a genuine love for what we do.
With over 30 years of experience, how has your personal definition of “good design” evolved over time?
In the early years, I thought of good design largely in terms of how a space looked. Over three decades, my definition has grown far beyond aesthetics. Today, I believe good design is purposeful; it solves real problems, serves the way people actually live and work, and stands the test of time. It balances creativity with precision. Good design is ultimately measured by the confidence and joy it brings to the people who live with it, not just by how striking it appears in a photograph.
What is your biggest piece of advice for young designers today?
Let passion lead the way, because passion drives motivation. Fall genuinely in love with what you do, and the discipline and resilience the work demands will follow naturally. Never stop learning, stay curious, and treat every project as an opportunity to grow. Above all, build your reputation on sincerity and excellence; trust is earned one project at a time, and it is the foundation everything else is built upon.
As you look ahead, what is the next chapter for your practice?
We are entering an exciting new chapter, harnessing AI-driven systems to make our projects more dynamic and future-ready. We are also expanding our in-house capabilities across lighting, automation, and custom furniture manufacturing to create truly personalised luxury experiences. Additionally, we are developing an educational platform to teach upcoming designers the execution and mindset needed to become strong entrepreneurs. Ultimately, our future is about blending legacy, technology, craftsmanship, and purpose-driven design.
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