With a diverse and international portfolio of work, Shashi Caan is lauded for her understated philosophy which unites the multiple layers of design in architecture, product and interiors. Focusing equally on design in the practice, teaching and research, her impact is felt particularly in the changed outcomes of design as a creative process for inquiry, invention and excellence, which is reflected in the work and unique business structure of The Collective.

Design projects include a diversity of commercial architectural interiors ranging from 1000square feet – 3 million square feet in scope. Clients include, Goldman Sachs, Fidelity, Mohawk Industries, Edinburgh College of Art, The New School, DuPont, NBC Studios, not to mention a range of product lines and executive aircraft interior for Alcoa and Gulfstream.

A former Design Director and Associate Partner with the New York office of Skidmore Owings and Merrill, Shashi Caan has also served as the Chair of Interior Design at Parsons The New School for Design in NYC. Other prior affiliations include Gensler, Pratt Institute and the New York School of Interior Design, where she represented the faculty on the Board of Trustees. 

Active with research for further development and improvement of design and design education, Shashi Caan is currently involved with New York’s Columbia University where she conducts a research effort to establish the parameters and content for a design curriculum. In her capacity as visiting professor, she teaches at the University of Monterrey, Mexico and at the Florida International University in Miami, Florida.  She holds Masters Degrees in Architecture and Industrial Design from Pratt Institute and a BFA (hons) in Environmental Design from the Edinburgh College of Art, UK.

Recipient of numerous awards and recognition, Shashi Caan was Contract magazine’s US National 'Designer of Year’ 2004, Educator of Year for Greater NY in 2006 and winner of interiors and product design awards granted by the Interior Design Magazine, IIDA, GlobalShop, Hospitality Design and NeoCon. Her professional work and writings are well published in design journals and periodicals including in Metropolis Magazine, Architectural Record, Architecture, Interior Design, I.D., Contract and MIX.

Active in both the design and extended community she continues to serve on a number of boards and advisory councils which include IDLNY, United Nations Associations and 92nd Street Y in NY.

In November 2009, Shashi Caan will take over the position of President of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) and commence her term as chairwoman of the International Design Alliance (IDA), thus holding the highest official posts in the design world.