‘Always something new to learn’
It is often said that passion has a way of leading us to our true calling, and for Chamika Wickremasinghe, that couldn’t be more accurate. Chamika is the founder of the award-winning Canvas Interior Design Studio, which takes pride in its diverse portfolio having worked on various projects including residential, commercial, mixed-use developments and even hospitals. The design studio formed in 2012, was selected by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards (a global awards programme based in the US) as the ‘Best Luxury Commercial Interior Design in Sri Lanka 2021’ for The Suites at Cinnamon Life.
Diverse portfolio: The Suites at Cinnamon Life (above)
A proud alumna of the Academy of Design (AOD), graduating with a First-Class BA (Hons) in Interior Design from the Northumbria University of Design UK, Chamika considers AOD to be very close to her heart as that is where she received her foundation in the field of design. Initially working in the corporate sector, she decided to pursue her passion for interior design by enrolling at AOD, one of Sri Lanka’s leading design education institutes responsible for launching successful careers in various design fields.
Contemporary elegance: One of Chamika’s interior designs
Having received the opportunity to work on a commercial project, the positive response set the stage for immediately launching Canvas Interior Design Studio post-graduation. “It was just myself initially, and I started very small, but things quickly grew through word-of-mouth recommendations.” Before long, the company was selected to work on several projects overseas in Hong Kong, Hyderabad and Lisbon. “This allowed us to be exposed to different materials, cultures and standards—all of which are essential to a designer’s growth.”
Chamika Wickremasinghe
Apart from a variety of design jobs from large-scale buildings to interiors to residences, Canvas Interior Design Studios has also designed for exhibitions and created set designs for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka, a part of the annual Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) presented by AOD. “The key for me and my team is to not limit ourselves to one style or sector, and I encourage our designers to work on multiple projects simultaneously for varied experiences,” Chamika says. Canvas will be designing sets for this year’s SLDF which takes place from November 7-10.
Apollo Tyres, India
Celebrating 15 years of innovation, creativity, and collaboration, the festival, held in tandem with the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka, is presented by AOD. In a departure from recent years, this year’s design festival will be hosted at the recently opened Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, a dynamic venue that will house exhibitions, panel discussions, and interactive installations.
Speaking about this year’s theme, Chamika says, “It’s all about innovation, and we need to focus on sustainability. It is also all about setting Sri Lanka up and showcasing to the world that we are a creative hub. We have really good designers in Sri Lanka, and we need to show the world that we are capable of creating amazing products.” Reflecting on the past 12 years, she adds, “I love this career because it never feels like work—I’m inspired every day. Even after 12 years, I’m still learning because there is so much that goes on. Trends constantly evolve, and there’s always something new to discover.”
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