Today we’d like to introduce you to Chinmayee Kharche.
Hi Chinmayee, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I recently completed my MFA in Production Design at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Chapman University. Before that, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture in India, a foundation that shaped how I think about space, structure, and storytelling.
My journey into the design world began long before I knew what form it would take. As a child, I was endlessly curious, always sketching, building, and imagining new worlds. While film had always held a special place in my heart, I didn’t realize that designing for film could be a career until I encountered a female set designer during my architecture studies. That moment changed everything.
In my first year of architecture school, I attended a set design workshop that opened my eyes to the intersection of architecture and cinematic storytelling. There, I discovered production design, a discipline that brought together everything I loved: narrative, emotion, visual language, and immersive environments. It felt like finding home.
Early in my career, I had the opportunity to learn under a renowned production designer, an experience that offered invaluable insight into the craft and discipline of designing for film. It shaped the way I approach my work to this day.
At Chapman, I continued to refine my voice and develop my craft through close mentorship from industry professionals and deep collaboration with fellow creatives. Those years were filled with experimentation, growth, and a deepening love for storytelling through design.
Today, I’m passionate about creating cinematic worlds rich in detail, emotionally resonant, and grounded in story and culture. I believe that great production design doesn’t just support a narrative, it shapes how it’s experienced. As an Indian production designer working in Los Angeles, I strive to bring a cross-cultural perspective to every project I touch.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. There were plenty of struggles along the way. My creative journey began with Architecture, a field that gave me a strong foundation in design, structure, and spatial storytelling. Choosing architecture was a bold step in a family where everyone pursued engineering. But even then, I knew I was meant to follow a different path.
Later, when I discovered Production Design, I felt something shift. I realized I could combine my architectural background with my passion for film, emotion, and narrative. But stepping into the world of film and TV brought a new level of uncertainty. My family and I had no connections in the industry, and that lack of familiarity often came with fear, fear of the unknown, fear of failure, and fear that success might never come.
Still, I continued.
Over time, I earned the support of my family, and that became one of my greatest strengths. I went on to complete my MFA in Production Design, but it wasn’t without its challenges. Each production had hurdles, tight timelines, setbacks, and creative blocks, but every experience taught me something valuable. I learned by doing, by stumbling, and by getting back up.
I’m especially grateful to my friends who stood by me. Their encouragement and belief in me helped me push forward, even on the toughest days.
Despite everything, I’ve learned how to adapt and stay resilient. Every struggle has shaped who I am as a designer and person, making every step of the journey more meaningful.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Production Designer and Set Designer with a background in Architecture. I specialize in crafting narrative-driven spaces that are visually compelling and emotionally resonant. My design process is rooted in story; every choice I make, from texture and color to spatial composition, deepens the viewer’s connection to the characters and their world.
I merge architectural logic with cinematic storytelling. My training in architecture taught me how to design spaces that function and flow, but production design has taught me how to make those spaces feel and shape emotion through visual language. I love creating layered, immersive environments that quietly reflect a character’s internal journey.
I’m particularly proud of the projects where I’ve been able to represent cultural identity in meaningful, nuanced ways, stories that center emotion, memory, and connection. As someone from India working in the U.S., I bring a global perspective to my work, and I’m always looking for ways to infuse authenticity, intimacy, and subtlety into the visual world of a film.
Beyond aesthetics, I care deeply about collaboration. I thrive in environments where designers, directors, and storytellers come together to build something larger than themselves. I’ve learned that great design doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s born from trust, intention, and shared vision.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
To be honest, I don’t rely much on specific books, apps, or podcasts. What truly helps me do my best, both in work and in life, is listening to people’s stories.
I’ve always believed that some of the most powerful lessons come from honest conversations. I learn the most when I sit with friends, hear about their experiences, their challenges, their growth, and take the time to reflect on what that means in my own life. There’s something incredibly grounding and inspiring about that kind of exchange. It reminds me why I design in the first place: to connect, express, and make others feel seen.
As a production designer, that instinct to listen deeply, to people, to stories, to emotion, naturally carries into my work. It’s where I draw much of my creative energy and empathy from.
So while I explore resources now and then, my real toolkit comprises shared stories, conversations, and quiet moments of reflection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chinmayee-kharche.squarespace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_chinmayee.k._/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chinmayee.kharche/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinmayee-kharche-877a1b212/
- Other: https://www.behance.net/chinmayeekharche
