Why I Hate “Jugaad” (Even Though It’s India’s Favourite Word)

Design is not about making it work.

It is about making it right.

In India, jugaad is often worn like a badge of honour.

It represents speed, cleverness, and the ability to make something work against the odds. We admire the person who fixes a problem instantly, even if the solution is improvised.

But here is the uncomfortable truth.

Jugaad is never permanent.

And yet, we behave as if it is.

The quiet cost of temporary thinking

In interior design, the consequences of jugaad reveal themselves slowly.

A drawer that never quite aligns is “adjusted” instead of rethought.

A furniture piece that never fit the room is “managed” instead of redesigned.

Lighting meant to create atmosphere is forced to do task work it was never intended for.

On the surface, everything seems functional.

But underneath, the space is constantly fighting itself.

This is often mistaken for creativity. In reality, it is compromise disguised as cleverness.

Design is not about making it work. It is about making it right.

True design, like true problem-solving, demands something deeper than a quick fix.

It requires asking harder questions upfront.

What is the intent of this space?

How should it behave five years from now?

Does this solution align with how the client actually lives or works?

Good design is about equivalence and fit. Every element has a role, and every role deserves the right solution. When proportions, materials, lighting, and layout are resolved with intention, the space stops needing adjustments. It simply works, quietly and consistently.

Why shortcuts always show up later

Jugaad often feels efficient in the moment. It saves time today.

But it rarely saves effort in the long run.

Temporary fixes resurface as daily irritations.

Small compromises accumulate into visual clutter and functional fatigue.

What was meant to be “managed for now” becomes something you live with for years.

And by the time it is corrected, the cost is not just financial. It is emotional. The space never felt fully settled.

A different way of thinking

At Studio Redefine, we believe that design should remove friction, not introduce it slowly.

Our approach is rooted in clarity, foresight, and alignment with intent.

We would rather pause, rethink, and resolve a problem properly than rush toward a solution that merely hides it. Because spaces designed with long-term thinking feel calm, confident, and complete. They do not need explanations. They do not need excuses.

Before you say “let’s manage somehow”

Pause for a moment.

Ask yourself whether you are solving the problem or postponing it.

Whether the decision you are making today will still feel right tomorrow.

Jugaad may be clever.

But thoughtful design is deliberate.

And deliberate choices are the ones that stand the test of time.