After practicing as an architect in the United States and India, Purva founded MaterialDriven in 2016. In launching the platform, her goal was to create a space where innovative, environmentally-positive materials and their manufacturing could be broadcast in an open-source format. Since then, MaterialDriven’s growth into a global consultancy, curatorial agency, and materials library, based in the US, UK, and Spain, has allowed her to promote sustainable and circular design, and support material developers in their journey from innovative prototype to market and then application in products or the built environment. Her work at MaterialDriven has resulted in a variety of outcomes–from research, sourcing, writing and teaching, to new product design and spatial development. The company’s clients include leading brands such as the AC Hotel by Marriott, Hamilton Watches (Swatch), Drunk Elephant, Belvedere Vodka, Ocean Bottle, The Woolmark Company, PZ Cussons and more.

in addition to sustainability consulting and curatorial work for MaterialDriven’s clients–ranging from brands in fashion, and consumer goods to architecture, retail and hospitality– Purva pursues her passion for design education by delivering lectures, sustainability-focused courses and workshops for universities and institutions across the globe.

purva holds the role of Adjunct Lecturer at Southern Methodist University and Adjunct Professor at Lawrence Technological University. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design in Philadelphia, and the Sushant School of Art and Architecture in New Delhi, India. She remains connected to her academic and professional roots in Asia, through research, guest teaching and being an advisor on material-development projects in India.