Rithika Manna
Hi, I’m Rithika — a designer, artist, and researcher creating at the intersection of sustainability, memory, and care.
Rooted in India and based in Toronto, my practice explores the emotional and environmental impact of the objects and spaces we inhabit. I design modular furniture systems, public installations, and hands-on material experiments that rethink waste, honor ancestral knowledge, and foster repair through use.
With a background in landscaping and a Master of Design from OCAD University, my work investigates the emotional durability of objects — asking: What makes something worth keeping? From a desk passed down through generations to a stool made of scrap cardboard, I believe in the quiet power of repair, reuse, and reflection.
My creative journey also includes founding Green Thumb Delhi, a self-initiated sustainable design practice where I led small-space projects from concept to execution. As an entrepreneur, I managed every aspect — from product design and material sourcing to branding, marketing, client engagement, vendor coordination, market research, and on-the-spot problem-solving. This experience taught me resilience, adaptability, and the realities of running an eco-conscious business from the ground up.
A passionate educator and community collaborator, I’ve also facilitated craft-based sustainability workshops for both children and adults, blending storytelling with tactile making. These workshops focus on using everyday waste materials — like plastic bags, cardboard, and fabric scraps — to explore ideas of circularity, creativity, and care.
Whether I’m prototyping furniture, leading a workshop, or reimagining discarded materials, I design with intention — grounded in environmental justice, cultural memory, and lived experience. My goal is to contribute to a regenerative, circular future — one object, story, or community at a time.