Today we’d like to introduce you to Murtaza Batliwala.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
A little flashback to my childhood.
My twin brother and I went to the same school, shared the same circle of friends, and grew up surrounded by the same people. Everyone knew us, and naturally, we were constantly compared.
My brother was smart, intellectual, and academically gifted. I, on the other hand, was the mischievous one—sporty, creative, and someone who saw the world through a different lens. My ideas and thoughts were often unconventional, sometimes so unusual that people found them difficult to understand. Because of that, many assumed I was unintelligent rather than simply different.
As a result, I was often labeled as the “dunce, stupid” and notorious child, while my brother was praised. Apart from my close family and a handful of friends who truly knew me, very few people saw beyond those labels. And some of my school teachers made my childhood more difficult by adding upon the same labels and comparing constantly with my brother and forcing me to think and to be like the rest of the world instead of sharpening my “able” qualities.
As a child, I struggled to understand why I was treated that way. I didn’t know how to respond to the taunts or defend myself when people called me dumb or useless. Instead, I would quietly go home and cry.
“Art became my escape.”
I spent countless hours drawing, creating random things from left over cardboards or any materials, building imaginary worlds, playing in nature, inventing things in my mind, and wondering about ideas that many people might have considered strange or impractical. It was in that world that I felt understood. It was where my imagination was free.
Looking back today, I realize that those very qualities shaped who I became. They led me into a creative profession where thinking differently became my greatest strength.
Now, when people look at my designs and products, they often say, “Wow! How do you come up with something like this?”
And I simply smile and say,
“I was learning to do this while you were busy judging me.”
And so my journey began with a childhood passion for creating, customizing, and designing. Drawing and making things has always come naturally to me, and I have never been someone who can sit idle for long. Whenever my mind is restless, I instinctively reach for a pencil and start sketching my ideas. Designing became my creative outlet—a way to channel my thoughts into something meaningful.
Over time, what started as a hobby evolved into a passion. During my Bachelor’s in Architecture, I realized that the products I was designing resonated with the people around me. Encouraged by my friends and close circle, I decided to turn this passion into a business. In 2016, while still at university, I took the first step and founded my venture, transforming a lifelong love for design into a professional journey and gave the business a name “Dice & Dominoes” with a different story.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey was far from easy. Balancing my business while pursuing a Bachelor’s in Architecture was both mentally and physically demanding. Managing academic responsibilities alongside client work required discipline, persistence, and countless late nights.
After graduating, I joined an architectural firm to build my professional career while continuing to nurture and grow my business. Gradually, the brand began gaining recognition, and my work started reaching a wider audience. With that growth came new opportunities—but also new challenges.
Working with people from diverse backgrounds meant interacting with clients who had very different expectations, perspectives, and ways of communicating. While many experiences were rewarding, others involved misunderstandings, unreasonable demands, and difficult conversations that tested my patience and professionalism along with asking for a price that brings a grimace expression to my face. These experiences, though challenging, taught me valuable lessons in communication, problem-solving, and managing client relationships.
Balancing a full-time architectural career with running a business was never simple. Alongside fulfilling client commitments, I constantly pushed myself to create fresh designs, stay innovative, and ensure that every product reflected the creativity and quality I wanted my brand to represent. It was demanding, but it also strengthened my resilience and reinforced my passion for design.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Years of designing, researching, and developing products helped me shape a philosophy that continues to guide my creative process. I call it the Principle of the Three Es—Explore, Experiment, and Experience.
I believe that every meaningful creation begins with “exploration”. Curiosity leads us to discover new possibilities, which naturally encourages “experimentation”. Through experimenting with ideas, materials, and forms, we gain “experience”—the greatest teacher of all. In my view, exploration fuels experimentation, and experimentation ultimately becomes experience.
My education in Architecture further transformed the way I perceive design. I realized that architecture is not confined to buildings, homes, or large structures. To me, architecture is the art of designing anything that thoughtfully combines functionality, engineering, and aesthetics. Whether it is a piece of furniture, a lighting fixture, a home accessory, or a building, the same design principles apply.
What truly distinguishes my work is the question I ask myself before designing every product:
“Why does this product always have to exist in its conventional form? Why can’t it be reimagined into something entirely different while serving the same purpose?”
That simple question challenges me to think beyond convention. It pushes me to explore unconventional forms, reinterpret everyday objects, and create products that are both functional and visually distinctive. This mindset has become the foundation of my design process and is what people have come to recognize me for—creating innovative designs that blend originality, purpose, and timeless aesthetics.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I aspire to collaborate with clients who genuinely value creativity, innovation, and thoughtful design—people who appreciate that exceptional products take time to develop. I enjoy working with individuals and brands who are willing to invest in original ideas, trust the creative process, and recognize the value of well-crafted, innovative design.
I also believe that every creative mind benefits from guidance. While I have confidence in my ideas, I appreciate the role of a mentor who can challenge my thinking, refine my perspective, and help transform good ideas into exceptional ones.
My greatest strength lies in reimagining everyday products through a creative lens—combining functionality with originality to create designs that are both practical and visually distinctive. This approach has consistently shaped my work and has become the foundation of my design philosophy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dice_and_dominoes
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ar-murtaza-batliwala-998601178
