HI! I AM APEKSHA, A multidisciplinary DESIGNER WITH 13 YEARS of EXPERIENCE. I LOVE BUILDING CREATIVE TEAMS, BRANDS, PRODUCTS and DESIGN SYSTEMS.
HI! I AM APEKSHA,
A multidisciplinary DESIGNER WITH 13 YEARS of EXPERIENCE.
I LOVE BUILDING CREATIVE TEAMS, BRANDS, PRODUCTS and DESIGN SYSTEMS.
Currently, I work at Target as the Lead Associate Creative Director for Home, Seasonal and Stationery Brands.
Before this, I founded and led my own women-led design studio where we worked with 55+ organizations: agencies, start-ups, and corporates. Over the last 13 years, I’ve taken on roles as a designer, design lead, and director, while also diving into entrepreneurship, design education, and mentorship.
I’m deeply committed to fostering creative well-being and empowering underrepresented creative talent in India and across the globe. Through my online collective of 15,000 designers, I’ve mentored over 500 individuals in the past four years, helping them overcome creative blocks, navigate career transitions, and build essential soft skills. My goal is to help creatives expand their abilities and produce impactful, meaningful work.
Currently, I work at Target as the Lead Associate Creative Director for Home, Seasonal and Stationery Brands. Before this, I founded and led my own women-led design studio where we worked with 55+ organizations: agencies, start-ups, and corporates.
Over the last 13 years, I’ve taken on roles as a designer, design lead, and director, entrepreneur and a design educator.
I’m deeply committed to fostering creative well-being and empowering underrepresented creative talent in India and across the globe. Through my online collective of 15,000 designers, my goal is to help creatives overcome creative blocks, navigate career transitions, and build essential soft skills to produce powerful work.
Currently, I work at Target as the Lead Associate Creative Director for Home, Seasonal and Stationery Brands. Before this, I founded and led my own women-led design studio where we worked with 55+ organizations: agencies, start-ups, and corporates. Over the last 13 years, I’ve taken on roles as a designer, design lead, and director, while also diving into entrepreneurship, design education, and mentorship.
I’m deeply committed to fostering creative well-being and empowering underrepresented creative talent in India and across the globe. Through my online collective of 15,000 designers, I’ve mentored over 500 individuals in the past four years, helping them overcome creative blocks, navigate career transitions, and build essential soft skills. My goal is to help creatives expand their abilities and produce impactful, meaningful work.
SELECT BRANDS I'VE WORKED WITH
MILESTONES THAT SHAPED ME
WORKING WITH
GLOBAL BRANDS
I've worked with global brands such as Toblerone UK, Coca-Cola (at Landor & Fitch) and Hyatt to develop print and packaging that works in global and local markets. At Landor, I led the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup campaign for Thums Up, a pivotal project that combined creative strategy and cultural relevance.
CREATING A GLOBAL
DESIGN NETWORK
I’ve always advocated for the softer skills designers need and have reflected on the challenges creatives face. Being selected for the Google Rare Creative Leadership Fellowship deepened my understanding of cognitive biases that contribute to creative struggles. I began sharing these insights through newsletters and Instagram, which resonated widely. Today, this has evolved into a thriving collective of 15,000 creative professionals, focused on creative well-being and career growth within the creative working world.
DESIGNING
FOR SCALE
At Target, my work revolves around Target-owned brands that align with American consumer needs. These brands generate millions to billions in revenue and cover around 3,000 SKUs. I along with my team create scalable brand and design systems, ensuring brand integrity and consistency throughout.
SCALING A STARTUP
WITH DESIGN
I was part of the founding team at Guesthouser.com, a direct competitor to Airbnb in India, where I started as the sole designer. Over time, I built a full creative function, collaborating closely with tech and marketing teams. Leading a team of illustrators, UI/UX designers, and motion graphic designers, we crafted the brand’s visual identity, user interface and user experience. In just three years, our efforts helped scale Guesthouser from 0 to 100,000 bookings a night, with design playing a critical role in that growth.
BUILDING A
CREATIVE STUDIO
In 2018, I founded a women-led design studio, partnering with over 55 organizations, from agencies and start-ups to corporates. Our projects ranged from brand identity and publication design to UI/UX work for SaaS platforms. In just three years, I generated 7-figure revenue and developed over 100 brand identities.
SABBATICAL
After a decade of nonstop work, in 2022, I took a sabbatical to address burnout and reevaluate my career. While my business was thriving financially, I realized I needed more. Taking time off for a year was one of the hardest yet most valuable decisions of my life, giving me the clarity to realign my career with my true aspirations.
MILESTONES THAT SHAPED ME
MILESTONES
THAT SHAPED ME
WORKING WITH
GLOBAL BRANDS
I've worked with global brands such as Toblerone UK, Coca-Cola (at Landor & Fitch) and Hyatt to develop print and packaging that works in global and local markets. At Landor, I led the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup campaign for Thums Up, a pivotal project that combined creative strategy and cultural relevance.
→ WORKING WITH GLOBAL BRANDS
I've worked with global brands such as Toblerone UK, Coca-Cola (at Landor & Fitch) and Hyatt to develop print and packaging that works in global and local markets. At Landor, I led the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup campaign for Thums Up, a pivotal project that combined creative strategy and cultural relevance.
→ CREATING A GLOBAL
DESIGN NETWORK
I’ve always advocated for the softer skills designers need and have reflected on the challenges creatives face. Being selected for the Google Rare Creative Leadership Fellowship deepened my understanding of cognitive biases that contribute to creative struggles. I began sharing these insights through newsletters and Instagram, which resonated widely. Today, this has evolved into a thriving collective of 15,000 creative professionals, focused on creative well-being and career growth within the creative working world.
→ DESIGNING FOR SCALE
At Target, my work revolves around Target-owned brands that align with American consumer needs. These brands generate millions to billions in revenue and cover around 3,000 SKUs. I along with my team create scalable brand and design systems, ensuring brand integrity and consistency throughout.
CREATING A GLOBAL
DESIGN NETWORK
I've mentored over 500 individuals, helping them overcome creative blocks and navigate career transitions. This led me to deepen my understanding of cognitive biases affecting creatives. I began sharing these insights through newsletters and Instagram, and today, this has grown into a thriving collective of 15,000 creative professionals, dedicated to nurturing creative well-being and career growth for underrepresented talent in India and across the globe.
DESIGNING
FOR SCALE
At Target, my work revolves around Target-owned brands that align with American consumer needs. These brands generate millions to billions in revenue and cover around 3,000 SKUs. I along with my team create scalable brand and design systems, ensuring brand integrity and consistency throughout.
SCALING A STARTUP
WITH DESIGN
I was part of the founding team at Guesthouser.com, a direct competitor to Airbnb in India, where I started as the sole designer. Over time, I built a full creative function, collaborating closely with tech and marketing teams. Leading a team of illustrators, UI/UX designers, and motion graphic designers, we crafted the brand’s visual identity, user interface and user experience. In just three years, our efforts helped scale Guesthouser from 0 to 100,000 bookings a night, with design playing a critical role in that growth.
BUILDING A
CREATIVE STUDIO
In 2018, I founded a women-led design studio, partnering with over 55 organizations, from agencies and start-ups to corporates. Our projects ranged from brand identity and publication design to UI/UX work for SaaS platforms. In just three years, I generated 7-figure revenue and developed over 100 brand identities.
SABBATICAL
After a decade of nonstop work, in 2022, I took a sabbatical to address burnout and reevaluate my career. While my business was thriving financially, I realized I needed more. Taking time off for a year was one of the hardest yet most valuable decisions of my life, giving me the clarity to realign my career with my true aspirations.
→ SCALING A STARTUP
WITH DESIGN
I was part of the founding team at Guesthouser.com, a direct competitor to Airbnb in India, where I started as the sole designer. Over time, I built a full creative function, collaborating closely with tech and marketing teams. Leading a team of illustrators, UI/UX designers, and motion graphic designers, we crafted the brand’s visual identity, user interface and user experience. In just three years, our efforts helped scale Guesthouser from 0 to 100,000 bookings a night, with design playing a critical role in that growth.
→ BUILDING A CREATIVE STUDIO
In 2018, I founded a women-led design studio, partnering with over 55 organizations, from agencies and start-ups to corporates. Our projects ranged from brand identity and publication design to UI/UX work for SaaS platforms. In just three years, I generated 7-figure revenue and developed over 100 brand identities.
→ SABBATICAL
After a decade of nonstop work, in 2022, I took a sabbatical to address burnout and reevaluate my career. While my business was thriving financially, I realized I needed more. Taking time off for a year was one of the hardest yet most valuable decisions of my life, giving me the clarity to realign my career with my true aspirations.
I AM BLOODY GOOD AT
MY WORK SPANS ACROSS 10+ INDUSTRIES
I AM BLOODY GOOD AT
BUILDING CREATIVE TEAMS, BRAND IDENTITY, ILLUSTRATION, TYPOGRAPHY,
ART DIRECTION, USER BEHAVIOUR, CX DESIGN THINKING, DESIGN SYSTEMS,
CONTENT, STRATEGY, CREATIVE WRITING
BUILDING CREATIVE TEAMS, BRAND IDENTITY, ILLUSTRATION, TYPOGRAPHY,
ART DIRECTION, USER BEHAVIOUR, CX DESIGN THINKING, DESIGN SYSTEMS,
CONTENT, STRATEGY,
CREATIVE WRITING
BUILDING CREATIVE TEAMS, BRAND IDENTITY, ILLUSTRATION, TYPOGRAPHY, ART DIRECTION, USER BEHAVIOUR,
CX DESIGN THINKING, DESIGN SYSTEMS, CONTENT, STRATEGY, CREATIVE WRITING
MY WORK SPANS ACROSS 10+ INDUSTRIES
PETS
FOOD & BEV
HOSPITALITY
TRAVEL TECH
B2B Saas
NOT FOR PROFIT
SOCIAL IMPACT
HEALTHCARE
HOSPITALITY
INFANT + KIDS
BEAUTY
ED TECH
FMCG
GOT SOMETHING? CONNECT with me ON LINKEDIN OR
DROP AN EMAIL at apekshagup@gmail.com
GOT SOMETHING? CONNECT with me ON LINKEDIN OR
DROP AN EMAIL at apekshagup@gmail.com
© Framer Inc. 2023