Hi, I'm Rahul.
With 14+ years of expertise in Creative Direction and Visual Design, I have significantly contributed to both the advertising and tech industries. My career is marked by a strategic approach to shaping projects and collaborating with teams to develop impactful strategies. I excel in building relationships with internal teams, including product, marketing, digital, and social media, as well as managing interactions with external vendors.
Skilled in creating cohesive content strategies across digital platforms, social media, advertising, mobile, traditional media, and print, I am known for pioneering original concepts across various mediums. Currently based in Hyderabad, I lead the development and design of AI-based products, focusing on product research and design. I bring expertise in enhancing research, design, and development processes to streamline workflows, eliminate obstacles, and set clear design priorities and deadlines. My hands-on experience includes brand guidelines, producing conceptual models, prototypes, site maps, design systems, wireframes, and UI design specifications based on user flows and task requirements, all grounded in human-centered design principles.
Throughout my career, I have leveraged creative thinking to develop innovative solutions and drive successful outcomes.
Work Experience
Creative Director | Illuminix | Remote
June 2024 – Present
• Leading the visual design for an AI-based product, ensuring a cohesive and engaging user experience across all touch points.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to shape the product strategy, aligning design vision with business goals and market demands.
• Developing and optimizing workflows to streamline the design process, ensuring efficient project execution and timely delivery.
• Spearheading the creation of UI/UX design elements, from wireframes to prototypes, with a focus on user flows and interaction design.
• Driving innovation in design by integrating AI insights into the product development process to enhance functionality and user engagement.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to shape the product strategy, aligning design vision with business goals and market demands.
• Developing and optimizing workflows to streamline the design process, ensuring efficient project execution and timely delivery.
• Spearheading the creation of UI/UX design elements, from wireframes to prototypes, with a focus on user flows and interaction design.
• Driving innovation in design by integrating AI insights into the product development process to enhance functionality and user engagement.
Creative Director | Prosperix | Remote
September 2022 – May 2024
September 2022 – May 2024
• Led visual communications for web and social media campaigns, developing print assets and motion graphics.
• Developed and implemented brand design strategies, ensuring consistent branding across all platforms.
• Managed a cross-functional team of designers and copywriters, delivering high-impact creative solutions.
• Integrated industry trends and new tools to optimize workflows and design processes.
• Collaborated with UX/UI teams to design intuitive and engaging user interfaces.
• Developed and implemented brand design strategies, ensuring consistent branding across all platforms.
• Managed a cross-functional team of designers and copywriters, delivering high-impact creative solutions.
• Integrated industry trends and new tools to optimize workflows and design processes.
• Collaborated with UX/UI teams to design intuitive and engaging user interfaces.
Creative Director (Art) | Hewlett Packard | Gurugram
January 2022 – August 2022
January 2022 – August 2022
• Managed digital campaigns, social media initiatives, print projects, and web/app designs for HP products.
• Led creative art direction for advertising campaigns aligned with brand objectives.
• Managed stakeholder relations, primarily for the China region, ensuring strategic brand communication.
• Enhanced user experience through visually compelling UI/UX designs across various platforms.
• Led creative art direction for advertising campaigns aligned with brand objectives.
• Managed stakeholder relations, primarily for the China region, ensuring strategic brand communication.
• Enhanced user experience through visually compelling UI/UX designs across various platforms.
Associate Creative Director | RK Swamy BBDO | Mumbai
February 2014 – December 2021
February 2014 – December 2021
• Led digital and print å, social media efforts, and app/web design for brands including Hindustan
• Times, ISUZU, Mercedes-Benz, and Cummins.
• Developed and executed creative strategies to boost brand visibility and engagement.
• Managed cross-functional teams and external stakeholders to ensure successful campaign execution.
• Times, ISUZU, Mercedes-Benz, and Cummins.
• Developed and executed creative strategies to boost brand visibility and engagement.
• Managed cross-functional teams and external stakeholders to ensure successful campaign execution.
Creative Group Head | L&K Saatchi & Saatchi | New Delhi
July 2013 – January 2014
• Ideated and executed campaigns for Barista Lavazza, Dabur, and Lotus Skincare, ensuring alignment with brand strategies.
• Supervised photo shoots and managed creative execution across multiple channels.
• Supervised photo shoots and managed creative execution across multiple channels.
Creative Art | RK Swamy BBDO | Mumbai
May 2011 – July 2013
• Expanded skill set in advertising and communication design with a focus on print media.
• Managed brands including Daimler: BharatBenz (Trucks), Mercedes-Benz, Raymond Furnishing, Hindustan Times, and MYNL.
• Managed brands including Daimler: BharatBenz (Trucks), Mercedes-Benz, Raymond Furnishing, Hindustan Times, and MYNL.
Creative Supervisor (Art) | DDB Mudra | Mumbai
May 2009 – May 2011
• Conceptualized and developed print campaigns and film projects.
• Worked with brands like Calcium Sandoz, She (Sanitary Pads), Orbit, GE, and Johnson & Johnson.
Art Director | Percept/H Pvt Ltd | Lucknow
April 2008 – March 2009
Gained initial experience in advertising through extensive work on print campaigns, collateral design, and visual identity projects. Worked with brands including Sahara Finance (Life Insurance & Mutual Funds), Infrastructure (City Homes & Aamby Valley City), Sahara Global (Travel), and the news channel Samay.
Education
Post Graduation
Master of Visual Arts (Applied Arts) | College of Arts & Crafts, Lucknow University | 2008
Graduation
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Applied Arts) | College of Arts & Crafts, Lucknow University | 2006
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Applied Arts) | College of Arts & Crafts, Lucknow University | 2006
Awards & Recognitions
• Finalist, ABBYs 2012 (Client: Gelixer)
• Silver, ABBYs 2014 (Client: Hindustan Times)
• Silver, IAA Olive Crown 2015 (Client: Hindustan Times)
• Finalist, ABBYs 2015 (Client: Camlin)
• Finalist, ABBYs 2016 (Client: Hindustan Times)
• Gold, IAA Olive Crown 2017 (Client: Hindustan Times)
Skills
Art Direction • Creative Direction • Communication Design • UI/UX Design • Web Design • Motion Graphics • Typography & Calligraphy • Identity Design • Design Thinking • Interface Design • Information Design • Design System
Technical Skills
Adobe Photoshop • Illustrator • InDesign • XD • Animate • After Effects • Premiere Pro • Figma • Elementor • Rundiffusion • Adobe Firefly
"Rahul is one of those rare individuals who combines creativity, intellect, and a relentless drive to grow. He goes above and beyond his role, mastering the fundamentals and diving deep into AI, a field new to him.
Beyond his technical abilities, Rahul’s emotional intelligence is remarkable. Rahul’s calm, humble, optimistic, open, and composed demeanor is one of his greatest strengths. His ability to handle stress gracefully brings a sense of calm to the entire team. He is approachable, always willing to lend a hand, and never shies away from supporting his teammates. In every interaction, Rahul leaves you with the sense that no challenge is too great and no idea too bold. His presence elevates the work and the people around him."
Beyond his technical abilities, Rahul’s emotional intelligence is remarkable. Rahul’s calm, humble, optimistic, open, and composed demeanor is one of his greatest strengths. His ability to handle stress gracefully brings a sense of calm to the entire team. He is approachable, always willing to lend a hand, and never shies away from supporting his teammates. In every interaction, Rahul leaves you with the sense that no challenge is too great and no idea too bold. His presence elevates the work and the people around him."
"Rahul is a very valuable team player. His fine eye for craft and subtleties contributes to achieving a high level of execution. His outstanding skills on the latest creative software suites synergise with his willingness to work hard. His interest in typography, letter design and calligraphy adds strength to his work. Even while delivering to deadlines, he understands the importance of making a piece the best it can be. And while he always plays fast, he never plays loose. All this makes him great to have around in any high pressure situation or in any type of creative team, as any organisation in the world of communications will soon discover."
"Rahul has been one of the best hires for our organization. He’s an absolute professional and has a knack for coming up with excellent design that is intuitive and beautiful at the same time. As a human, he is kind hearted and always willing to support and go the extra mile. I would hire him on my team any day. He makes others around him better and he makes the company better. I recommend him highly."