Women to Watch: Elephant Design’s Priyanka Karyekar

Priyanka Karyekar, the creative director at Elephant Design, leads a team within the communication design vertical. Having been with the organisation since 2015, she is set to complete a decade this year.

Karyekar’s journey into the print and packaging industry was driven by her desire to start her design career in Mumbai. “Mumbai offered me opportunities, diverse experiences, and perspectives,” she explains. Her first major assignment was with Lakme, where she designed the look and feel for its launch event. 

As her career progressed, she worked on packaging and print design for well-known brands like HUL and Marico. “Packaging and print design is both fascinating and challenging,” she says. “It tests your creative skills, and seeing your designs in the real world, forming lasting connections with consumers, is incredibly rewarding.”

When asked about the most important skill in advancing her career, Karyekar cites problem-solving and consistency as key. “You learn things the hard way and unlearn those that aren’t helping your development,” she adds.

Looking ahead, Karyekar highlights exciting plans for Elephant Design. “We have a strong portfolio across Foods, Personal Care, Home Care, and Pharma, and we aim to strengthen this further while exploring more sustainable outcomes,” she says. “We’re also focusing on service design, leveraging our experience and skills in this area.”

Karyekar’s day-to-day role involves project planning, client meetings, creative strategy development, and design reviews. “Mentorship is also a crucial part of my role,” she notes.

Reflecting on her experience, Karyekar emphasises resilience. “Don’t dwell on the negatives, stay self-motivated, and trust yourself,” she advises. “It's important to create an inclusive atmosphere where both men and women can thrive.”