Alaka Shantakumar: Kindness, Empathy, and Purpose
/ Communication designer at Kerala
by Elizabeth Lavis | 12 May 2026
“Design is constantly changing, so being open to exploration really matters”
Alaka Shantakumar’s personal philosophy is to approach both design and life with kindness, empathy, and purpose. “Growing up surrounded by nature and immersed in culturally rich environments taught me that meaningful design must come from a sense of responsibility,” she says. “Design is persuasive, and as designers, we hold both the ability and the obligation to use that influence thoughtfully. I believe design can serve as a gentle nudge, one that inspires awareness, compassion, and positive change.”
Shantakumar, an Indigo Award-winning communication designer from Kerala, India, also has a keen tip for aspiring designers: stay adaptable. “Design is constantly changing, so being open to exploration really matters,” she says. “Also, do not wait for perfect opportunities to come your way. Instead, create small chances for yourself to do the kind of work you love.”
Her roots and Kerala’s gorgeous nature and rich culture of folklore and mythology continue to inspire her work. “During my Masters of Fine Arts at the Maryland Institute College of Art, whenever I had the opportunity to define my assignments, I drew inspiration from those stories and landscapes. In many ways, my work has become a way to preserve the disappearing essence of the place I grew up in and celebrate its imagination and beauty,” Shantakumar says.
Shantakumar starts each design with understanding. She learns as much as possible about the client, industry, and audience. “I also value precedent, especially well-documented case studies, because they help me see what has worked before and why,” Shantakumar says. “Once I have a strong foundation of research, I begin sketching and exploring multiple directions before settling on one to digitize.” For Shantakumar, iteration is integral to design, and she routinely collects feedback from both designers and non-designers during her process.
She believes that strategy and creativity are intertwined, and their balance changes depending on the context of the project. “In personal work, I can prioritize one over the other, but in client projects, strategy often takes the lead and guides the creative process,” Shantakumar says. “I often feel that strategy is the means to an end, and the outcome is always a thoughtful balance of both.”
Shantakumar builds trust and rapport with her clients through detailed, frequent communication. “I generally share a questionnaire before starting a project, and I always try to interact with the client directly if their schedule allows it,” she says. “These conversations give me the opportunity to understand their values and aspirations more deeply. I think rapport grows stronger when clients feel understood and know that their concerns are being heard.”
She also acknowledges the positives in harsh criticism, seeing it as a way to improve and grow. “I think one way to look at it is that harsh criticism does not happen often, so when it does, it’s worth pausing to understand why,” Shantakumar says.
Shantakumar finds inspiration in unexpected places, like browsing through bookstores, and is very intentional about what kind of content she consumes. “What we take in influences how we think and create,” Shantakumar says. She plans to continue to grow as a person by continually learning, traveling, and exploring the world outside design.
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