Deeptha Babu

COMMUNICATION DESIGNER,

visual storyteller, creative strategist, photographer, and everything in between.

Hi, I’m Deeptha Babu, a South Indian communication designer, creative strategist, and visual storyteller based in New York City. I recently completed my MFA in Communication Design at Pratt Institute, where my practice evolved from 2D illustration to multidisciplinary and multimedia explorations. My work focuses on translating complex ideas into accessible, human-centered visuals, crafting narratives that speak across audiences and break down complex topics into forms anyone can connect with and empathise with.

My design practice lives at the intersection of creativity, storytelling, and human-centered interaction. It’s shaped by my own lived experiences, feeling overwhelmed by complex, cluttered design and deeply moved by simplicity that just makes sense. At the core of my work is a clear design principle: keep it simple, thoughtful, and intuitive.

Experience

Communication Designer
Hotel and Gaming Trades Council (Labour Union)

New York City
June 2024 – May 2025 (1 Year)

Developed and enforced brand standards across digital and print channels, contributing to a 20% increase in social media engagement.

Designed 40+ digital and printed materials using Adobe InDesign, supporting internal and external communications.

Created over 30 original graphics and event photographs, leading to improved event promotion and member participation.

Curated a portfolio for social media posts, helping grow online followers by 15%.

Digital Manager
Sports Paddock

Bengaluru, India
Jun 2022 – Aug 2022 (3 months)

Designed scorecards and personal dashboards for 15+ major sports events, enhancing participant experience.

Produced event promotional assets, including 20+ posters and social media graphics, resulting in a 25% increase in event sign-ups.

Co-organized a football tournament with 15+ teams, attracting over 300 attendees and expanding the event’s reach.

Freelance Designer
Mama Bear Montessori

Bengaluru, India
July 2021 – June 2024

Led a full rebrand, designing a new logo, identity, and marketing assets, which increased brand recognition and online inquiries by 30%.

Created 25+ promotional posters and flyers for digital and print campaigns.

Developed and implemented a social media marketing strategy, boosting engagement rates by 40%.

Graphic Design Intern
Neurotech Design

India
Aug 2021 – Dec 2021 (4 Months)

Designed 15+ flyers, banners, and posters for new product launches, supporting a 10% increase in product inquiries.

Produced ad assets for Google and social media, resulting in a 20% uptick in online ad interactions.

Illustrated assets for website and Amazon landing pages, contributing to improved product visibility

Graphic Design Intern
Dhiyo.ai

Bengaluru, India
Jan 2021 – Mar 2021 (3 Months)

Illustrated 10+ brand mascots and developed 30+ visual assets for website and digital ads, strengthening brand identity.

Established a unified social media brand language, increasing follower engagement by 18%.

Assisted in creative direction for online video ads, supporting a successful product launch campaign.

Media Head
Route 7,

Bengaluru, India
March 2020 – April 2021 (1 year & 1 month)

Coordinated 10+ large-scale student events, including treks, sports tournaments, and parties, reaching 1,000+ participants across multiple cities.

Managed media coverage and content creation, increasing event visibility by 35%

Led a team of 8+ volunteers to execute event logistics and digital promotion

Volunteer

Graphic Designer
Bachpan 15

India
February 2021 – June 2021 (5 months)

Designed 15+ educational graphics and social media posts to promote child safety awareness.

Collaborated with team members to develop visual campaigns targeting parents and educators

Enhanced online engagement by delivering compelling and informative designs

Graphic Designer
Reap Benefit

India
March 2021 – July 2021 (5 months)

Illustrated 10+ pages for children’s books, bringing stories to life with engaging visuals.

Designed sustainable packaging solutions for educational materials

Mapped COVID-19 vaccine distribution for over 1,000 users, supporting accessible community information through clear, user-friendly infographics

Education & Skills

Education

Pratt Institute, New York
MFA in Communication/ Multimedia Design
Aug 2023 – May 2025 (60 Credits)

PES University, India
B.Des. Product Design/ Industrial Design
Aug 2018 – Sep 2022 (161 Credits)

Referrals

Kevin Gatta
kgatta@pratt.edu
(Co-founder of TheTypeGuys.com)

Alyssa Krisinski
akrisinski@nyhtc.org
(Deputy Director of Communication at HTC Union)

Professional skills

Design Strategy
Storytelling
Photography
Design Research
UI/UX
Illustration
Visual & Information Design
Prototyping
Usability Testing

Software skills

Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe XD
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe After Effects
Figma
Procreate
Autodesk Sketchbook
Autodesk Fusion 360
MS Office

Languages

English (Fluent)
Hindi (Fluent)
Kannada (Fluent)

Things I like

Non-fiction books
Painting
Mandala art
Indoor gardening
Event organising
People watching
Trekking
Photo walks
Yoga and meditation
Subway art

LinkedIn
deepthabn99@gmail.com
dbheeman@pratt.edu

Last Updated September 2025

Subway Doodling

A series of subway therapeutic doodling.