About me

About me

About me

Hey there!


I’m Rucha Kulkarni, a multidisciplinary designer based in Houston, Texas, originally from Mumbai, India. Growing up in a family of artists, creativity was woven into my everyday life. What began as a natural love for art gradually evolved into a professional design practice that blends strong visual aesthetics with thoughtful strategy.


With over eight years of experience in the design industry, my work is defined by bold typography, vibrant color palettes, and clean, intentional compositions. But beyond visual appeal, I focus on solving problems, designing accessible, inclusive experiences that create meaningful impact for businesses and their audiences. Completing a Master’s in Digital Media strengthened my strategic lens, allowing me to explore branding, motion, research, advertising, and storytelling as integrated systems that drive real world results.


Outside of work, I’m a trained Kathak dancer, and classical dance remains my truest form of expression. Whether I’m traveling, cooking, or embracing the cultural balance of being Indian at heart while living in the U.S., I’m constantly inspired by experiences that shape both my perspective and my creativity. I’m always open to meaningful collaborations and conversations. Let’s connect!

Hey there!


I’m Rucha Kulkarni, a multidisciplinary designer based in Houston, Texas, originally from Mumbai, India. Growing up in a family of artists, creativity was woven into my everyday life. What began as a natural love for art gradually evolved into a professional design practice that blends strong visual aesthetics with thoughtful strategy.


With over eight years of experience in the design industry, my work is defined by bold typography, vibrant color palettes, and clean, intentional compositions. But beyond visual appeal, I focus on solving problems, designing accessible, inclusive experiences that create meaningful impact for businesses and their audiences. Completing a Master’s in Digital Media strengthened my strategic lens, allowing me to explore branding, motion, research, advertising, and storytelling as integrated systems that drive real world results.


Outside of work, I’m a trained Kathak dancer, and classical dance remains my truest form of expression. Whether I’m traveling, cooking, or embracing the cultural balance of being Indian at heart while living in the U.S., I’m constantly inspired by experiences that shape both my perspective and my creativity. I’m always open to meaningful collaborations and conversations. Let’s connect!

Hey there!


I’m Rucha Kulkarni, a multidisciplinary designer based in Houston, Texas, originally from Mumbai, India. Growing up in a family of artists, creativity was woven into my everyday life. What began as a natural love for art gradually evolved into a professional design practice that blends strong visual aesthetics with thoughtful strategy.


With over eight years of experience in the design industry, my work is defined by bold typography, vibrant color palettes, and clean, intentional compositions. But beyond visual appeal, I focus on solving problems, designing accessible, inclusive experiences that create meaningful impact for businesses and their audiences. Completing a Master’s in Digital Media strengthened my strategic lens, allowing me to explore branding, motion, research, advertising, and storytelling as integrated systems that drive real world results.


Outside of work, I’m a trained Kathak dancer, and classical dance remains my truest form of expression. Whether I’m traveling, cooking, or embracing the cultural balance of being Indian at heart while living in the U.S., I’m constantly inspired by experiences that shape both my perspective and my creativity. I’m always open to meaningful collaborations and conversations. Let’s connect!

Resume

Resume

Rucha Kulkarni
Multi-disciplinary designer and creative strategist

Rucha Kulkarni
Multi-disciplinary designer and creative strategist

Rucha Kulkarni
Multi-disciplinary designer and creative strategist

Experience

Experience

Marketing Assistant | University of Houston Clear Lake - Campus Recreation and Wellness Center

March 2025 - Present

Houston, Texas


  • Strategic Brand Growth: Scaled overall social media engagement by 15% by developing a platform-native content strategy and implementing consistent brand storytelling across Instagram and other digital channels.

  • Engagement & Participation: Drove a 30% increase in student event participation and facility usage by designing targeted, student-first marketing campaigns that successfully bridged departmental communication gaps.

  • Operational Leadership: Doubled team efficiency and improved turnaround times by 2X by implementing a structured workflow and a centralized creative calendar for the student marketing team.

  • Program Success & Reach: Expanded audience reach for group fitness and intramural sports to full capacity, resulting in "sold out" status for high-demand programs through optimized promotional materials and outreach.

  • Creative Direction: Collaborated with special events committee on University wide marketing initiatives, establishing a unified brand identity across all touchpoints, from digital displays to on-campus environmental design, while ensuring 100% compliance with UHCL Brand Guides.

Marketing Assistant | University of Houston Clear Lake - Campus Recreation and Wellness Center

March 2025 - Present

Houston, Texas


  • Strategic Brand Growth: Scaled overall social media engagement by 15% by developing a platform-native content strategy and implementing consistent brand storytelling across Instagram and other digital channels.

  • Engagement & Participation: Drove a 30% increase in student event participation and facility usage by designing targeted, student-first marketing campaigns that successfully bridged departmental communication gaps.

  • Operational Leadership: Doubled team efficiency and improved turnaround times by 2X by implementing a structured workflow and a centralized creative calendar for the student marketing team.

  • Program Success & Reach: Expanded audience reach for group fitness and intramural sports to full capacity, resulting in "sold out" status for high-demand programs through optimized promotional materials and outreach.

  • Creative Direction: Collaborated with special events committee on University wide marketing initiatives, establishing a unified brand identity across all touchpoints, from digital displays to on-campus environmental design, while ensuring 100% compliance with UHCL Brand Guides.

Marketing Assistant | University of Houston Clear Lake - Campus Recreation and Wellness Center

March 2025 - Present

Houston, Texas


  • Strategic Brand Growth: Scaled overall social media engagement by 15% by developing a platform-native content strategy and implementing consistent brand storytelling across Instagram and other digital channels.

  • Engagement & Participation: Drove a 30% increase in student event participation and facility usage by designing targeted, student-first marketing campaigns that successfully bridged departmental communication gaps.

  • Operational Leadership: Doubled team efficiency and improved turnaround times by 2X by implementing a structured workflow and a centralized creative calendar for the student marketing team.

  • Program Success & Reach: Expanded audience reach for group fitness and intramural sports to full capacity, resulting in "sold out" status for high-demand programs through optimized promotional materials and outreach.

  • Creative Direction: Collaborated with special events committee on University wide marketing initiatives, establishing a unified brand identity across all touchpoints, from digital displays to on-campus environmental design, while ensuring 100% compliance with UHCL Brand Guides.

Senior Graphic Designer | Tata Unistore

September 2018 - March 2022

Mumbai, India


  • UX/UI Optimization: Led a comprehensive UI redesign of the digital platform incorporating wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing which improved visual hierarchy and navigation, resulting in a 15% increase in user engagement and retention.

  • Creative Campaign Leadership: Directed design execution for 10+ full-scale seasonal campaigns, producing high-impact marketing and social media assets that consistently met deadlines and directly contributed to exceeding quarterly sales targets and click-through rates.

  • Operational Management: Managed and mentored a creative team of six designers, optimizing internal workflows and workload distribution to achieve a 30% reduction in turnaround time and a significant boost in team productivity.

  • Global Brand Collaboration: Partnered with 25+ international luxury brands including Bally, Chopard, Bvlgari to develop tailored marketing assets and leverage user data analysis to optimize on-site brand placement, driving increased revenue through premium positioning.

Senior Graphic Designer | Tata Unistore

September 2018 - March 2022

Mumbai, India


  • UX/UI Optimization: Led a comprehensive UI redesign of the digital platform incorporating wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing which improved visual hierarchy and navigation, resulting in a 15% increase in user engagement and retention.

  • Creative Campaign Leadership: Directed design execution for 10+ full-scale seasonal campaigns, producing high-impact marketing and social media assets that consistently met deadlines and directly contributed to exceeding quarterly sales targets and click-through rates.

  • Operational Management: Managed and mentored a creative team of six designers, optimizing internal workflows and workload distribution to achieve a 30% reduction in turnaround time and a significant boost in team productivity.

  • Global Brand Collaboration: Partnered with 25+ international luxury brands including Bally, Chopard, Bvlgari to develop tailored marketing assets and leverage user data analysis to optimize on-site brand placement, driving increased revenue through premium positioning.

Senior Graphic Designer | Tata Unistore

September 2018 - March 2022

Mumbai, India


  • UX/UI Optimization: Led a comprehensive UI redesign of the digital platform incorporating wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing which improved visual hierarchy and navigation, resulting in a 15% increase in user engagement and retention.

  • Creative Campaign Leadership: Directed design execution for 10+ full-scale seasonal campaigns, producing high-impact marketing and social media assets that consistently met deadlines and directly contributed to exceeding quarterly sales targets and click-through rates.

  • Operational Management: Managed and mentored a creative team of six designers, optimizing internal workflows and workload distribution to achieve a 30% reduction in turnaround time and a significant boost in team productivity.

  • Global Brand Collaboration: Partnered with 25+ international luxury brands including Bally, Chopard, Bvlgari to develop tailored marketing assets and leverage user data analysis to optimize on-site brand placement, driving increased revenue through premium positioning.

Senior Graphic Designer | PrettySecrets

March 2017 - August 2018

Mumbai, India


  • Brand Identity: Engineered comprehensive identities for two sub-brands, leading to a 20% increase in brand recognition and customer conversion rates through unified visual systems.

  • Multimedia Strategy: Directed photography and video production for the ‘Redefine Basics’ campaign, achieving 400K+ views and driving high-impact influencer collaborations.

  • Omnichannel Design: Led UI/UX enhancements for the web and mobile app alongside 360-degree marketing collaterals, resulting in a 15% boost in user retention and consistent brand presence across all digital and print touchpoints.

Senior Graphic Designer | PrettySecrets

March 2017 - August 2018

Mumbai, India


  • Brand Identity: Engineered comprehensive identities for two sub-brands, leading to a 20% increase in brand recognition and customer conversion rates through unified visual systems.

  • Multimedia Strategy: Directed photography and video production for the ‘Redefine Basics’ campaign, achieving 400K+ views and driving high-impact influencer collaborations.

  • Omnichannel Design: Led UI/UX enhancements for the web and mobile app alongside 360-degree marketing collaterals, resulting in a 15% boost in user retention and consistent brand presence across all digital and print touchpoints.

Senior Graphic Designer | PrettySecrets

March 2017 - August 2018

Mumbai, India


  • Brand Identity: Engineered comprehensive identities for two sub-brands, leading to a 20% increase in brand recognition and customer conversion rates through unified visual systems.

  • Multimedia Strategy: Directed photography and video production for the ‘Redefine Basics’ campaign, achieving 400K+ views and driving high-impact influencer collaborations.

  • Omnichannel Design: Led UI/UX enhancements for the web and mobile app alongside 360-degree marketing collaterals, resulting in a 15% boost in user retention and consistent brand presence across all digital and print touchpoints.

Art Director | Contract Advertising

January 2016 - January 2017

Mumbai, India


  • Conceptualized interactive marketing campaigns for Shoppers Stop (India’s premier fashion and beauty retail chain), achieving a 10% increase in click-through rates and website traffic through data-driven design.

Art Director | Contract Advertising

January 2016 - January 2017

Mumbai, India


  • Conceptualized interactive marketing campaigns for Shoppers Stop (India’s premier fashion and beauty retail chain), achieving a 10% increase in click-through rates and website traffic through data-driven design.

Art Director | Contract Advertising

January 2016 - January 2017

Mumbai, India


  • Conceptualized interactive marketing campaigns for Shoppers Stop (India’s premier fashion and beauty retail chain), achieving a 10% increase in click-through rates and website traffic through data-driven design.

Education

Education

Master of Arts in Digital Media | University of Houston Clear Lake

January 2024 - December 2025

GPA - 4.0


  • Collaborated with real-world clients including Galveston County Museum, Gaden Shartse Monastery, and The Basham Clan to develop and implement branding and public relations strategies.

  • Conducted UX research on cultural interpretation of gesture-based interactions in VR, emphasizing accessibility.

Master of Arts in Digital Media | University of Houston Clear Lake

January 2024 - December 2025

GPA - 4.0


  • Collaborated with real-world clients including Galveston County Museum, Gaden Shartse Monastery, and The Basham Clan to develop and implement branding and public relations strategies.

  • Conducted UX research on cultural interpretation of gesture-based interactions in VR, emphasizing accessibility.

Master of Arts in Digital Media | University of Houston Clear Lake

January 2024 - December 2025

GPA - 4.0


  • Collaborated with real-world clients including Galveston County Museum, Gaden Shartse Monastery, and The Basham Clan to develop and implement branding and public relations strategies.

  • Conducted UX research on cultural interpretation of gesture-based interactions in VR, emphasizing accessibility.

Bachelor of Commerce | Mumbai University

August 2009 - March 2014

Bachelor of Commerce | Mumbai University

August 2009 - March 2014

Bachelor of Commerce | Mumbai University

August 2009 - March 2014

Certifications

Certifications

Google UX Design Certificate

Coursera

January 2024

Google UX Design Certificate

Coursera

January 2024

Google UX Design Certificate

Coursera

January 2024

Social Media Marketing

HubSpot Academy

September 2024

Social Media Marketing

HubSpot Academy

September 2024

Social Media Marketing

HubSpot Academy

September 2024

Diploma in Animation and Filmmaking

Shardashram Vidyamandir School of Animation, Mumbai

2012-2014

Diploma in Animation and Filmmaking

Shardashram Vidyamandir School of Animation, Mumbai

2012-2014

Diploma in Animation and Filmmaking

Shardashram Vidyamandir School of Animation, Mumbai

2012-2014

Core Skills and Tools

Core Skills and Tools

  • Branding identity and creative campaign strategy

  • Print, digital and marketing communications

  • Motion Graphics, Animation and Video Production

  • Adobe Creative Suite 

  • Branding identity and creative campaign strategy

  • Print, digital and marketing communications

  • Motion Graphics, Animation and Video Production

  • Adobe Creative Suite 

  • Proficient in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and Framer.

  • Strong understanding of user-centered design principles.

  • Ability to conduct comprehensive user research and usability testing.

  • Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

  • UI/UX and website design

  • Inclusive, accessible and data-informed design

  • Illustration, visual storytelling and design systems

  • Figma, Sketch, Procreate, Framer

  • UI/UX and website design

  • Inclusive, accessible and data-informed design

  • Illustration, visual storytelling and design systems

  • Figma, Sketch, Procreate, Framer

  • Proficient in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and Framer.

  • Strong understanding of user-centered design principles.

  • Ability to conduct comprehensive user research and usability testing.

  • Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Want to work together?

GET IN TOUCH

Want to work together?

GET IN
TOUCH

Want to work together?

GET IN TOUCH