Headline

Graphic Designer & Illustrator | Social Media • Branding • Illustration • Print Design

About

Graphic Designer & Illustrator with 5+ years of experience creating branding, social media campaigns, illustrations, print creatives, and immersive visual experiences. I enjoy turning ideas into visuals that feel thoughtful, playful, and memorable. Currently working at Zostel, where I work across branding, storytelling, merchandise, campaigns and social media to bring spaces and experiences to life through design and illustration. Over the years, I’ve worked on branding projects, packaging, social media creatives, large-scale wall artworks, character design, and visual systems for multiple brands across lifestyle and hospitality. I’m passionate about visual storytelling, illustration, typography, and creating designs that connect with people emotionally while still feeling clean, modern, and impactful. Tools I work with include Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Figma, After Effects, and AI-powered creative workflows.

Location

Chennai

AI stack

gemini

midjourney

openai

Work experience

Graphic Illustrator at Zostel, Feb 2025 - Present · 1 yr 8 mos, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, At Zostel, I work across illustration and graphic design to bring the brand’s story to life both online and on the walls of our properties. I’ve created wall art for Zostels across India and abroad, designing visuals that reflect the local vibe and elevate the guest experience. I also collaborate with the marketing team to design social media creatives, campaign graphics, and brand visuals that are engaging and on-point. I love taking a simple brief and turning it into something visually memorable, something that not only looks good, but also communicates clearly and makes people feel something. It’s a mix of fun, problem-solving, and visual thinking and I enjoy bringing that energy into everything I design.

Freelance Graphic Designer at Freelance, Sep 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 1 mo

Graphic Designer at Zo World, May 2024 - Oct 2025 · 1 yr 6 mos, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, At Zo World, I wear many creative hats—mostly colorful, always a little weird. Over time, I’ve worked on: - Social media posts that (hopefully) stop the scroll - Posters for events, online and IRL - Mascots—one for Zostel, one for a meme coin (both have personalities now) - Game cards, wall art, brochures, merch, and marketing stuff - Canva templates so non-designers don’t have to suffer - A graphic novel, because why not - And built the design style that the marketing team runs with I love turning abstract ideas into visuals that feel fun, thoughtful, and easy to get. Also, I’ve learned that good design makes everything a little less confusing—for both teams and communities.

Associate Graphic Designer at Red Baton, Jun 2022 - Jul 2023 · 1 yr 2 mos, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Graphic Designer at Slate and Pencil Private Limited, Feb 2021 - May 2022 · 1 yr 4 mos, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, - Developed wide range of projects and media, using various computer software to visualize and develop innovative graphic designs that meet client's brief - Collaborated, brainstormed, and strategized with teams members for a wide range of materials that may include presentations, signage, internal communication, newsletters, and design materials - Worked independently and cooperatively on multiple projects with design team, meeting deadlines. - Translated strategic direction into high-quality design within an established brand identity. Also to examine existing processes, identifying flaws and creating solutions to improve design capabilities. - Developed concepts by hand or with software, executing original content determining ideal usage of color, text, font style, imagery, and layout

Education

Bachelor of Visual Arts, Design and Visual Communications, Stella Maris College

Public links

behance.net: https://www.behance.net/nidhikothari