Sonal Gadre-Shintre
Hello! My name is Sonal Gadre-Shintre, award-winning Graphic Designer, Creative Director & Founder at Kalakatta Design Studio.
I like to call myself a visual storyteller! Through my critical design process, I help brand leaders create impactful brand stories that achieve their business goals.
I hold a degree in Commercial Arts. With more than a decade of prolific experience in India and the USA, I have touched upon every vertical of graphic design services and won various awards from GDUSA - American Graphic Design and IDA - International Design Award.
I live and work in Bridgewater, New Jersey serving clients worldwide. When not working, I like to travel. Nature is my biggest inspiration. In recent years, I have developed a huge interest in yoga and aim to do Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) daily with my husband and 3-year-old son.
Location: Bridgewater, New Jersey, United States
Company Name: Kalakatta Studio LLC
Operating since: 2020
Website: www.kalakatta.studio
Instagram: @kalakattadesignstudio
Tell us all about your company. What services do you offer?
Let me begin by telling you the meaning of the word KALĀKATTĀ. 'Kala' means art and 'katta' means a platform to showcase. Hence KALĀKATTĀ, started off as a dream to showcase my art...art which can benefit brands & tell their stories to the world through the universal language of design.
KALĀKATTĀ is a boutique design studio with expertise in branding, design, and communication. It is a niche studio and we strive to create exclusive work that adds value to a brand’s business through effective design. Our award-winning work encompasses brand identity, print designs, packaging designs, event & exhibition graphics, and website designs. We have successfully delivered creative solutions for a wide range of clients including family-owned corporations, real estate agencies, technology, events & entertainment industry, start-ups, and non-profit organizations.
How did you get the idea or concept for your company? What was your mission at the outset? Was there anything in particular that inspired you to start at the time you did?
I come from a family of bankers. Somehow a 9-to-5 job never excited me as a kid. After completing my design degree, I had decided to gather five years of work experience and then start my own company. After five years of working in India, I moved to the USA. Then it was important to gather work experience in a foreign land again to understand the work culture & the cultural nuances which could influence my work as a designer. During the pandemic, I lost my job. That's when I decided to pursue my long-awaited dream of running my own design studio. In a way, the pandemic pushed me to pursue my long-cherished dream and turned into a blessing in disguise.
The name KALĀKATTĀ was decided long back in 2013 when I moved to the USA. I registered my company in 2020.
Wow. So growing up, did you always intend to start your own company?
I was a curious kid in school who was good in maths and science but enjoyed drawing, painting, and dancing more. I have always made choices based on what I enjoy versus what I am good at. That made me take a decision to get a degree in commercial arts. I enjoy running my own studio more than doing a job.
How have your past personal & professional experiences helped you to run your company?
In my prior experience with various organizations, I had an opportunity to work in a wide range of industries, which helped me understand the variety of clients, and also every vertical of graphic design from logo-stationery to event graphics to advertising campaigns. It made me a multidisciplinary designer.
I also worked in smaller organizations where I managed creative projects independently from brief, concept to implementation. It taught me to be a good project manager.
The qualities of a multidisciplinary designer and a good project manager have helped me tremendously to run my design studio.
What would you say is the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome?
When I moved to the USA with my husband, my dependent visa didn't allow me to work. I had to consult with a lawyer, find a job, and get my work visa done. It was a very tedious process.
What's your definition of success? Do you consider yourself a success? If not, when will you?
Success = Creative Satisfaction + Bread & Butter!
I like the Japanese ideology - 'ikigai—a reason for living'. It truly covers the definition of success for me. I would say I am not yet successful but I am on the right path. There is a lot to do. 'The woods are lovely, dark & deep, but I have promises to keep...'
Have the women around you helped you to rise? Who are they? How have they helped?
My mom and my sister! My mom has been a constant rock in my life who encourages me to keep working hard towards my goals. My sister, being an architect, always gives a different perspective on my designs. She pushes me to create something unique. We have a dream of working together on a project where she will build and I will design. Maybe a museum or a restaurant where she can handle the architecture and I can handle the graphic design work. We are both an inspiration to each other creatively and emotionally.
What are some of your future plans? Are you working on anything else right now?
I wish to continue working on interesting branding projects for the coming year. Eventually, I would like to combine graphic design and architecture together and create unique projects. That is the ultimate goal of KALĀKATTĀ Design Studio.
What advice would you give to a woman starting out in your industry or starting her own company/organization?
For the creative industry: make sure that you are passionate. It is not easy to survive in the creative industry without passion.
For starting a company: make an agenda, have clarity of thoughts, and keep a goal-oriented approach every single day.
Describe yourself in ONE word. Tenacious
Complete this sentence: "To be a girl or woman today is..." challenging yet exciting.
If you enjoyed reading about Sonal Gadre-Shintre, you can follow her work at sonalgadre.com and on LinkedIn.