Prarthana Merchant

I am a Visual Designer from India, now based in London. 

I started out as an illustrator, working with publishing houses back home, and later found my way into brand design, bringing my love for storytelling along with me.

I recently finished my MA in Graphic Branding and Identity from LCC, UAL. Over the past year, I have won a D&AD New Blood Award and was part of the D&AD New Blood Academy.

Now, as an emerging designer, I am open to new opportunities and I love working on brand identity, visual storytelling, and creative campaigns.


Volunteering at LDF, 2025
My favourtie place to study - the CSM library
Alongside my name at the D&AD
New Blood Festival, 2025
My last day at LCC, 2025
Pitching at VML, UK for the D&AD New Blood Academy, 2025
Me and my camera, 2025
Ran a marathon!, 2025

Experience



D&AD New Blood Academy
D&AD, London
+ Selected participant in a two-week programme featuring creative workshops by industry leaders. 
+ Worked at VML UK on a live Carlsberg brief, developing and pitching a campaign in four days.
September 2025



Freelance Designer
India
+ Designed logos, books, brand guides, storyboards, and web pages for a range of corporate and social organisations.
2022 onwards

Design and Marketing Intern
Karadi Tales, India
+ Redesigned five chapter books, created audiobook packaging, and managed social media design.
September 2023
to January 2024

Design Intern
Katha, India
+ Collaborated with Dalit and Irular communities and a design team to create and field-test Sea of Stories, a board game educating children about local history and cultural identity.
June 2022
to July 2022


Graphic Design Intern
JBDigitally, India
+ Collaborated on social media graphics and conceptual carousels for global clients, creating designs aligned with client specifications and company standards.
April 2021
to June 2021



Volunteering

 Volunteer
London Design Festival, UK Facilitated customer engagement across three busy venues of the festival.
2025

Creator
Crater Club, India Hosted weekly live art sessions.
2022

Curator
Vadodara Reads, India Organised a weekly painting and reading initiative held in parks within my hometown, Vadodara.
2023 - 2024




Recognitions


D&AD New Blood Academy
London, United Kingdom Selected participant in the Class of 2025 2025D&AD New Blood Award
London, United Kingdom D&AD New Blood Winner for Roku 0.02025
London College of Communication, UAL
London, United Kingdom Recipient of the UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship2024
Ladies, Wine and Design
London, United Kingdom #womantowatch for October 20252025
Site of Sites
London, United Kingdom Feature on the Site of Sites website2025
ilovecreatives
London, United Kingdom Website featured as an Internet Gem2025

Srishti Insititute of Art, Design, and Technology
Bangalore, India Commendation for Excellence in Thesis2024

Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, USA Honourable Mention in an Art Contest hosted by Met Teens2020



Published Books


Design and IllustrationConstitution Land
Published by Bookosmia 2024
Chapter Illustrations  No Ticket, Will Travel
Published by Karadi Tales 2024
Chapter Illustrations  No Nonsense Nandhini
Published by Karadi Tales 2024
Chapter Illustrations  Lost in Translation
Published by Karadi Tales 2024
Chapter Illustrations  A Big Splash
Published by Karadi Tales 2024
Chapter Illustrations  Jamuna Begs to DifferPublished by Karadi Tales 2024
Design and IllustrationDiary of a Not-so-Popular KidPublished by Bookosmia 2023
Design and IllustrationExtra: Extra Chromosome, Extraordinary LovePublished by Bookosmia 2023



Education


 London College of Communication, UAL
London, United Kingdom Master of Arts
Graphic Branding and Identity
September 2024  
to September 2025

 Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Bangalore, India Bachelor of Design
Visual Communication and Strategic Branding
July 2019
to May 2023



prarthana.merchant.work@gmail.com