Design Research & Strategy

Across my career, I’ve worn two hats—Design Researcher and Communication Designer—and often found myself blending the two to bridge strategy, creativity, and human understanding. My journey has taken me through leading studios and organizations like Quicksand, Studio 5B (Dr. Reddy’s), Dalberg Design, BRND Studio, and most recently Fractal Analytics.

At every step, I’ve explored how design research and communication can drive strategy, transformation, and impact. Here’s a closer look at my experience, organized by role and organization.

Fractal Analytics • Dalberg Design • BRND Studio • Studio 5B • Quicksand Studio

Fractal Analytics • Dalberg Design • BRND Studio • Studio 5B • Quicksand Studio

Fractal Analytics • Dalberg Design • BRND Studio • Studio 5B • Quicksand Studio

Fractal Analytics

Role: Design Researcher & Strategist

At Fractal, I began with small-scale projects and steadily grew—progressing from leading projects, to managing client accounts, and eventually handling multiple clients at once. Alongside, I’ve had the privilege of coaching and mentoring designers at varied levels.

Key Projects
  • Business Process Transformation

    Used design-led thinking to reimagine complex business processes into clearer, more efficient, and adoption-ready workflows.

    Impact

    Cross functional visibility

    Informed decision making

    Alignment and clarity

  • Design Transformation

    Partnered with practices to embed design as a strategic capability, not just an execution layer.

    Impact

    Strategic influence

    Design maturity

    Business alignment

    Organisation buy-in

  • Fractal’s Design System:

    Led building a design system to create consistency, efficiency, and a shared design process across teams.

    Impact

    Consistency

    Shared Language

    Reduced Rework

  • Other Projects
    • Digital Solutioning

    • Business Intelligence Reporting

    10-15

    Client projects on total

  • Other Projects
    • Built initiatives for Learning & Growth culture.

    • Defined the DesignOps charter for the BxD team (detailed further in Culture & Design Operations).

    5

    Internal projects on total

  • Business Process Transformation

    Used design-led thinking to reimagine complex business processes into clearer, more efficient, and adoption-ready workflows.

    Impact

    Cross functional visibility

    Informed decision making

    Alignment and clarity

  • Design Transformation

    Partnered with practices to embed design as a strategic capability, not just an execution layer.

    Impact

    Strategic influence

    Design maturity

    Business alignment

    Organisation buy-in

  • Fractal’s Design System:

    Led building a design system to create consistency, efficiency, and a shared design process across teams.

    Impact

    Consistency

    Shared Language

    Reduced Rework

  • Other Projects
    • Digital Solutioning

    • Business Intelligence Reporting

    10-15

    Client projects on total

  • Other Projects
    • Built initiatives for Learning & Growth culture.

    • Defined the DesignOps charter for the BxD team (detailed further in Culture & Design Operations).

    5

    Internal projects on total

  • Business Process Transformation

    Used design-led thinking to reimagine complex business processes into clearer, more efficient, and adoption-ready workflows.

    Impact

    Cross functional visibility

    Informed decision making

    Alignment and clarity

  • Design Transformation

    Partnered with practices to embed design as a strategic capability, not just an execution layer.

    Impact

    Strategic influence

    Design maturity

    Business alignment

    Organisation buy-in

  • Fractal’s Design System:

    Led building a design system to create consistency, efficiency, and a shared design process across teams.

    Impact

    Consistency

    Shared Language

    Reduced Rework

  • Other Projects
    • Digital Solutioning

    • Business Intelligence Reporting

    10-15

    Client projects on total

  • Other Projects
    • Built initiatives for Learning & Growth culture.

    • Defined the DesignOps charter for the BxD team (detailed further in Culture & Design Operations).

    5

    Internal projects on total

Key Skillsets

Strategic & Analytical

Process Mapping, Insight Synthesis & Strategy

Business Development & Opportunity Mapping

Design & Innovation

Designing and Developing Frameworks that contextualize design for the enterprise with an innovation lens

Concept Building & Testing

Leadership & Collaboartion

Facilitation & Workshopping

Stakeholder Management & Relationship Building

Team & Project Management

Growth & Mentorship

Leading and Delivering Large-Scale Design Programs

Coaching and Mentoring Designers Across Levels

Strategic & Analytical

Process Mapping, Insight Synthesis & Strategy

Business Development & Opportunity Mapping

Design & Innovation

Designing and Developing Frameworks that contextualize design for the enterprise with an innovation lens

Concept Building & Testing

Leadership & Collaboartion

Facilitation & Workshopping

Stakeholder Management & Relationship Building

Team & Project Management

Growth & Mentorship

Leading and Delivering Large-Scale Design Programs

Coaching and Mentoring Designers Across Levels

Areas of Growth

One of my challenges has been making design more embedded and inclusive in business decisions—ensuring it’s not just seen as cosmetic, but as a driver of long-term adoption and impact. I also want to work on projects and initiatives that ensure behavior change, adoption and change management at scale.

Gallery
Dalberg Design

Role: Design Researcher & Communication Designer

At Dalberg Design, I contributed to social impact-driven projects, especially around women’s economic independence, children’s mental health, and concepts of identity. These demanded both rigorous research and compelling storytelling.

Key Contributions + Skillset
  • Conducted ethnographic and participatory research in diverse communities.

    Design research

    Participatory Methods

  • Created communication frameworks to translate insights into actionable strategies.

    Communication Design

    Narrative Building

  • Designed visual artifacts that bridged research findings with policy and program design.

    Stakeholder Engagement

    Under NDA

    Narrative Building

  • Conducted ethnographic and participatory research in diverse communities.

    Design research

    Participatory Methods

  • Created communication frameworks to translate insights into actionable strategies.

    Communication Design

    Narrative Building

  • Designed visual artifacts that bridged research findings with policy and program design.

    Stakeholder Engagement

    Under NDA

    Narrative Building

  • Conducted ethnographic and participatory research in diverse communities.

    Design research

    Participatory Methods

  • Created communication frameworks to translate insights into actionable strategies.

    Communication Design

    Narrative Building

  • Designed visual artifacts that bridged research findings with policy and program design.

    Stakeholder Engagement

    Under NDA

    Narrative Building

Gallery
BRND Studio

Role: Design Researcher

At BRND Studio, I focused on using design research to shape business processes and brand strategies.

Key Contributions + Skillset
  • Business process mapping and user flow mapping.

    Research Synthesis

    Client Management

  • Conducted user testing to validate solutions.

    User Testing

    Brand Strategy

  • Guided and mentored junior team members.

    Mentorship

    Narrative Building

  • Business process mapping and user flow mapping.

    Research Synthesis

    Client Management

  • Conducted user testing to validate solutions.

    User Testing

    Brand Strategy

  • Guided and mentored junior team members.

    Mentorship

    Narrative Building

  • Business process mapping and user flow mapping.

    Research Synthesis

    Client Management

  • Conducted user testing to validate solutions.

    User Testing

    Brand Strategy

  • Guided and mentored junior team members.

    Mentorship

    Narrative Building

Gallery
Studio 5B – Dr. Reddy’s

Role: Design Researcher & Communication Designer

In Studio 5B, the in-house innovation and design arm of Dr. Reddy’s, I worked at the intersection of healthcare, design, and strategy.

Key Contributions + Skillset
  • Conducted design research to understand habit change, uncover patient and healthcare provider needs.

    Design Research

    Healthcare Design

  • Applied design thinking, behavior change models, and business design frameworks to build in-house healthcare solutions.

    Healthcare Design

    Behavior Change Frameworks

  • Designed storytelling tools to bridge research with business strategy

    Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Conducted design research to understand habit change, uncover patient and healthcare provider needs.

    Design Research

    Healthcare Design

  • Applied design thinking, behavior change models, and business design frameworks to build in-house healthcare solutions.

    Healthcare Design

    Behavior Change Frameworks

  • Designed storytelling tools to bridge research with business strategy

    Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Conducted design research to understand habit change, uncover patient and healthcare provider needs.

    Design Research

    Healthcare Design

  • Applied design thinking, behavior change models, and business design frameworks to build in-house healthcare solutions.

    Healthcare Design

    Behavior Change Frameworks

  • Designed storytelling tools to bridge research with business strategy

    Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Developed communication strategies to support innovation adoption.

    Visual Communication

    Brand Strategy

Gallery
Quicksand Design Studio

Role: Design Researcher & Communication Designer

At Quicksand, I honed my design research craft while balancing creativity with empathy-led communication.

Key Contributions + Skillset
  • Conducted in-depth research on urban sanitation challenges.

    Contextual Inquiry

    Participatory Research

  • Designed a communication strategy and toolkit for stakeholders to support adoption and engagement.

    Visual Storytelling

  • Collaborated in multi-disciplinary teams to solve for social, cultural, and business challenges.

    Co-Creation Methods

  • Conducted in-depth research on urban sanitation challenges.

    Contextual Inquiry

    Participatory Research

  • Designed a communication strategy and toolkit for stakeholders to support adoption and engagement.

    Visual Storytelling

  • Collaborated in multi-disciplinary teams to solve for social, cultural, and business challenges.

    Co-Creation Methods

  • Conducted in-depth research on urban sanitation challenges.

    Contextual Inquiry

    Participatory Research

  • Designed a communication strategy and toolkit for stakeholders to support adoption and engagement.

    Visual Storytelling

  • Collaborated in multi-disciplinary teams to solve for social, cultural, and business challenges.

    Co-Creation Methods

Shreya Chakravarty
Dark Theme

© All rights reserved

Based in New Delhi, India

Monday 9 Feb, 2026

06:36:20

Shreya Chakravarty
Dark Theme

© All rights reserved

Based in New Delhi, India

Monday 9 Feb, 2026

06:36:20

Shreya Chakravarty
Dark Theme

© All rights reserved

Based in New Delhi, India

Monday 9 Feb, 2026

06:36:20