Hi! I'm Abharan 👋
Currently, at JKD Brands, Alaska - I specialize in brand launches and scaling existing ecosystems. I workshop with clients to bridge the gap between initial branding and full-scale digital/physical products. Leveraging prior experiences & background in UX research - I anchor creative decisions in data and drive measurable growth. Having worn many hats across diverse industries, I have evolved into a pragmatic problem-solver who thrives on operating across cross-functional teams to bring complex, multi-platform projects to life.
My specialty is helping stakeholders make sense of randomness. I believe a "team" extends beyond colleagues, to include the stakeholders & users themselves - a collaborative approach that has been the foundation of success in all my projects.
My design philosophy is shaped by a global perspective, having lived & traveled across diverse cultures, I lean towards creating work that is both inclusive and personally resonant. Outside of the studio, I enjoy mentoring aspiring designers, swimming & exploring world music!
For a chat about my work or about Alaska, connect with me via email abharan.work@gmail.com or message here!
Top to bottom: Northern Lights, Matanuska Glacier climbing & the Antler Arch - Fairbanks.
Work Experience
Graphic Designer / Creative Direction – JKD Brands LLC.
Dec 2023 - Present
I specialize in collaborating as the primary creative partner for stakeholders, I lead the end-to-end design process - from initial discovery and design strategy presentation to navigating feedback loops and managing expectations. I bridge the gap between abstract goals and tangible results by establishing comprehensive project roadmaps and milestone tracking, ensuring the timely delivery of everything from usable website interfaces to complete branding systems & premium packaging across various industries.
UX Intern – CivicScience
Jun 2022 - Aug 2022
On the B2B SaaS front, I contributed to the evolution of CivicScience’s InsightStore™ by collaborating with product and engineering teams to implement usage analytics and data tracking. Working closely with the UX Lead, I assisted in structuring the information hierarchy and navigation while prototyping the interactive UI components that brought the platform’s complex data experience to life.
Teaching & Research Assistant – Duquesne University
Aug 2021 - Dec 2023
I managed the UX lab & mentored students on UX equipment and research methodologies. Beyond mentorship, I facilitated design workshops and research initiatives, represented the lab at events, and contributed to advertising and UX research projects. I also guest lectured on Visual Design concepts & tools.
Creative Team Lead – Haashtags Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Jan 2021 - Jun 2021
I have launched branding, social media, and advertising solutions for over 30 businesses while managing a team of designers, developers, and writers. By establishing efficient project pipelines, I enabled the team to support a higher volume of brands while optimizing limited resources. Throughout these projects, I led stakeholder management and maintained client relationships across various industries, ranging from retail and e-commerce to physical and SaaS products.
Co-Brand Manager & Designer – Saffron Leaf Collective
Sept 2018 - Dec 2020
Launched over 8 sister brand chains from scratch, building each visual foundation from the ground up. Beyond the initial launches, I managed the ongoing maintenance of branding and social media advertising, alongside various ad-hoc projects specifically designed to drive sales and business growth for the hospitality group.
VFX Artist – Accel Media Ventures Pvt. Ltd.
Sept 2017 – Jul 2018
I supported 3D and VFX teams for feature films, contributing through storyboarding, matte painting, and character design. My role was focused on bridging gaps between 3D, Matte paint teams & conceptualization - making concept art, model sheets & storyboards to enable the teams to translate it into production.
Production Intern – Tubelight Mediaworks
Apr 2016 – Jun 2016
I handled video editing & graphics for both a YouTube channel and a few ad-films. My work involved assisting the technical and creative aspects of the production process to ensure the delivery of high-quality, engaging video content.
Education
Master of Fine Arts - Interaction Design
Duquesne University
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Animation