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HELLO!
Thank you for making it this far to my About Me page xD. I am glad to know something about me has sparked your curiosity. However, I am not sure if I can summarise who I am within a few lines or paragraphs even. I'll try!
I am Ahkshara Sankar. I am currently studying my Masters in Design (M.Des) in Industrial Design. Prior to this, I have always been a science student, with my under graduation in Computer Science Engineering. During my engineering years, I discovered human computer interaction which ultimately lead me into User Experience (UX) design. I worked in multiple internships as I did my undergraduate degree and finally joint as an Associate UX Designer at Economic Times post my graduation. Wishing to formally learn design and broaden my horizons into physical products as well, I chose to do my Masters in Industrial Design.
Personality wise, I am an ambivert (I go out only when I have sudden splurges of desire to get out of my pyjamas), a meticulous worker (trying super hard to achieve work-life balance), & I would like to believe I am humorous as well :) I love reading thriller books, watching movies, building legos and cycling around the city.
I usually go by the phrase, "the girl who keeps smiling" and thus, my life motto is to smile and spread more smiles! ☺️
Work
On the right is a short summary of my LinkedIn page, with a list of the work I have done over the last 4-5 years. I started working as a math tutor back when I was just starting my undergrad in 2018 at the age of 17, moved on to freelancing as an emcee, and finally found my footing in the field of design. Since, then I have experimented with different forms of design be it visual, user experience, product or even industrial. Apart from the work experiences mentioned on the right, I have constantly volunteered with different organisations as well in both the stream of education and design.
DESIGN INTERN @ EMPATHY DESIGN LABS
JUN 2024 - PRESENT
Due to a confidentiality clause, I will not be able to mention anything on my website.
FREELANCE ILLUSTRATOR
FEB 2023 - PRESENT
Apart from working on small client requests like a Sangeet card design, or brochure/poster design, I also worked on illustrating a children's book in tamil (yet to be released).
ASSOCIATE UX DESIGNER @ ECONOMIC TIMES
OCT 2022 - FEB 2023
Increased revenue through targeted festive promotions and enhanced LinkedIn Ads click rate with compelling visuals. Collaborated with a UX team to optimize CTAs, delivering high-quality designs within 3 days.
FOUNDER OF ARTSYYPIXELS
SEP 2022 - PRESENT
Drove revenue growth and product sellouts for 7 pop-up stores through meticulous design and testing. Managed all operations, resulting in over 300 sales and consistent business growth.
PRODUCT DESIGN INTERN @ QUEST-HIRE A HERO
AUG 2021 - NOV 2021
Enhanced Weekly Average Users (WAU) by analyzing user behaviors and collaborating with marketing and business teams. Led redesigns for 'Quest Glow-Up,' created QuestPay digital wallet, and ensured seamless designer-developer handoffs while prioritising user research and usability testing.
USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN INTERN @ LAZADA GROUPS, ALIBABA
AUG 2020 - DEC 2020
Proficient in the end-to-end UX design process, managing projects, and creating comprehensive user experiences. Conducted focus group discussions, analysed online diaries, and developed prototypes and wireframes, thriving in a remote work setting.
UI/UX DESIGN INTERN @ DELTA APPS (START-UP)
JUN 2020-JUL 2020
Assisted in digitalising businesses impacted by the first COVID-19 wave, leveraging online resources and user feedback to create solutions that balanced business goals with user needs.
PROTOTYPING INTERN @ ETCH EMPATHY
FEB 2020 - MAY 2020
Prototyped an induction hob for visually impaired chefs, conducting user interviews and usability tests to understand pain points. Collaborated with engineers and experimented with hardware like Arduino and Raspberry Pi as part of the NTU Edge Programme.
MATH TUTOR @ STUDENT'S INN
AUG 2018 - DEC 2018
Tutored International Baccalaureate students in Math HL & Biology HL
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
What do I do in my free time?
BUILDING LEGO
SKETCHING
CYCLING
This site was designed with love, patience, loads of ice cream & the need to find the right opportunities.