Women to Watch: When output matches the final product - you feel like Harry Potter

Q: How do you balance creative vision with the practicalities of packaging in your design projects?
Nikita Sawant (NS): The balance comes from understanding, learning, and applying. Every project comes with constraints, and instead of resisting them, I am learning to see them as creative challenges. The trick is to let go of the “designer ego” and focus on collaboration. The moment you shift perspective from limitation to opportunity, the design almost always finds its way forward.

Q: Your work with Haldiram’s, Neelam, and Viah showcases your versatility across different industries. What unique challenges and opportunities did each of these projects present?
NS: Every project brings its own story and challenges, but one thing remains constant: getting the design to translate perfectly in its physical, tactile form. With Haldiram’s, it was about retaining vibrancy on tin boxes; with Neelam, achieving an exact Pantone match in offset printing; and with Viah, ensuring precision in vignette and foiling. Each substrate and technique has its own language. And when the final output matches the vision, that moment is nothing short of magic.

Q: As a leader, how do you foster an environment where “ideas thrive within well-defined processes,” and how do you ensure you design for sustainability?
NS: Processes are essential, but they should never feel rigid or restrictive. I try to build an agile framework that is structured enough to guide and flexible enough to explore. That balance allows ideas to breathe. Sustainability is woven into conversations from the very beginning, whether it is the choice of the material, print techniques, or even something as simple as minimising paper use. It is the small, conscious decisions that add up to a more responsible design practice.

Q: Beyond aesthetics, you emphasise design as a feeling, a story, and a responsibility. Can you elaborate on who your design gurus are or how this philosophy was instilled in you?
NS: I have always admired people who can translate ideas into powerful visuals; Piyush Pandey, Paula Scher, Stefan Sagmeister, Jessica Walsh, Mario Miranda, Wolff Olins, to name a few. Their work showed me that design is a language that connects and resonates. It was this that made me realise that design should always tell a story and create a feeling, not just look good.

Q: What are some key insights or lessons you’ve gained from your experience judging and conducting sessions at MIT School of Design, particularly in terms of shaping the next generation of packaging designers?
NS: Every session leaves me inspired. The new generation of designers is fearless – they experiment, question, and evolve with ease. It keeps me sharp, too. With AI opening endless possibilities, the temptation to rely on tools is very real, but I always stress that the “thinking” should be your own. At the end of the day, it’s the thought that always makes the design meaningful.