Hello!¶
Sharvari Akerkar¶
Hi! I’m Sharvari Akerkar, a third-year product design student at Somaiya School of Design (Riidl), Mumbai India. I'm passionate about all things design and I am currently studying to become a professional in the field. Throughout my studies, I've been exploring various aspects of design, from graphic design to product design.
Few of my previous projects¶
Furniture design¶
Living in Mumbai, space is a luxury. The city is fast, ever-changing, and often unpredictable—just like the lives of the people in it. Homes are getting smaller, and with the rise of remote work, freelancing, and hybrid lifestyles, not everyone has the luxury of a dedicated workspace. I wanted to design a desk that adapts to this reality—a workspace that is compact, foldable, and practical, offering functionality without taking up permanent space.
Aakar is a response to this challenge. Unlike traditional desks that are often too bulky for small homes, Aakar is compact, foldable, and practical. It offers a stable work surface while ensuring that users can easily store it away after use, freeing up valuable space. The design focuses on adaptability, catering to students, professionals, and freelancers who need a workspace that fits into their dynamic routines.
Light design¶
Lighting is more than just function; it sets the mood, creates atmosphere, and tells a story. Odette was inspired by the film Black Swan and the graceful movements of a ballerina. I wanted to capture fluidity, elegance, and contrast—just like the transformation of the Black Swan in the movie.
The design of Odette reflects this duality. Its form is sculptural and expressive, making it more than just a lamp—it’s a statement piece. The light is soft and ambient, creating an intimate, dramatic effect in any space. For me, this project was about pushing the boundaries of form and function.
Design Research: Interactive bin¶
Cleanliness in schools, especially in low-income areas, is often neglected—not just due to lack of resources, but because students don’t feel involved in the process. This project aimed to explore how design can change behavior by making waste disposal more engaging. Through design research, I investigated how children interact with their environment and what motivates them to take action.
Inspired by the game Angry Birds, the concept was to create an interactive bin that turns throwing waste into a playful challenge. By observing students’ responses to different forms of engagement, the project explored how gamification and hands-on participation could encourage a long-term habit of cleanliness. The bin was also designed using upcycled materials, reinforcing sustainability while keeping it accessible for schools with limited funding.
This project wasn’t just about designing a product—it was about understanding behavior and testing how interactive elements can drive change.
View the full project here: Interactive Bin Project
Brand Design¶
Nooklez is a brand that brings the joy of learning through Montessori-inspired toys, designed to help toddlers develop essential skills through play. The brand focuses on engaging, hands-on experiences, encouraging kids to explore, create, and grow in a way that feels natural and fun.
For this project, I wanted to design a brand identity that felt playful yet sophisticated, modern yet warm. The goal was to balance the educational aspect of Montessori learning with the excitement and creativity that toys bring to toddlers.The brand’s four key colors were carefully chosen to reflect the emotions and energy of a toddler—red for vitality, blue for calmness, green for enthusiasm, and yellow for happiness. This color palette not only adds vibrancy but also connects with the emotional world of toddlers, making the brand feel engaging, energetic, and inviting.
View the full project here: Nooklez: Branding