We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sakshi Shinde a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sakshi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I did my under graduation in video film design. For my undergrad’s final project, I didn’t want to just make a film, I wanted to spark a conversation. So, I chose to tackle one of society’s most awkward taboos: menstruation. I wanted to make an anthology of three short films. The first was a fictional piece I produced entirely on my own. The second was a documentary about an incredible village in Kerala, India, the first modern community to ditch sanitary napkins completely by switching to menstrual cups. All the efforts were to cut down on waste, protect the environment and switch towards safer menstrual hygiene practices. The idea through this short film was to promote the acceptance of menstrual cup, educate people about the same by showing example of this modern village in India. This caught the attention of Chinmaya Mission, a non-profit organization with a project called “Pioneers of the Planet.” They loved the cause so much, they sponsored my documentary to help spread the word.

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. By the time the grant arrived, I had already spent months keeping myself motivated, fighting off the “maybe I should just give up” moments. Being an independent filmmaker with zero industry contacts isn’t exactly a walk in the park. But I learned this: if your heart’s in the right place, your passion is real, and your work makes a positive dent in the world, the universe has a way of opening doors you didn’t even know existed.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, I’m Sakshi Shinde, a Graphic Designer, Art Director, and Filmmaker who is now exploring the world of Advertising, where I can blend it all.

I grew up in an Indian family where art was very valued. My childhood was filled with sketching, painting with my grandparents, learning Hindustani Classical Music with my mom and train in traditional dance form of Bharatanatyam. My grandfather, who is a writer passed down the love for words and storytelling. These influences didn’t just shape my creativity, they turned me into a visual thinker who sees stories everywhere.

When it came to choosing a career, the creative path was the only one that felt right. I started in Graphic Design, but soon realized I wanted to blend all my creative skills into a more dynamic medium, so I pursued my undergraduate degree in Film Design.

Travel is another creative fuel for me. I love exploring new cultures, meeting different people, and absorbing fresh perspectives. This curiosity took me to Spain for a semester abroad, which expanded my design vocabulary and sharpened my storytelling instincts.

After graduation, I worked as an Assistant Director on a feature film which just went on to win a National Award from the Government of India. Later, as an Associate Content Producer, I discovered the world of advertising, a space where storytelling, visual craft, and strategy truly collides. At the same time, I was freelancing as a graphic designer, which grew into my own creative service business called “Choice Creatives”.

Today, I’m pursuing my MFA in Advertising at SCAD Atlanta, while still managing Choice Creatives remotely back in India. I work on campaigns, brand identities, and creative content that not only look good but also connect deeply with audiences and drive meaningful impact.

What I bring to the table is that I have a multidisciplinary lens, combining the narrative depth of filmmaking, the precision of design, and the emotional resonance of art direction. My work reflects innovation with responsibility. Whether it’s building a brand from scratch or crafting a campaign that sparks conversation, I strive to make work that’s visually striking and socially relevant.

At my core, my mission is simple: to tell stories that matter and craft brand identities that are impactful, relevant, and effortless to connect with.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the belief that the best work can ONLY be generated with big budgets, state-of-the-art equipment, and generous timelines.

As an independent filmmaker and creative startup owner, I often work with limited resources, but that’s where I learned to push my boundaries the most and think laterally. Tight budgets and deadlines don’t mean compromising on quality always; they mean getting more inventive, more collaborative, and more intentional with every choice.

I’ve found that creativity thrives when you have to think smarter, adapt quickly, and rally talented people around a shared vision. At the end of the day it’s very collaborative industry and field. Some of my impactful work that I am most proud of has come from exactly those high-pressure, resource-limited situations which helped me understand that excellence is about mindset and ingenuity, not just means.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I see NFTs as an extension of my creative playground, not a replacement for traditional art forms, but another space to explore. What draws me in is the way they let you connect with an audience directly, without the usual layers in between. For digital artists, it’s a chance to give their work the kind of permanence and provenance that physical art has always had. For traditional artists, it’s a bridge into a new ‘phygital’ world, where a canvas can come with its own evolving digital counterpart or an experience only the collector can unlock.

For me, it’s less about chasing hype and more about using the medium to tell stories that can grow, shift, and reveal new layers over time. NFTs add a new dimension to how art travels, changes, and is owned and when used thoughtfully, they become less about the trend and more about creating something that continues to breathe long after it’s sold. Personally, I see them as one more brush in an artist’s toolkit than being the toolkit itself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sakshishinde.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sakshishinde_7/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sakshishinde-choicecreatives/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@choicecreatives