We were lucky to catch up with Shreya Aggarwal recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Shreya thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

Honestly, I don’t think I can separate being an artist from being a creative. They just bleed into each other. I’m happiest when I’m building something that makes people feel something, whether it’s a space, a story, or an entire experience. That moment when someone walks into something I made and just stands there, reacting… that’s what I live for.

But yes, of course I’ve thought about what it would be like to have a regular job. The last time I had that thought was during tech week for a show I was stage managing. I hadn’t slept properly in days. It was around 2am, and I was sitting on the floor with a half-eaten granola bar in one hand and a glue gun in the other. There was glitter in places it shouldn’t be. The fog machine had just gone off for no reason and someone was asking where the backup mic was for the fourth time. I remember thinking, “Some people are just… asleep right now. In their beds. With health insurance.”

But even then, I didn’t want out. I just wanted a nap. And maybe a snack that didn’t come out of a vending machine. The truth is, even when it’s exhausting, I love this chaos. I love the people, the pressure, the adrenaline. A regular job might come with stability, but I think I’d end up secretly turning the break room into an immersive puzzle or designing fake menus for a themed lunch hour.

So yeah, I’ve thought about it. But I always come back to this. I don’t think I’m wired any other way.

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.

I’m Shreya Aggarwal. I’m a themed experience designer, event manager, and an Artist. I got into this world pretty naturally. Growing up, I was always turning ordinary spaces into weird, magical environments; whether it was a scavenger hunt for my cousins or an entire birthday party that played out like an adventure game. I’ve always been obsessed with how people feel when they walk into a space, and how I can use design to shift that.

I design immersive experiences that includes everything from escape-room style adventures and theatrical spaces to conceptual walkthroughs and event activations. I also do production design, show set packages, spatial layouts, and 3D visualization. On the event side, I produce themed events that lean into storytelling and audience interaction, sometimes for hundreds of people.

What I try to do is make people feel something. Whether that’s curiosity, nostalgia, wonder, or even a bit of discomfort, I want the environments I create to have an emotional impact. I’m not just building spaces, I’m building moments people remember.

What sets me apart is that I’m always thinking about the why. Every prop, every color, every sound in the background is there for a reason. I also balance both creative and logistical work. I’ve led teams, managed tight production timelines, and made sure the wildest ideas actually get built. I’m proudest of the work where I’ve been able to mix design with meaning. My senior project at SCAD, for example, is about choices, identity, and dreams. It’s not just pretty to look at, it says something.

I also really value the people I’ve worked with along the way. A lot of what I do is collaborative, and building trust with teams has always mattered to me.If someone’s looking to work with me, I want them to know I care a lot. About the work, about the people, and about the experience we’re creating together. I bring ideas, structure, and a whole lot of energy into everything I do.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is seeing how people respond to the work. Not just the polite “oh that’s nice” but the real reactions, when someone pauses, smiles, laughs, or even gets emotional. That’s the moment I wait for.

One of the best feelings is watching someone walk into a space I’ve designed and just stop. Sometimes they whisper something to the person next to them. Sometimes they just stand there taking it in. And sometimes they start noticing the little things like a sound I layered in or a weird detail hidden in a corner, and that’s when I know it worked.

I’ve had people come up to me after an event and say things like “this made me feel something I didn’t expect.” Or “I didn’t know an experience could do this.” That’s everything to me. It reminds me that the work isn’t just visual. It can actually stay with people. That feeling of creating something that lives in someone else’s memory is what makes all the chaos and long nights worth it.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Yeah, I think a lot of non-creatives struggle to understand that this kind of work isn’t just about talent or aesthetics. It’s about constantly making things from scratch; ideas, spaces, emotions, and that takes energy. Not just physical energy, but mental and emotional too. There’s no blueprint for most of the things I do. I’m figuring it out as I go, which means there’s a lot of doubt, a lot of “is this even working?” moments.

Another thing people don’t always get is how personal it can feel. When something you’ve designed doesn’t land the way you hoped, it’s hard not to take it to heart. It’s not like submitting a spreadsheet. It’s your brain and your heart on display.

And the pressure to always be “inspired” is real. People assume creatives are always full of ideas. But inspiration doesn’t show up on a schedule. Sometimes you’re on a deadline and it’s just not coming, and you still have to deliver. That part’s tough.

But at the end of the day, it’s worth it. When someone connects with the work, when they say it made them feel something or see things differently.. that makes all the hard parts make sense!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shreyaaggarwal.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shreyaaggarwal._/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-aggarwal-476573247/