bhopal fwd: nine to five cc: for design students, graduates & salaried professionals
Delhi got it first. 80+ designers walked away inspired, confident, and connected. Now, it’s Bhopal’s turn.
Tarash by Priyanka, House no. 3, Old Post Office Road, Professors Colony, Bhopal
Saturday, 11th October 2025
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Delhi Proof
What Bhopal missed in September
80+ designers joined us in Delhi. 99% said it was worth it.
The same energy is now coming to your city
If you’re a student… this is your gateway into the real world
If you’re a fresher… this is where you learn what no classroom tells you
If you’re working… this is how you break past plateaus and raise your worth
The Sessions (Your Roadmap to Growth)
1. Raise the Bar
Most designers stay stuck because they keep doing only what’s asked. This session is
about moving beyond task lists — learning how to position yourself as someone who drives
ideas, not just executes them. It’s about seeing yourself as a career designer, not just a job
designer.
2. Ctrl + Shift + D (Switching Disciplines)
UI/UX, Graphics, Product, Architecture, Interior — design is no longer one straight path. But how do you switch without starting from scratch? This session gives you real examples and
frameworks to pivot disciplines smoothly, while leveraging your existing skills. Perfect if you’re a student curious about UI/UX or a fresher trying to shift fields.
3. Dress, Stress & Impress
Your portfolio is your single biggest opportunity-maker. But 80% of portfolios we see get rejected in the first 30 seconds. Why? Simple mistakes: wrong order, too much fluff, zero storytelling. In this quick teaser, we’ll show you the red flags that recruiters instantly spot — and how to avoid them.
4. Raise the Pay (Salary Negotiation)
Your skills may win you an interview. But your presence wins you the job. From what you wear, to how you carry yourself, to the small cues recruiters never tell you about — this session uncovers the 7 unspoken rules that make you stand out (or get forgotten).
5. Q&A with Mentors
No fluff, no slides — just open, honest answers. Bring your doubts about interviews, portfolios, or career moves, and get practical, experience-backed advice from people who’ve hired and mentored hundreds of designers.
6. BYOD Mixer (Bring Your Own Design) Forget boring introductions. This mixer is designed to help you connect with other designers in minutes. Share your goals, swap stories, find collaborators, or just vibe with peers who get your journey. Who knows — your next opportunity could be standing right beside you.
Meet the Mentors
Learn from the people who hire & mentor designers every day.
Akshat Raghava – 15+ years of global design experience. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he has worked with premium architecture and lighting studios across the U.S. and India. He now leads design hiring for brands shaping how India lives, builds, and looks. Akshat’s expertise spans across industrial design, lighting design, and creative direction, making him a sought after mentor for aspiring designers.
Parth Parikh – has spent the last 12+ years mentoring designers. He’s led design research projects, taught at premier design institutes, and personally helped hundreds of students evolve their portfolios into powerful narratives. A postgraduate from Domus Academy Milan, Parth founded Design Clinic India, an award winning studio in the heart of Delhi, where he works closely with students and young professionals to turn dreams into realities. His feedback is honest but encouraging, and always focused on you becoming a better designer, not just a better presenter.
Prashant Gupta – is the co-founder of HireDesigners and founder of Beryl Agency. A branding and graphics graduate from MICA, he later pursued executive education at IIM Kozhikode. With 15+ years in the design and branding industry, he has built Beryl into a leading creative agency and HireDesigners into India’s largest full-time design talent platform. As a business coach, Prashant has helped thousands of designers and entrepreneurs elevate their craft and scale their businesses.
What others got in Delhi, now it’s your turn
- Clarity to move from student → professional
- Confidence to crack interviews
- Tools to negotiate pay smartly
- Pathways to switch design disciplines
- Network into India’s 350K+ design community
Event details
Delhi got it first. 80+ designers walked away inspired, confident, and connected. Now, it’s Bhopal’s turn.
Tarash by Priyanka, House no. 3, Old Post Office Road, Professors Colony, Bhopal
Saturday, 11th October 2025
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Delhi experienced it. Bhopal, this is your first chance. Don’t miss history being made
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for design meetups, workshops, and creative projects for designers, by designers.
