A yapper thriving as a storyteller
Here's My Story...
It started with a crayon 🖍️
A grandfather who told stories like they were epics. A dad who took me on long drives through the Sahyadri. A childhood full of Disney, dog-eared books, and a lot of feelings I didn't know how to say out loud. So I drew them instead. Turns out that's a pretty solid foundation for a design career.
Four years of unlearning 🥉
Srishti, Bangalore. A degree in Creative Education, four years of being told to question everything — including myself. I learned how design lives outside the classroom, how teaching is a design problem, and somewhere along the way, stopped being the quiet one in the corner.
Figured it out as I invoiced 💼
After graduating, I spent three years doing the real thing, working with agencies, B2B clients, and brands including Ugaoo, both as a full-time designer and as a freelancer. Wearing both hats taught me how to thrive in a team and how to hold it all together on my own. That mix is what made me the designer I am today.
Somehow came to RCA 🇬🇧
I didn't plan for London. But there I was, at RCA in 2024, surrounded by some of the most talented artists in the world. Murals, installations, exhibitions, competitions, I said yes to everything and figured out how to do it on the way. For someone whose biggest challenge was surviving the weather, I did a lot more than survive. I thrived. Content creation, modelling, programme rep, I wore every hat going. And somewhere between the chaos and the culture, I became a much better storyteller.
About Me & My Vibe
Rutu Shelke
🖍️ Design Style:
Playful, Illustrative, Bold, Trendy
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🥉 Experience:
3+ years, graphic designer, content
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🌼 Values:
Sustainability, Inclusivity, Awareness
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👩🏽🎨 Other Talents:
Modelling, voice narration, styling
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⚡️Superpowers:
Creative problem solving, Speed
If I'm not designing, you might find me....
Short Film, London, 2025
Modelling, London, 2025
Art Events, India, 2022-2025
Short Film, London, 2025
Ensemble Sound Performance, London 2024
BFI Volunteering, 2025
MFA Communication,
Royal College of Art, 2025
Walter Paice,
MONSOLO
I cannot recommend her highly enough. Rutu has worked with me on three public art commissions (till date) all on behalf of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham council. The first of which (her original concept) was a winning submission for a large scale renovation of a major public underpass in the Hammersmith area. Her work there continues to be incredibly popular amongst visitors and locals alike. Across all her projects, she has consistently delivered work that is both original, while remaining sensitive to its design brief, site, and stakeholders. Rutu is also a consummate professional. She is punctual and reliable—meeting every milestone and responding to correspondence promptly—and she brings a calm, solution-focused approach from concept through to installation.
Her proposals are well-considered and context-aware; she listens, refines, and balances creativity with practical constraints (be it budget, programme, or site conditions) without losing the integrity of the idea.
In working with myself and project partners, she communicates clearly, prepares
documentation to a very high standard, and upholds any compliance requirements
necessary to the job. She is quite simply a joy to work with and I have been proud of what we achieved together.
I recommend her without reservation for any projects or commissions you might have
for her. Please feel free to contact me if you require any further information.
Etan Kinsella McLennan,
RCA, Digital Content Manager
I’m lucky to have worked with Rutu at the Royal College of Art, where I managed her in an
role as a Social Media Content Creator during her master’s degree.
During our time working together, Rutu demonstrated creativity, professionalism, and a wonderful ability to balance her role with the demands of her MA studies.
In this role, she developed and applied strong skills in video creation and editing, content
ideation, and voiceover/presenting to camera. She responded well to feedback, met deadlines, and managed multiple priorities with ease. Rutu was successful as both an independent worker and a great collaborator. She worked closely with members of the College’s Digital Content team, showing great initiative and creative thinking in every project.
Because of her bubbly temperament and reliability, we entrusted Rutu with an additional
project beyond the usual scope of her role. This included presenting in a video tour of the
RCA’s buildings, for the College's website.
Above all, Rutu was a joy to work with. She brought energy, enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn in her work, and she would be well suited to any role in a creative or communications setting.
Sneha Singh
Head of Content, Ugaoo
I had the pleasure of working closely with Rutu, as her reporting manager, during her tenure at Ugaoo, where she
served as a Graphic Designer.
Rutu performed consistently with skill and dedication to carry out all her tasks and responsibilities. One of her
standout qualities is her ability to receive feedback graciously and incorporate it into her designs. Rutu's
openness to feedback makes her a valuable team member and ensures the on-time delivery of all her work.
Her proficiency in illustration is truly commendable. She possesses a keen eye for detail and an innate talent for
bringing ideas to life through visual storytelling. Her illustrations not only meet the required standards but often
exceed expectations, demonstrating her commitment to excellence.
What sets Rutu Shelke apart is her fresh perspective and innovative ideation. She consistently brought new and
creative ideas to the table, contributing to the overall success of our projects. Her ability to think outside the box
and approach design challenges with a unique viewpoint greatly enriched the creative process at Ugaoo.