Meet Menaka Deepak | Art Director & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Menaka Deepak and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Menaka, what makes you happy? Why?
There are a lot of small things in life that make me happy but most of them involve being around and/or spending time with my loved ones, be it friends or family. Exchange of words of affirmation & appreciation and cooking for them makes me really happy, especially when I try cooking a new cuisine/recipe and it turns out to be a success hahaha

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have always been inclined towards art and the creative life in general, be it dancing or traditional drawing, or the world of TV & cinema. But when I tried to go the mainstream route and struggled as I tried to prepare to go into the mainstream workforce, it was my friend in high school who reminded me of what my true interests were and nudged me to go into the world of creativity. Even there, my curiosity didn’t stop me from trying everything there was. In my undergrad, I explored the world of radio, graphic design, and film production, so much so that I landed an opportunity to work in a movie as an assistant director when I was 19. Eventually, I gravitated back towards Graphic Design, and while working in a digital marketing agency back home was when I realized I wanted to learn and experience more and that led me to SCAD. Here, I understood the true power of collaboration and creativity, and with the support of school and friends I made along the way, I have explored and learned more than I imagined I could and that eventually led me to an opportunity to be a part of a Winter Campaign of a big brand in 2023 and marking my entry into the real world agency life through my summer internship. One common factor I have noticed in all this is that as I am contributing with some cool, unique idea or creating something, I am also constantly learning something new and I do it quickly. And collaborating and working together with someone, works as a catalyst for me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In Savannah, I would probably take the weekend of to show my best friend in and around Tybee Island, spending the day at the beach, lighthouse, and definitely hitting up Fannies On The Beach for some quick lunch. Downtown Savannah would definitely require 2 or 3 days (or more) to explore. Definitely a stroll in Forsyth Park is a must, and this can be included at any point of the day; an evening or sunset by the Riverwalk after showing them where I took most of my classes, followed by a peaceful dinner at one of my many favorite spots for dinner on Broughton St (or anywhere surrounding here) and end it by waiting on a very long queue for icecream at Leopolds.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It would always be my parents first. Without their undeterred belief in me and her support, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Next, it would be to my highschool friends, with whom I am still in touch to this date. They have been one of my huge support pillars through the highs and lows of my life and never once left my side. Finally, it would be SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design, for nurturing and instilling the creative skills and confidence that I have developed today. Everyone I met here, professors and students, have taught me so much about the creative world and life in general. Honestly, the list could go on and on, because every single person I have met in my life have impacted and influenced me in someway or the other, and I am grateful for all of them.

Website: https://www.menakadeepak.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/menaka-deepak/