Interview with Mallika Kejriwal | The Design Bay Studio
About The Design Bay Studio
Passion translated to a profession for Mallika Kejriwal when she branded her work and ‘The Design Bay Studio’, a Graphic Design and Social Media Agency, came into being. You’ll find a team of about 12 people dedicated to your design and branding needs, here at The Design Bay Studio. Coming up with a business idea, the conceptualization and execution is work enough. We take the rest off your hands! Brochure designing, catalogues, professional portfolios and customized stationery for your brand, is our job. You know those creative invites that circulate in your Whatsapp chats? That’s us too! In terms of Social Media marketing, our team promotes your work through all possible digital media platforms, along with designing and curating content for the same.
About Mallika Kejriwal
Mallika Kejriwal is a graphic designer by passion and the FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR of The Design Bay Studio, by profession. Mallika studied Commercial Art at Sophia College, all the while freelancing as a graphic designer. The Design Bay Studio was founded, whilst still freelancing as a graphic designer in 2013. 2015 saw an office space and an outsourced team to keep up with the work flowing in. Today, Mallika heads a team of about 12 people acing the designing, branding and social media marketing your brand/startup needs.
Links
Website: www.thedesignbaystudio.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbaystudio/
1. What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e what’s your source of motivation?
I’m one of the lucky ones that has managed to find what they love doing and make money from it! I love what I do! I love my team, my amazing niche studio and ofcourse the work that we do! This is my source of motivation!
2. Why should people choose your product/services?
The Design Bay Studio is a very young but very creative company, bursting with energy and enthusiasm! We love making beautiful things! Our design aesthetic sets us apart from most agencies and companies. Moreover, we aren’t rigid with our services and are happy to customize and personalise a plan completely based on the need of the client. Sometimes, when a client has come for one service we have guided them towards another service which will be better for them and probably cheaper!
3. What’s your competitive advantage and why can’t it be copied?
The fact that we are a boutique design studio, we are more focused on the certain number of clients that we have. Clients don’t get lost in the crowd, there are dedicated resources to them.
4. What risks are you facing?
The dynamism of the industry is a risk taken by us. Sometimes, you wake up one morning & the Social Media Platforms have completely changed or introduced a new feature that could work, or may not work for your client!
5. Have you considered any alliance/partnership?
We have considered a few surely nevertheless we’re currently in the midst of launching some verticals that would actually have collabs materialise, one of them being Beyond The Bay – a Stationery e-store! Being a graphic design studio, design is of course right in front of us, so it made most sense to convert that into our in-house stationery brand – again another thing I love doing!
6. What are your cash flow projections? When will you break even? How much will you need in investments?
Well, every business has its ups and downs. The cash flows totally depend on the demand and supply in this industry. There is a high period during the festive and wedding season where we have seen a considerable amount of work which has lead to great profits for the studio.
7. What comes first for you money or emotions?
Emotions!! Probably sometimes about the money! Haha! But no, fortunately, we are an all woman firm and emotions are flying about everywhere! – There’s no lack of drama, but that’s what keeps things interesting.
8. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
I think one of the things that I have learned because of starting a company on my own is to not crack under pressure! I am always calm in the middle of chaos – which is a necessity because I need to be able to guide my team in a better direction when things are going wrong. My weakness – not being able to say NO as often as I’d like.
9. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.
I’m proud of all of it! I’ve had a lot of help from my family, but a large part of it this whole journey has been my own which has made me learn a lot of things.
10. How do you handle
Like I said, being completely calm and rational! Getting hyper and stressed will get you nowhere!
11. If you sold your company today, what would be the tone of the conversation? What would you want to gain? What would you want to avoid losing?
I would not sell my company! It’s my baby. 🙂
12. What advice would you give to someone starting out?
Find a mentor to help guide you better! And above all, especially for the creative people out there – unfortunately – you HAVE TO learn your own accounts and manage your own finances!! The time has come!
