Graphic Designer, Creative Director & Founder
Sonal Gadre-Shintre is an award-winning designer and founder of Kalakatta Design Studio. As a true visual storyteller, she helps brand leaders tell impactful stories through thoughtful and strategic designs. Her expertise spans brand identity, websites, print and digital design, packaging, and event graphics, with a signature ability to create striking typography that captivates audiences.
Kalakatta serves a diverse clientele across real estate, hospitality, technology, and consumer brands, transforming brand visions into meaningful, visually compelling stories. Currently, the studio is actively focusing on hospitality projects, helping brands in the industry craft elevated, memorable identities that resonate with their audiences. Sonal’s work is deeply influenced by her love for travel, photography, and nature, which she considers her biggest source of inspiration. She stays plugged into the latest design trends, always capturing the pulse of her clients to deliver creativity that resonates.
Before founding Kalakatta Studio, Sonal spent 15 years working with top design agencies in India and the USA, collaborating with global brands such as Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Johnson & Johnson, Cushman & Wakefield, Unilever, P&G, PepsiCo, Grazia, Aditya Birla Group, and Artists for Peace and Justice. She has also created graphic material for prestigious events like the Pre-Oscars, Toronto Film Festival, South Asian Excellence, and IIFA – Indian International Film Academy.
Her contributions to the design industry have earned her recognitions from GDUSA – American Graphic Design Awards and IDA – International Design Awards. In 2023, she was featured in GDUSA's ‘People to Watch’ and was honored as one of Jersey’s Best Under 40 by NJ Ad Club.
Based in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Sonal works with clients across the USA, India, and beyond. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new places, drawing inspiration from nature, and practicing Surya Namaskaras (Sun Salutations) daily with her husband and 6-year-old son.
AWARDS
1. 2022 GDUSA Package Design Award | Project: Frio Collection | Category: Luxury Brands
Designer: Sonal Shintre | Agency: Kalākattā Design Studio
Project: https://kalakatta.studio/frio-collection-perfume-logo-packaging
Designer: Sonal Shintre | Agency: Kalākattā Design Studio
Project: https://kalakatta.studio/frio-collection-perfume-logo-packaging
2. 2020 GDUSA Graphic Design Award | Project: 25 Collection logos for PID Floors | Category: Logos & Symbols
Designer: Sonal Shintre | Agency: Kalākattā Design Studio
Project: https://kalakatta.studio/25-collection-logos-for-pid-floors
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/gdusa-contest-winner?cc=agda20&ids=0%7C11379%7C11651&iy=&im=
Designer: Sonal Shintre | Agency: Kalākattā Design Studio
Project: https://kalakatta.studio/25-collection-logos-for-pid-floors
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/gdusa-contest-winner?cc=agda20&ids=0%7C11379%7C11651&iy=&im=
3. 2020 GDUSA Graphic Design Award | Project: Mr. Patrick Carroll | Category: Branding + Identity Programs
Agency: Alpine Creative Group | Graphic Designer: Sonal Gadre-Shintre | Brand Manager: Steve Paster
Project: https://kalakatta.studio/personal-brand-identity-patrick-carroll
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/gdusa-contest-winner?cc=agda20&ids=0|11286&iy=&im=
Agency: Alpine Creative Group | Graphic Designer: Sonal Gadre-Shintre | Brand Manager: Steve Paster
Project: https://kalakatta.studio/personal-brand-identity-patrick-carroll
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/gdusa-contest-winner?cc=agda20&ids=0|11286&iy=&im=
4. 2020 GDUSA Graphic Design Award | Project: Kalākattā Design Studio | Category: Poster design
Designer: Sonal Shintre | Agency: Kalākattā Design Studio
Project: https://kalakatta.studio/kalakatta-design-studio
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/gdusa-contest-winner?cc=agda20&ids=0%7C11379%7C11651&iy=&im=
Designer: Sonal Shintre | Agency: Kalākattā Design Studio
Project: https://kalakatta.studio/kalakatta-design-studio
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/gdusa-contest-winner?cc=agda20&ids=0%7C11379%7C11651&iy=&im=
5. 2018 GDUSA Inhouse Design Award | Project: Riverfront SQ | Category: Map Brochure
Company: Cushman & Wakefield | Designer: Sonal Shintre
Project: http://sonalgadre.com/riverfront-sq-map-brochure
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/gdusa-contest-winner?cc=aida18&ids=0|112120|112121|112532&iy=2018&im=08
Company: Cushman & Wakefield | Designer: Sonal Shintre
Project: http://sonalgadre.com/riverfront-sq-map-brochure
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/gdusa-contest-winner?cc=aida18&ids=0|112120|112121|112532&iy=2018&im=08
6. 11th IDA Annual Awards 2017 - Silver | Project: Texarome | Category: Print-Stationary
Independent Client Project | Designer: Sonal Shintre
Published on IDA 2017 - Winner's list: https://idesignawards.com/winners/index.php
Project: http://www.sonalgadre.com/texarome-brand-identity
Independent Client Project | Designer: Sonal Shintre
Published on IDA 2017 - Winner's list: https://idesignawards.com/winners/index.php
Project: http://www.sonalgadre.com/texarome-brand-identity
7. 2017 GDUSA Graphic Design Award | Project: Aaras Creations | Category: Branding & collaterals
Independent Client Project | Designer: Sonal Shintre
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/gdusa-contest-winner?cc=agda17&ids=0|1602916&iy=&im=
Project: http://www.sonalgadre.com/aaras-creations
Independent Client Project | Designer: Sonal Shintre
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/gdusa-contest-winner?cc=agda17&ids=0|1602916&iy=&im=
Project: http://www.sonalgadre.com/aaras-creations
8. 2017 GDUSA Inhouse Design Award | Project: APJ 2015 Festival Gala | Category: Brochure & Collaterals
Company: Artists for Peace & Justice | Designer: Sonal Shintre
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/2017-american-inhouse-design-awards/aida17winner
Project: http://sonalgadre.com/apj-2015-festival-gala
Company: Artists for Peace & Justice | Designer: Sonal Shintre
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/2017-american-inhouse-design-awards/aida17winner
Project: http://sonalgadre.com/apj-2015-festival-gala
9. 2017 GDUSA Inhouse Design Award | Project: Fierce Creativity 2014 | Category: Catalog Design
Company: Artists for Peace & Justice | Designer: Sonal Shintre
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/2017-american-inhouse-design-awards/aida17winner
Project: http://sonalgadre.com/fierce-creativity
Company: Artists for Peace & Justice | Designer: Sonal Shintre
Published on GDUSA Website: http://contests.gdusa.com/2017-american-inhouse-design-awards/aida17winner
Project: http://sonalgadre.com/fierce-creativity
MEDIA & RECOGNITION
• NJ Ad Club Jersey's Best Under 40 - Class of 2023
• The company name and information featured at BlueVine Holiday News Article
• Designer credit in the newspaper: H4 Visa-A curse, USA | Poster
H4 Visa is a dependent visa with no work permit. I designed a poster to bring awareness about the cause as I was also sailing the same boat. Someone has said- "A picture is worth a thousand words." The Poster conveyed the message very well! A Facebook community (H4 Visa- A Curse) which is fighting for the same cause, got it published in Washington Post and South Asian Times!
South Asian Times: Vol 6 Issue 28 Nov 2-8, 2013 | Page no.14 - H4 Golden Cage and Page no.15- My hands are tied. http://thesouthasiantimes.info/index.php?param=epaper
Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/05/09/spouses-of-high-skilled-immigrants-arent-allowed-to-work-thats-finally-changing/ The header image for a Facebook group for H-4 visa holders. (Sonal Gadre)
our collaborators
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Photography Partner
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The word 'KALĀKATTĀ' means 'a platform for art' in Marathi, one of the native languages in India. We collaborate with a team of talented copywriters, illustrators, typographers, printers, and web programmers to deliver a holistic creative solution.
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