fwd: nine to five (In person + online)
You are undervalued, and it is costing you your career.
The worst part is that when you speak up, you get dismissed. No one listens, no matter how clearly you explain.
If you are a salaried designer, you have probably lived this. The design team shapes the product experience, the communication, the look and feel. Then, at the end, the marketing team has the loudest voice on colors, messaging, and what goes out. Design becomes execution, not decision making.
This workshop is for designers who are done being treated like staff and want to become the designer whose opinion is heard, whose value is clear, and whose pay actually moves.
You will relate if this is your reality
• You give inputs, but decisions happen without you
• You are treated like an executor, not a problem solver
• Your work is strong, but hikes are small and slow
• You want to switch, but offers stay close to your current CTC
• Salary conversations make you uncomfortable because you lack a clear structure
What we will fix in one day
• Move from execution to ownership through how you speak, present, and document work
• Make your impact visible so your value is not “subjective” anymore
• Build portfolio stories that show decisions, trade offs, and business impact, not just screens
• Handle recruiter calls and interviews so you stop sounding junior on paper
• Negotiate in Indian CTC reality without bluff, guilt, or panic
What you will leave with
• Your positioning statement in employer language
• A project storytelling framework you can apply to every case study
• Interview control scripts to lead the room, not chase approval
• Negotiation scripts for fixed, variable, joining bonus, retention, and counter offers
• A clear switch plan for the next 30 days
Who this is for
• Salaried designers
• Mid to senior designers who want better pay and real authority
• Designers tired of being ignored by marketing, product, and stakeholders
Mentors Detail:
Akshat Raghava
An RISD alumnus with 17+ years across design practice, education, and studio leadership, Akshat understands how design decisions translate into business value. His experience running design ventures and mentoring professionals enables him to speak clearly on how designis evaluated, priced, and sustained in businesses.
Parth Parikh
A Domus Academy Milan graduate and founder of Design Clinic India, Parth brings a business-first perspective to design execution. Having worked closely with clients and led projects end-to-end, he understands how design is evaluated for impact, value, and return, and why some designers are chosen while others are not.
Investment
Early Bird Special
₹749 + GST (Saves 25% off!)
Original: ₹999 + GST
Inclusive of certificate, merchandise, and refreshment.
*** Fwd has always been about giving back to the designer community, and this February we are extending that giving to a larger cause. Net proceeds from meetup will go towards breast cancer treatment and care.
Venue
Hybrid: Online and Avancos Coffee Co, Electronic City Phase-4, Udyog Vihar, Sector 18, Gurugram, Haryana, 122008
Seats are limited to 100.
Once capacity is reached, registrations close.
If you are tired of designing everything but being heard the least, register now.
If you or any of your design crew are planning to build your own business in design, you should also check out Gurugram fwd: nine to five. https://luma.com/bnu4zkuy