Mona Bagla
Professor of Practice, Business of the Creative Industries
Mona Bagla works at the intersection of design, experience and storytelling. A conceptual thinker, she distils complexity into clarity, translating ideas into meaningful visual and spatial narratives, and brings extensive global creative leadership to her teaching.
Biography
Mona joined the University of York Mumbai in February 2026. She was previously Professor of Practice and Associate Dean, Admissions, Outreach and Communication at the Jindal School of Design and Architecture, O.P. Jindal Global University, where she also served as Design Director for the school's creative projects. Her academic roles have also included Associate Professor and Communication Design Programme Lead at Alliance University, Bengaluru; Associate Professor at UPES School of Design, Dehradun; and Visiting Faculty at Strate School of Design, Bengaluru.
In industry, she was Vice President, Marketing and Global Head of Creative Services at Kroll, and Global Creative Director for Kroll and Goldman Sachs in New York, where she rebuilt brand systems spanning dozens of countries. She founded Rays of Colours Design Studio and began her career in interior architecture in Mumbai. Her collaborations include Goldman Sachs, Philips, Airtel, Standard Chartered Bank, Hewlett-Packard, UBS, New Delhi International Airport and the Smithsonian Institution.
She holds an MS in Communication Design from Pratt Institute, New York, and a BFA in Graphic and Interactive Communication from Ringling College of Art and Design, Florida.
Research
Mona's practice-led research explores how design shapes the way people perceive and move through the world.
- Conceptual and interactive data visualisation.
- Typography and branding.
- Interior, furniture and product design.
- Immersive experience design.
- Craft-based and material practices.
Her work has been featured in the International Design Awards and Graphic Design USA annuals (2013), Typographic Systems of Design by Kimberly Elam, and Design and Design Annuals.
Teaching
Mona teaches across the Business of the Creative Industries programme, including communication design, information design, branding and identity design, interior design, and designing with data. At O.P. Jindal Global University, she developed courses including Data Visualisation and Designing Immersive Gastronomic Experiences. She mentors emerging designers to trust their instincts and design with heart.
Professional Activities
- Faculty Coordinator, Provost's Office, University of York Mumbai
- Programme support, Business of the Creative Industries, University of York Mumbai
- Panellist, Artist Grants Program, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Washington, DC
- Member, Association of Designers of India, International Center for Food Design, and AIGA
Selected achievements: International Design Awards, multiple awards and honours (2013); Graphic Design USA, winner (2013); Adobe Design Achievement Awards, finalist and semi-finalist (2006, 2013); Taub Award for the Kama Sutra Packaging Design System (2005).