I am Archana,
an alumnus of the National Institute of Design (NID Ahmedabad, India'17), an award-winning Filmmaker; and a Communications Strategist with six years of work experience in the Social Impact sector.
narrative.archana@gmail.com / New Delhi, India
I believe in the democratization of design
and storytelling through co-creation,
in amplifying voices
and bridging information gaps,
towards equitable and sustainable futures >
as a Content Creator, Design Thinker, Storyteller, and a Strategist
My expertise ^ lies in supporting NPOs & grassroots businesses with:
discovering + defining
unlocking + achieving
engaing + co-creating with
thinking + building
documenting + packaging
amplifying
& MORE >
Looking to Elevate Your Organization's Impact through Strategic Communication, Design, & Storytelling? Let's Connect >
Just curious about my projects, films and accomplishments? Dive deeper.
Communications Strategy & Design:
Branding & Communications for Women-Owned Grassroots Enterprises & the Women's Enterprise Support System
as Communications Lead (WESS - SEWA Bharat) | 2021 - present
The Women's Enterprise Support System (WESS) enables women-owned collective enterprises towards profitability. It recognizes the unique challenges grassroots businesses face, and offers a one-stop solution by empathizing with and innovating within diverse contexts. Six SEWA Bharat-promoted enterprises in the financial, artisanal, food, and agricultural sectors across five states, with a shareholder base of 25,000+ informal women workers, proudly own and utilize WESS's co-created branding solutions.
Social Media Strategy and Content Design for SEWA Bharat
as Communications Designer (SEWA Bharat) | 2020-21
As one among the founding members of SEWA Bharat's Communications team, I managed the entire social media spectrum, transforming reports into visuals, creating pre-event buzz, curating impactful narratives, collaborating with partners, and fostering SEWA Bharat's unique brand voice. Our efforts set a digital benchmark for similar non-profits, validated by an independent assessment by Digital for Non-Profits in 2022.
Community Engagement during the pandemic through Information Education Communication (IEC) Videos
as Communications Designer (SEWA Bharat) | 2020-21
In response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 guidelines, I collaborated with SEWA Bharat's pan-India teams and volunteers to create multilingual IEC resources, bridging the information gap for non-English-speaking communities. These resources, distributed via Whatsapp, reached 19 million women in the informal economy across 14 states through SEWA organizations. Sattva, Gram Vikas, and ICRW also expanded their reach by incorporating these resources into their platforms.
Modularizing WESS's interventions and Envisioning Social Impact Communications at SEWA Bharat
as Communications Lead (WESS) | 2021 - present
WESS aimed to create a scalable model for Communications support, emphasizing contextual knowledge, participatory design, feasibility, and last-mile sustainability. I guided my team through Divergent and Convergent thinking sessions to distill insights into a framework. Alongside, I've effectively led a dynamic team, fostering self-reflection and a creative, productive environment. My strong strategic planning ensured clear objectives aligned with organizational goals, consistently delivering desired outcomes.
Research and Story-Documentation of Local Food Systems in the Narmada Valley
as Field Researcher (SPS Community Media) | 2017-19
I led a pilot ethnographic initiative for SPS Community Media, documenting traditional knowledge of foraged foods in tribal communities. We cataloged 124+ local food varieties with a focus on nutrition, culture, and sustainability. Our findings were presented at the National Institute of Nutrition's Centenary Year Conference in Hyderabad, India. As a writer, I contributed to two editions (Mahua and Chauli) of Mausami Khazana, a digital magazine extension of the project.
Short Films and Podcasts amplifying voices of Informal Women Workers from ten states
as Video Producer (SEWA Bharat) | 2020-21
I've crafted impactful video narratives spotlighting the lives of informal women workers. These stories span ten states and have been leveraged across diverse contexts: from global platforms like NGO CSW 65 and T20 panels, to flagship webinars such as SEWA Samwaad.
Capacity Building Workshops in Mobile Photography and Storytelling
as Communications Designer (SEWA Bharat) | 2020-21
The research and data paradigms are currently dominated by Western perspectives, but reclaiming these spaces can shift the storytelling power dynamic. To democratize storytelling in SEWA Bharat, I conducted workshops for field teams, empowering them to create content from community's perspective. 'Through The Grassroots Lens' features mobile phone portraits by eight grassroots researchers trained in visual storytelling, capturing moments from the lives of informal women workers in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Delhi.
Filmography:
I've directed, edited, and designed sound for the documentary film Jaadui Jungle (Magical Forest - 2020), which delves into the intimate relationship between children and forests while addressing the alarming issue of rampant forest fires. The film was a winner at the 68th National Film Awards (2020) for Best Location Sound in the Non-feature film category. It was showcased across prestigious platforms, such as the UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival, IAWRT Asian Women's Film Festival, and Labocine's South Asia Foreground. My student project, Dive (2016), has earned me the prestigious TOTO Award for Short Film (2017). My upcoming independent film, Shri Radha (2023), based on the poems of Padma Shri Ramakanta Rath, is an adaptation of a dance recital by the Odissi artist Smt. Suprava Mishra.
Screenings / Showcases / Awards & Publications :
