Elephant Design launches Asia Pacific hub in Singapore

The APAC practice will be spearheaded by Swetha Iyer, a seasoned design and client relations leader with deep expertise in crafting strategic brand solutions for global clients. With extensive experience at Why by Lonsdale in Singapore and Landor in India, alongside a long-standing association with Elephant, Swetha brings both an international perspective and an intrinsic alignment with the agency’s culture and values.

Ashwini Deshpande, co-founder & director, Elephant, said, "This is not just an augmentation. We see APAC growing to match, or even surpass, our India practice in the coming years, driven by our sensitivity to cultural insights and our agility in collaborating with diverse talent across the region."

Swetha Iyer, the growth director – APAC, added, “My association with Elephant has been built on shared values and a passion for consumer brands, and returning to lead the APAC practice feels like a natural continuation of that journey. Singapore, as the gateway to Southeast Asia, is a vibrant hub with a diverse cultural footprint that also reflects Elephant’s design vision and ethos. I am excited to be part of this chapter and to propel Elephant’s expansion into the Asia Pacific region." 

Founded in 1989, Elephant has been at the forefront of shaping the design industry in India. Its team of over 70 strategists, researchers, and designers, spread across multiple cities, has partnered with a diverse range of clients, including industry giants such as Tata, Reliance, Himalaya, Emami, Marico, Coca-Cola, Domino’s, Revlon, L’Oréal, and Chicco. As a founding member of The Design Alliance Asia—a collective of leading independent design agencies that have shared cultural and regional insights for over 25 years—Elephant has consistently championed collaboration and cross-cultural creativity.

With Singapore as its base, Elephant is set to amplify its presence in the dynamic Southeast Asian FMCG and consumer brand landscape, while also deepening its partnerships with existing clients in the region. This expansion underscores Elephant’s vision to harness cultural insights, creativity, and innovation to help brands in the Asia Pacific thrive.