Madhuri Rao

Hi, I’m a designer and facilitator dedicated to creating work that is human- and planet-centered. I’m currently a Communications Specialist for New York City’s health and wellness program, helping bring free resources and workshops to city workers, and I also conduct natural dye workshops in my free time.

With over seven years of design experience, I focus on projects that connect diverse communities through design research, strategy, and visual storytelling. I love turning big ideas into clear, engaging experiences through workshops, visual design, and community-centered projects.

Before this, I was a vegan baker and yoga teacher, and I bring a background in law to everything I do. My work is shaped by holistic and regenerative design principles, with the goal of creating solutions that tackle today’s challenges while building a healthier, more just future for people and the planet.



Design
Projects
  1. Theater der Welt
  2. AUTONOM Symposium
  3. Social Alpha
  4. London Design Festival
  5. Report Design


Research
Projects
  1. Earth’s Kitchen
  2. Loving The Bronx

Theater der Welt






Greta Thunberg’s wake-up call “Our house is on fire!” was the motto for the international Young Theater of the World Congress.
As a collaborative duo, my project partner Helin Ulas and I were instrumental in managing, directing, ideating, and designing key elements of this initiative. Our close collaboration with the Theater Der Welt team enabled us to curate a vibrant and immersive experience for participants. We meticulously crafted the festival's creative components, including the enchanting secret garden atop the main building and a bustling foyer reminiscent of a lively cityscape, which featured videos portraying diverse countries' perspectives on climate change.




The centerpiece of the event was a dynamic three-day virtual festival hosted on Gathertown, tailored specifically for young adults eager to engage in discussions and workshops on climate change and writing. Participants were randomly organized into teams comprising individuals from different countries, each equipped with private, password-protected rooms for collaborative dialogue.



Throughout the festival, participants embarked on engaging activities and discussions such as thrilling treasure hunt with strategically placed clues and wayfinding elements that guided them and encouraged the participants to talk to eachother. Alongside entertainment areas like game rooms and disco spaces, thematic rooms such as editorial spaces and lounge inspired by speed dating conept that facilitated diverse interactions and provided platforms for documenting relevant literature.