A designer from India who currently shapes visual narratives at NBCUniversal in New York City, Heer Mandalia’s path to becoming a multidisciplinary creative professional is a compelling story of curiosity, dedication, and an unyielding passion for making something beautiful from nothing.
Heer Mandalia’s creative journey began with a simple digital camera and an iPhone 4 in her teenage years. She stumbled upon photography, which quickly became the seed for a lifelong devotion to creativity. “Photography was my first real step into the creative world,” she recalls. Armed with only her family’s modest digital pocket camera and an iPhone, Heer began capturing moments that intrigued her: the play of light, textures, colors, and the subtle poetry of everyday life. This early curiosity soon blossomed into a deeper exploration of how visual language communicates ideas, emotions, and stories.
This natural progression led Heer Mandalia to embark on her formal education in graphic design. For her, design became not just a profession but a dynamic medium through which she could express ideas and shape experiences. “Design still gives me that same sweet satisfaction of making something from nothing,” she emphasizes—a testament not just to the act of creation, but to the enduring power of design as a catalyst for meaning and connection.
Her professional career flourished through diverse roles, beginning with her vital work at agencies like KCSA and MOD, where she refined her skills across branding, digital design, and print. These experiences sharpened her ability to navigate and contribute meaningfully within a variety of creative settings, deepening her understanding of how strategic visual storytelling can shape product identity and brand presence. At KCSA, she played a key role in the agency’s rebranding efforts, contributing to one of New York City’s most entrepreneurial communications firms with a nuanced grasp of investor relations and public communications.
Today, Heer has been a graphic designer at NBCUniversal, where she directs her energies toward creating advertising products tailored for brands aiming to advertise on Peacock, NBCU’s streaming platform. Her portfolio includes campaigns with industry giants such as BMW, Uber Eats, Audible, DoorDash, Dunkin’, Target, IKEA, American Express, and Ford. Beyond creative execution, Heer is instrumental in building Requests for Proposals (RFPs) that invite new brands to partner with Peacock, blending strategic thinking with compelling design execution.
Notably, Heer contributed to two high-profile event graphics presentations for NBCU—CES 2025 and Symphony 2024—both held in Los Angeles. Her responsibilities went beyond digital spaces, encompassing banners, invitations, signage, and glass decals, reflecting her versatility and attention to detail in both virtual and physical design environments.
In her personal life, she nurtures a vibrant creative spirit through various passions—thrifting art, traveling, experimenting in the kitchen, curating fashion (“putting together the fit of the day”), and continuing her initial love for photography by capturing the quietly compelling beauty of windows.
She actively engages with the creative community through exhibitions such as “She Creates,” where she participated in a group showcase highlighting women artists. Her story is of sustained passion, continuous learning, and the joyful act of bringing ideas to life through design. As we sit down with Heer for New York Art Life Magazine, we delve deeper into how she approaches creativity, navigates the design industry, and balances her professional work with her artistic impulses
New York Art Life: Can you describe how your early experiences with photography influenced your approach to graphic design?
Heer Mandalia: My journey into creativity started quite organically with photography when I was sixteen. Back then, I was fascinated by the power of the lens to capture moments, whether mundane or extraordinary, and how light, framing, and perspective could alter how a story is told visually. Using an iPhone 4 and a little digital pocket camera, I learned to observe the world closely and find beauty in everyday scenes. This cultivated a heightened sense of composition, rhythm, and detail that I later brought into graphic design.
When I transitioned into studying graphic design in college, this early skill set gave me a unique edge. Photography taught me storytelling through visuals without words, which aligns closely with design principles where clarity and impact are essential. I approach design projects as narratives, utilizing shapes, colors, typography, and layout much like I would frame a photograph—each element contributing to the overall message. This foundational experience continues to inform how I craft branding and advertising materials that resonate emotionally and intellectually with people.
New York Art Life: You have worked in various settings, including agencies like KCSA and MOD, and are now at NBCUniversal. How have these experiences shaped your professional growth?
Heer Mandalia: Each environment I’ve worked in has contributed uniquely to my development as a designer. At KCSA, I was involved in a significant rebranding project, which was particularly formative. It was an opportunity to understand how branding extends beyond visuals—cultivating a company’s identity and aligning it cohesively across multiple touchpoints. This gave me a deeper appreciation for strategic thinking and client collaboration, skills that are critical in agency settings where you need to be both a creative visionary and a practical problem solver.
MOD exposed me to a diverse range of projects, sharpening my adaptability and technical expertise, especially in digital and print design. Working in agencies taught me the importance of navigating fast-paced workflows, managing client feedback, and translating abstract ideas into concrete designs that meet real business objectives.
Since joining NBCUniversal, I’ve been thrilled to apply everything I’ve learned to a larger-scale operation where the stakes involve global brands and campaigns. Designing for Peacock advertising means balancing creativity with brand consistency across multiple digital platforms. I’ve grown not only as a designer but as a professional who understands the impact of well-executed design in marketing and consumer engagement. These experiences collectively have built my confidence, versatility, and vision.
New York Art Life: What does a typical day look like for you at NBCUniversal, and what kinds of projects are you most passionate about?
Heer Mandalia: A typical day at NBCUniversal is dynamic and collaborative. I usually start by reviewing the status of ongoing campaigns—this can involve creative brainstorming, design iterations, or preparing assets for client approval. Since my primary focus is on developing advertising products for brands that want to market on Peacock, much of my work revolves around creating digital banners, video assets, event graphics, and integrated campaign materials that reflect our partners’ brand identities and Peacock’s tone.
One of the most exciting parts of my role is working directly with well-known clients like BMW, Uber Eats, and American Express to execute campaigns that millions will see. Beyond campaign creation, I also contribute to building Requests for Proposals (RFPs), which are crucial for onboarding new clients. This involves a blend of graphic design and strategic communication to showcase the value of advertising with Peacock effectively.
I’m particularly passionate about event graphics—such as those I worked on for CES 2025 and Symphony 2024—because these projects demand creativity that translates into physical spaces.
New York Art Life: How do you balance your professional work with your personal creative pursuits, such as thrifting art, photography, and experimenting in the kitchen?
Heer Mandalia: Balancing work and personal creative pursuits is essential for my growth and well-being. Design work, especially in a corporate or agency context, can be fast-paced and occasionally exhausting, so I try to maintain an intentional space for play and exploration beyond deadlines and client briefs.
Thrifting art and collecting pieces is a way for me to engage with creativity in a tactile, soulful manner. It’s inspiring to discover artwork that resonates with me and informs my own visual sensibility. Photography remains a close companion—sometimes I use it simply as a meditative practice, capturing everyday moments like interesting windows or urban landscapes. It reminds me of where I started, and reconnects me to the fundamental act of seeing and framing.
Even something like cooking is an environment of experimentation for me. I enjoy trying new flavors and techniques—it feels creative and nurturing in a different way. Similarly, fashion and assembling my “fit of the day” allows me to express identity and mood, blending aesthetics with practicality. These personal outlets feed back into my work by keeping my curiosity alive and pushing me towards fresh ideas.
New York Art Life: How does working for Peacock, a leading OTT subscription streaming service, shape your approach to graphic design compared to traditional media platforms?
Heer Mandalia: Working at Peacock allows me to engage with an incredibly dynamic and rapidly evolving media landscape. OTT platforms like Peacock are redefining how audiences consume content—they demand designs that are not only visually compelling but also highly adaptable across multiple digital touchpoints. My designs must function fluidly in digital ecosystems—whether it’s dynamic ad units, interactive banners, or event graphics that also translate well into virtual spaces. The consumer expectations on streaming platforms push me to blend creative storytelling with user experience, ensuring our campaigns and assets create memorable brand impressions that resonate instantly in fast-paced, scroll-heavy interfaces. Working at Peacock deepens my understanding of digital-first design principles while allowing me to contribute meaningfully to a service shaping modern entertainment consumption.
New York Art Life: Can you share what it’s like to collaborate with global brands such as BMW, Uber Eats, or Target on advertising campaigns for Peacock?
Heer Mandalia: Collaborating with major brands like BMW, Uber Eats, and Target on Peacock campaigns is both exciting and enriching. These are industry leaders with established identities and expectations for their advertising, so the challenge—and opportunity—is to create campaign assets that stay true to their brand essence while also aligning with Peacock’s unique voice and audience. Our collaborations involve close coordination with brand teams and marketing strategists to ensure that creative executions leverage both companies’ strengths. For example, BMW’s campaign might focus on sleek luxury and innovation, which means our design must evoke sophistication and cutting-edge technology, but also feel native to Peacock’s diverse content ecosystem.
New York Art Life: What are your ambitions for your creative evolution?
Heer Mandalia: Looking forward, I see my career as an ongoing journey toward broader creative impact and deeper exploration. I want to explore the intersection of design with technology, sustainability, and social justice, combining aesthetic excellence with thoughtful purpose.
Another layer here is optimization—campaigns need to perform well across a range of devices and environments, often in real-time. This collaborative process sharpens my skills in balancing brand consistency, platform-specific design strategies, and technical feasibility. Ultimately, it’s about crafting immersive advertising experiences that enhance, rather than disrupt, the streaming experience, while delivering measurable impact for these global partners.
New York Art Life: Heer, you’ve shared how your creative journey began with photography at 16 and evolved through your formal studies and varied experiences in graphic design. Since moving from India and working in several notable agencies before landing at NBCUniversal, how has living and working in New York City shaped your approach to design, creativity, and your personal artistic voice? In what ways does the city’s energy, its diverse cultural landscape, or its artistic community influence your day-to-day work and your ongoing exploration of personal projects? And finally, how do you see your relationship with NYC evolving as you continue to grow professionally and personally in this vibrant environment?
Heer Mandalia: Living and working in NYC has broadened my perspective on design and storytelling. The accessibility to so many different artistic disciplines and communities—from visual art and fashion to music, theater, and digital innovation—means that my approach to graphic design is deeply interdisciplinary. Being surrounded by artists and creatives who continually challenge norms encourages me to experiment more boldly.
The city’s hustle also fosters a certain resilience and resourcefulness. Ideas need to come to life quickly in a high-stakes environment, especially working in advertising with brands like those on Peacock. New York teaches you to balance creativity with strategy, making sure your designs work effectively across platforms and audiences
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