Design consultancy Elephant stomps into Singapore with new APAC hub

India’s independent design and brand consultancy Elephant Design is expanding into the Asia Pacific with the launch of a new hub in Singapore. With Singapore as its base, Elephant Design aims to grow its presence in Southeast Asia’s FMCG and consumer brand landscape while deepening partnerships with existing clients.

In conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Ashwini Deshpande (pictured left), co-founder & director, Elephant Design, said Singapore's location makes it ideal to service the entire APAC region, combined with the fact that many multinational companies have opened regional HQs in the market.

"We have some experience of working in Singapore as Elephant was invited by Singapore Economic Development Board to set up a design and innovation practice there over a decade ago. We worked on at least a dozen innovation initiatives during that phase. It is a cultural melting pot which makes it exciting for the creative team," said Deshpande.

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With the launch of the new hub, the consultancy is keenly looking at Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, Deshpande told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE. It will also venture into Vietnam and Laos. "As part of the consortium of 12 independent design consultancies across Asia, we have access and reach on the ground in each of these countries," she said.

"Our strength lies in picking rooted cultural insights and converting them to the advantage of brands and people who subscribe to them. Today, every multinational is looking at localising the offerings, not just superficially, but also with deep respect to the cultural insights. We believe that will be our sweet spot. We have worked with Unilever, P&G, Colgate, PepsiCo, Coca Cola, Abbott, Himalaya & Chicco in the past and we hope to tap into their regional need," she added.

The APAC practice will be led by Swetha Iyer (pictured right) as its growth director, APAC. Iyer is a brand strategy and client relations specialist who blends design expertise with strategic insight. Having worked across India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, she has partnered with cross-disciplinary teams to deliver standout projects for leading FMCG brands. Before taking on the role, Iyer had past stints at Why by Lonsdale in Singapore and Landor in India.

“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 is a vibrant hub with a diverse cultural footprint that 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,” said Iyer.

Founded in 1989, Elephant has built a 70-strong team across multiple Indian cities and has worked with brands including Tata, Reliance, Himalaya, Emami, Marico, Coca-Cola, Domino’s, Revlon, L’Oréal, and Chicco.

Elephant Design is one of the many agencies and consultancies to enter Singapore in recent times. Earlier this month, PR and communications agency LaunchLink Communications set up shop in Singapore, marking the latest step in its Asia Pacific (APAC) expansion.

The Singapore office will act as a regional hub for both local and international clients, offering on-the-ground support and broadening access to the agency’s specialised services. The agency will offer regional clients a suite of services including strategic communications, executive positioning, media training, market entry support, product launches and cross-border campaigns. 

Meanwhile in March, Malaysia-based integrated marketing consultancy VoxEureka expanded into Singapore and Indonesia, reinforcing its ambition to build a strong foothold in Southeast Asia. Despite being newly established at the time, the agency secured key clients such as TikTok Singapoe and Universitas Tecknologi Surabaya within the first month. 

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