From designing fashion collections as a student to becoming one of India’s most recognized voices in visual merchandising, Anuraag Singhal, a Fashion Design alumnus from the 1997 batch, has built a remarkable career spanning over three decades in creativity, retail design, and brand communication.
Today, he is the Founder of Pencilbox India, a multidisciplinary design company specializing in brand design and communication, experiential space design, visual merchandising, and innovative product design solutions.
With more than 30 years of professional experience, Anuraag has held key positions with renowned organizations including Aditya Birla Group, Landmark Group, and Future Group, where he helped shape visual merchandising standards and retail experiences.
His work has consistently blended creativity with strategy, demonstrating how design can influence consumer engagement and brand storytelling.
Adding to his long list of accomplishments, Anuraag was recently honoured with the Forttuna Global Excellence Awards – India Edition 2025, receiving the title of Visual Merchandiser of the Year, a recognition that celebrates decades of innovation, industry leadership, and impact.
He was also featured in the India Book of Records 2024 as the sole Indian author to have written books on Visual Merchandising, further cementing his contribution to the discipline.
Anuraag is also associated with prominent professional bodies including:
One of Anuraag’s most memorable experiences at JD Institute was participating in the 1997 fashion show at Birla Auditorium, where actor and model Rahul Dev walked the ramp wearing his collection.
Two decades later, the two met again in Bengaluru in 2017, and Rahul Dev still remembered that show. What followed was an hour-long conversation reminiscing about that early moment in Anuraag’s design journey.
His time at JD Institute played a defining role in shaping his creative outlook.
He credits the institute for giving him the freedom to explore ideas and the confidence to translate creativity into meaningful design experiences.
Years later, he even collaborated with JD Institute to launch an online Visual Merchandising course in 2006, alongside the late Shri Chandrakant Dalal Ji, whose mentorship and interactions left a lasting impact on him.
For students entering the world of design, Anuraag shares a simple yet powerful perspective:Design is not just about aesthetics – it is about observation, empathy, and problem-solving. Staying curious, experimenting constantly, and observing the world around you are what shape a strong designer.
Nearly 28 years after graduating, Anuraag remains closely connected with many of his batchmates from JD Institute – something he believes reflects the relationships and experiences built during those formative years.
At JD Institute, we are proud to celebrate alumni like Anuraag Singhal whose journeys continue to inspire future designers.
If you aspire to turn creativity into a lifelong profession, your journey can begin at JD Institute.
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