What's in a name?
I’m someone who believes in the power of disciplined creativity.
Story of the missing h
My name is Arrenius. Yes, without an ‘h’—but it wasn’t always this way.
Once upon a time, I was Arrhenius, named after the Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius (thanks, Dad!). But then, my grandfather consulted the stars, and the astrologers declared: “The ‘h’ must go.” One day, I woke up, and poof—it vanished. Just like that, I became Arrenius.
Growing up in India with a name like this was like having a built-in icebreaker. “No, it’s not a typo—it’s a story!” Now, I’ve brought that story online with Find my h. Think of it as a digital treasure hunt for my missing letter—or just a quirky reminder that sometimes, the best stories come from the smallest changes.
Arrenius Karunakaran
Originally from the South of India, I've had the opportunity to call four cities across two continents home. I now call Chicago my home—a testament to my adaptability and appreciation for diverse cultures. I've spent my early career designing physical products and visual identities before moving to designing learning experiences. I always had the opportunity to be heard, which allows me to contribute beyond my assigned responsibility, thereby exceeding expectations and delivering unexpected value to those around me.
I enjoy reflecting on my experiences and sharing knowledge through talks and workshops on foundational design concepts. I've engaged with audiences ranging from high school students to mid-career professionals in both the midwest United States and India. My experience as an entrepreneur, combined with working on a plethora of projects with clients of various sizes and industries, means I can not only design engaging experiences but implement them effectively. In addition to the skills reflected in my Masters' in Design and Business Administration, I continuously seek to learn new skills throughout my career—from video production and live streaming to survey design, print design, social media communications, relationship management, facilitation, and public speaking.
I've had the privilege of working with really talented people at Fortune 500 companies, as well as many SMEs and non-profit organizations in multiple countries. One of my passions is the study of design practices and its integration in other disciplines, for I see design as an interdisciplinary endeavor.
Experience
Institute of Design at Illinois Tech, Chicago, US
Learning Experiences Manager | Feb 2023 — present
I design and deliver learning engagements with domestic and international partners. Key achievements include creating a survey-based tool to assess design-driven practices, prototyping a course selection tool, and developing a faculty toolkit for effective teaching. I also designed a service blueprint that saved 20 hours per project and enhanced brand perception through visual identity. My role involves market research, team management, partner relations, financial reporting, and innovating work-integrated learning concepts, ensuring seamless operations and impactful learning experiences.
Program Coordinator | May 2022 — Dec 2023
I aligned client needs with faculty expertise, facilitated workshops, and ensured smooth event execution. I supported faculty in delivering 100+ hours of content to 850+ executives across various formats, covering topics like Design Thinking, Behavioral Design, and Prototyping Strategy.
Lockeat, Chicago, US
Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer | Dec 2021 — Dec 2023
I developed a hybrid platform using human-centered design to help family-owned restaurants promote and sell food in communal spaces. A successful pilot with 500+ responses hit 100% sales goals, won the 2022 Kaplan Pitch Tank Audience Choice Award, and boosted investment. I led a team to enhance product features, achieving high net-promoter scores.
College of Commerce, Coimbatore, India
Head of Design | March 2020 — July 2021
I developed visual identities and brand guidelines, directed ad campaigns across digital, offline, and hybrid channels, and exceeded conversion targets by 175%. I led a partnership to design an AI-powered quizzing platform for remote learning, meeting revenue goals. Additionally, I represented the organization at 20+ public events, including conferences and pitch talks.
Fablabz at SRCAS, Coimbatore, India
Industrial Design Specialist | April 2020 — June 2020
I design and deliver learning engagements with domestic and international partners. Key achievements include creating a survey-based tool to assess design-driven practices, prototyping a course selection tool, and developing a faculty toolkit for effective teaching. I also designed a service blueprint that saved 20 hours per project and enhanced brand perception through visual identity. My role involves market research, team management, partner relations, financial reporting, and innovating work-integrated learning concepts, ensuring seamless operations and impactful learning experiences.
53rd Inter IIT Sports Meet, Guwahati, India
Head of Design | April 2018 — Dec 2018
I led a team of 13 undergraduate and graduate design students to create the visual identity and branding for the 53rd Inter IIT Sports Meet in India. My role involved conceptualizing, iterating, and executing design assets, while managing team workflows, documentation, and communication across teams and vendors. This event marked the first nationwide sports meet to celebrate Indian female athletes, setting a new standard in design-driven branding.
Talks & workshops
Lecturer: “Design Thinking for Modern MBAs”
Mohan Babu University, Tirupati, India | 23 January 2025
Workshop facilitator: “Financial Modeling 101 for Entrepreneurs”
Hindusthan Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, India | 22 August 2024
Workshop facilitator: “Product Design 101”
Arts and Public Life – Design Apprenticeship Program at UChicago, Chicago, United States | 16 November 2023
Lecturer: “Sustainable Startup Ecosystems”
Hindusthan College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, India | 10 May 2023
Recognized work
2021: Lockeat LLC, Winner of Audience Choice Awards at Kaplan Pitch Tank.
2020: Recognized in multiple Indian national news and media for designing low- cost PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019: ShellD, Featured Top 10 of the Year by thingiverse.com for 3D printed design.
2014: Wireless Electricity Transmission, placed 4th in the National Science Expo in India among 11000 projects.
Education
Master of Design
Institute of Design at Illinois Tech, United States
Master of Business Administration
Stuart School of Business at Illinois Tech, United States
Bachelor of Design
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India
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