Astha Thakkar

Astha Thakkar is a Professor of Foundation Studies at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah, GA. She holds an M.Des. in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois Chicago and a B.A. in Communication from the University of Delhi.

Her academic career includes roles as Assistant Professor at the University of West Georgia (2020–23), Adjunct Professor at University of Illinois Chicago (2019–20), and Northeastern Illinois University (2020). She has also served as a Teaching Assistant for Color Theory at the University of Illinois.

Thakkar’s research interests focus on design pedagogy, curatorial practices, and interdisciplinary methods in visual communication. Her work bridges design education and cultural equity, as evidenced by her 2023 conference paper on curatorial approaches in design education.

She has received grants including the Royal Talens CAA Cultural Equity Grant (2023) and AIGA's What's Next Grant (2019). Her professional experience spans roles as a graphic design lead at the National Science Foundation and founder of Studio Brown (2023). She is a member of AIGA, SECAC, CAA, and UCDA.