Upgrad Xchange | Interior Design + Branding | Wallpapers

Shubham Aggarwal

upGrad Xchange – Designing Learning Into the Walls

The Challenge

upGrad’s Bangalore Xchange office wasn’t just another co-working location.
It was designed to be a collaborative learning hub, a satellite space where entrepreneurs, learners, and teams collided daily.
The goal?
Turn blank walls into storytelling canvases.
Make the environment speak the brand language—without being cliché.
And most importantly, ensure the space felt alive with growth, motion, and possibility.
The brief wasn’t about beautification.
It was about rebranding space to embody upGrad’s vision in every corner.

My Role & Execution

1. Spatial Strategy & Visual Planning

Conducted a walkthrough of the full Xchange layout to identify storytelling hotspots: lobby, lounge, corridors, meeting pods, focus zones.
Mapped user behavior and line-of-sight zones to prioritize high-impact visual touchpoints.
Segmented walls by emotion: → Entry = trust & aspiration → Lounge = curiosity & conversation → Pods = focus & ambition

2. Design Language & Brand Alignment

Used upGrad’s existing color codes—red, white, black—but repurposed them for spatial calm and bold motivational impact.
Avoided generic startup clichés (e.g., “Think Different” knockoffs). Instead, designed brand-first visual metaphors.
Incorporated themes like: → Lifelong learning → Growth journeys → Fail-fast startup mentality → Learner transformation

3. Wall Graphic Systems

Designed large-scale vinyl graphics with layered storytelling: → Visual metaphors tied to upGrad’s courses (data, tech, business) → Quotes sourced from Indian entrepreneurs and changemakers → Iconography that supported motion, evolution, scale
Balanced density: mixed bold typographic murals with quiet visual breaks to avoid visual fatigue.

4. Material & Vendor Collaboration

Coordinated with printing vendors and upGrad’s facility team to finalize wall finishes, print materials, and installation specs.
Adapted artwork across formats: matte vinyl, frosted glass, wall paints, and digital projection surfaces.

Outcome & Impact

The rebranded interiors brought the brand alive—visitors now felt immersed in upGrad’s mission the moment they stepped in.
Team members reported stronger space belonging, creative energy, and alignment with brand culture.
The Bangalore Xchange became a model for other regional spaces—setting a visual tone for future office rollouts.

Why It Matters in My Portfolio

Spaces shape behavior. This project shows how I take a brand’s core DNA and embed it into physical environments — not just on-screen. It’s not wall art. It’s environmental UX.
This wasn’t an art project. It was a behavioral rebrand—delivered through layout, color, copy, and visual storytelling that turns square footage into narrative flow.

If You’re Designing a Space That Breathes Brand

Whether it’s:
A founder office
A creative coworking zone
A retail pop-up
A learning studio or wellness center...
I can help you translate your values into the walls.
And design a space that inspires, educates, and aligns your team or customers daily.
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Posted Mar 27, 2025

UpGrad is a startup looking to revolutionalize the online education space. Unlike conventional e-learning portals that just aim to teach specific skills, UpGra…

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Timeline

Aug 10, 2017 - Ongoing

Clients

UpGrad

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