MAM
Cut The Crap launches design unit
MUMBAI: Cut The Crap, a Mumbai based creative agency, has launched its design unit – Design Sell, which will focus on brand identity, packaging, digital and 3D designs and BTL amongst others.
While the unit will work as a part of the agency, it will function independently with a separate team. The new entity Design Sell will be headed by Renuka Desilva.
Cut The Crap founder and creative head Jagdish Acharya said, “I am excited to announce the launch of Design Sell. Cut The Crap has made its mark as a creative boutique for brand building. Design Sell derives its DNA from Cut The Crap. Design is never without a marketing purpose, the objective of design in the world of brands is to sell and to therefore it is imperative that design be strategic and a part of the brand building ecosystem. Therefore, the name Design Sell. The need was felt to launch the division on its own so it can be nurtured and grown to its true potential.”
Speaking on the potential, Acharya added, “The demand for strategic design has been growing and not just from one-off clients looking for logos, brand identity and such. We work a lot with start-ups. Some of them need only design inputs first and a full service creative interface later. Then there are those who use only BTL as a medium of brand building and they need it to be managed through strategic inputs similar to ATL.”
Design Sell creative director and head Renuka Desilva said, “I am looking forward to building Design Sell on the terra firma of strategy and creative foundations of design. It is the understanding of brand and marketing needs that will differentiate us from other design houses. Our aim over the next two – three years will be to build a strong portfolio that showcases our point of difference. Business will only follow.”
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
