At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Nikhil Saini and Mansi Choksi for an exclusive interview with us.
Nikhil and Mansi are the duo behind unctrl – building “unctrlable” ideas across branding, packaging, website design, marketing collaterals, and social content. From startups to established businesses, their work focuses on clarity, scalability, and creating a strong, lasting presence.
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Nikhil and Mansi:
What inspired both of you to start unctrl, and how did the idea first take shape?
While in Dubai, we noticed that many Indian brands had strong products and immense potential, but their visual identity often didn’t match global standards.
We saw this not as a gap, but as an opportunity – to build brands that can confidently sit on any global shelf. That thought stayed with us and eventually became unctrl.
We started with branding and packaging, and it has grown organically from there. For us, it has never been about fixing brands – it’s about helping them be seen the way they deserve to be.
What unique strengths do each of you bring, and how do they complement each other?
I come from a creative background with over 15 years of experience working with agencies and global brands, shaping my approach to design, detail, and visual quality.
Mansi brings over 15 years of experience across business, marketing, and consulting – focusing on how the work performs, scales, and translates into real impact.
This balance allows us to create work that not only looks strong but also works seamlessly across platforms and business contexts – balancing instinct with intent.
How do you divide roles and responsibilities to avoid overlap or conflict?
We keep it simple and clear. I lead creative direction and design, while Mansi handles business, strategy, and client communication.
This clarity helps us move faster, especially under tight timelines, and minimises unnecessary overlap.
What sets unctrl apart in a crowded branding space?
Two things: quality and adaptability.
We believe good design should not be inaccessible. We’ve built systems that allow us to deliver high-quality branding while staying flexible for startups and fast-moving businesses.
We’ve also integrated AI into our workflows in a practical way—to reduce friction, increase speed, and scale output – without diluting the thinking.
For us, speed matters – but never at the cost of intent.
What kind of work have you done with startups?
We’ve worked extensively with startups – helping them go from idea to shelf through branding and packaging.
Early-stage businesses often either overlook design or find it inaccessible. We aim to bridge that gap with work that is thoughtful, practical, and execution-ready.
A strong product needs equally strong communication. Startups don’t need more noise – they need clarity, presence, and confidence from day one.
What challenges have shaped your journey so far?
Like any business, we’ve had our highs and lows – tight timelines, high-pressure delivery cycles, and moments of imperfection.
There have been phases where we delivered over a thousand assets in a month, which forces you to rethink systems and processes.
At that scale, even small inconsistencies become visible. Scale demands discipline—you either build systems that hold, or you get exposed.
Consistency is built through navigating chaos.
What drives you to keep pushing forward?
We genuinely love what we do. For us, it has always been about the work first.
Building something meaningful takes time, energy, and consistency. We’re still early in the journey and that keeps us hungry in the right way.
What is one misconception people have about working together as a duo?
People assume it might become unstructured or overly emotional.
In reality, it has made us more disciplined. Clear roles and ownership ensure that decisions are made efficiently and progress stays steady.
What is your vision for unctrl going forward?
We want to operate at the intersection of design, technology, and speed, rethinking how branding is delivered to modern businesses.
The goal is not just to do more projects, but to build a way of working that consistently produces strong, clear, and relevant brands.
What advice would you give to others building something together?
Stay focused, be patient, and keep going – even when it gets difficult.
At the same time, develop judgment. Not everything is meant to be pushed endlessly. Knowing when to persist and when to step back is equally important.
Time is your biggest investment. If something isn’t moving in the right direction despite honest effort, reassess.
If the work is strong, everything else eventually aligns.
At BrilliantRead, we don’t just share startup stories – we bring you journeys that challenge perspectives, spark ideas, and fuel ambition. Every story we feature is carefully chosen to add real value, inspire action, and ignite possibility within our growing community of entrepreneurs and dreamers.
If you have a powerful story – one that can inspire, educate, or create impact – we want to hear from you.
