Every creative has an origin story. Mine began on sloppy joe Tuesdays in middle school — the days that nearly gave me my villain arc. I decided it was time for a revolution, so I started cooking for my lunch table. My signature was an original recipe, the Peri Peri Pav: bread buns with green chutney, crisp vegetables, and a fearless streak of sriracha. My friends coughed, teachers stared, and one brave soul whispered, “Navya, that’s too spicy.” Yet everyone came back for seconds. I had just turned lunchtime into a focus group.

Looking back, it was never just a recipe. It was my first campaign. I discovered how a bold idea, paired with curiosity and timing, could shift perceptions and spark intrigue. Now I call that instinct advertising.

I am Navya Nagpal, an Advertising student at Indiana University. I love crafting up designs that make people feel something, whether it is through a story, a sketch, or a really good pav. And when I am not advertising, I am probably running A/B tests on my recipes and convincing myself it counts as “field research.”