- Participating in local clean-up initiatives
- I enjoy sketching and drawing, which helps improve my creativity and attention to detail
- Backpacking and Hiking
- Baking
- Gardening
- Participating in cultural exchange programs and homestays
- Graphic Design
Sanjana Nair
Urbana,USA
Summary
Tenacious and purpose-driven landscape designer with a background in architecture and 3+ years of experience across built, ecological, and community-centred design. Passionate about designing with empathy, I approach landscapes as living systems that carry memory, foster connection, and respond to the urgencies of climate justice. My work is rooted in healing, storytelling, and resilient design that restores the bond between people and place.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Design Intern & Research Assistant
Depave Chicago
06.2025 - 08.2025
- Designed community-based depave prototypes for urban lots and schoolyards
- Produced 2D/3D visuals for the Depave Chicago Manual and website
- Applied spatial and material strategies for equitable, site-specific greening
Landscape Designer / Architect
Arun Kumar & Associates
01.2023 - 08.2023
- Led design development for culturally sensitive landscape restoration of Shiv Mandir in Ambernath, integrating ecological and heritage values
- Designed urban streetscape proposal for "La Ramble Street" in Mittal Naigaon, focusing on pedestrian experience, planting strategy, and contextual urban aesthetics
Art Assistant Director
Nadiadwala Grandsons Entertainment
11.2021 - 02.2022
- Designed sets and collaborated with the production team on feature film Heropanti 2
Freelance Landscape/Architecture Designer
Mumbai Region
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Executed residential and commercial 3D models and landscape plans
- Contributed to material research and built the "Urban Tranquil" Yoga Retreat landscape
Junior Architect
Square3Designs
01.2021 - 01.2021
- Supported villa design development in Goa through AutoCAD and client coordination.
- Participated in site visits and helped produce working drawings
Intern – Architecture & SRA Projects
Thacker and Associates
12.2018 - 06.2019
- Created municipal and interior working drawings for slum rehabilitation housing
Teaching Assistant
University Of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL
08.2024 - 12.2025
- Assisted in lesson preparation and instructional materials development for diverse learning environments.
- Supported classroom management by fostering positive student engagement and behaviour.
- Facilitated small group discussions to enhance comprehension of course material among students.
- Graded assignments and provided constructive feedback to promote academic growth and improvement.
Education
Master of Landscape Architecture -
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
01.2025
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) - undefined
MES Pillai College of Architecture
Navi Mumbai, India01.2020
Skills
Adobe After Effects, Adobe Encoder, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Rush
ArcGIS Pro, AutoCAD Civil 3D, CorelDRAW, Enscape , Envi-Met , InDesign , SketchUp , Twinmotion , Lumion
V-Ray, Rhino, MS Office, Revit, Grasshopper, Mapbox, Rayon, Blender, Land F/X, Adobe 3ds Max & Maya
Interests
EXHIBITIONS & DOCUMENTATION
- ACETECH, Mumbai (2019) – Exhibit coordinator & event photographer
- Kalpa, Ladakh (2018) – Climate-responsive village planning
- Khurshid Jah Devidi, Hyderabad (2018) – Palace restoration workshop
- Kondacchechwadi, Maharashtra (2017) – Sustainable rural design studio
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
- Teaching Assistant – Site Engineering (LA 342)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Aug 2025 – Present
- Support instruction in surveying, grading, and site remediation
- Assist with surface drainage and landform-circulation integration
- Teaching Assistant – Landform Construction (LA 241)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Jan 2025 – May 2025
- Taught grading, surface manipulation, and stormwater design
- Guided students in topographic representation and studio work
- Teaching Assistant – Design Communications I (LA 280)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Aug 2024 – Dec 2024
- Led sessions on model-making, sketching, and rendering tools
- Conducted workshops and provided design feedback
Publications
- Design Thesis – Museum for Space Science & Technology, Trivandrum
- Research thesis archived at Mumbai University Library; nominated for “Research Thesis” (2020)
- Research Essay – Pet Architecture: Atelier Bow-Wow
- Published in VOX Magazine, Pillai College of Architecture, 2019
- Analyzed infill development and its impact on urban topography and green spaces
- Article – Climate Change Warriors
- Advocated for climate justice through systems integration and storytelling
- Book Review – Tekton Journal, Urban Design & Planning
- Submitted review as part of design discourse engagement Design Submission – Urban-Focused Housing, Navi Mumbai District
- Participated in design proposal for Tekton Journal, Urban Design & Planning (submission-based)
Awards
Sasaki Day Award, Level 4 (2024) & Level B (2025), Sigma Lamda Alpha Honour Society- Academic Excellence - (2023-2025), Urbana Eco Future Charrette – Department of Architecture, UIUC (2024) "Transparence 14.0 – Railport Future Ready", ACEDGE Competition – 2nd Place (2020), Node Pavilion – A Social Community Space, Gangtok – Winner (2020), Urban Catalyst in an Urban Context – Undergraduate Academic Project – Winner (2020), DE-URBANISED EPIDEMICS – Planetary Competition on Health & Built Environment – 3rd Place (2019), Best Research Thesis Nominee, MES Pillai College of Architecture (2020), Member, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Illinois Chapter (2025–Present)
Hobbies and Interests
Artifice & Artistry, Photography, 3D Model making, Sculpting, Music, Travelling, Sports, Pirouette, Cooking, Teaching, Literature, Theatre, Debates & Public speaking
Timeline
Design Intern & Research Assistant
Depave Chicago
06.2025 - 08.2025
Teaching Assistant
University Of Illinois Urbana Champaign
08.2024 - 12.2025
Landscape Designer / Architect
Arun Kumar & Associates
01.2023 - 08.2023
Art Assistant Director
Nadiadwala Grandsons Entertainment
11.2021 - 02.2022
Freelance Landscape/Architecture Designer
01.2021 - 01.2022
Junior Architect
Square3Designs
01.2021 - 01.2021
Intern – Architecture & SRA Projects
Thacker and Associates
12.2018 - 06.2019
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) - undefined
MES Pillai College of Architecture
Master of Landscape Architecture -
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign