Harshal Nishikant Shanwar

Prof. Harshal Shanwar is an Assistant Professor in the Fashion Communication Department at Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune. A UGC-NET Qualified academician with a strong foundation from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Mumbai, he holds a Master’s degree in Fashion Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Technology. His academic expertise lies at the intersection of design, marketing, management, and retail strategy.

Harshal brings over four years of experience spanning academia and the fashion industry. His professional journey includes academic roles at Atlas SkillTech University, Mumbai, and S.P. College of Fashion Design (SNDT University), where he taught courses such as Retail Dynamics, Visual Merchandising, Fashion Marketing, Trend Forecasting, and Brand Management. Alongside, he has worked with leading fashion and retail brands including Shoppers Stop, Zara, Pantaloons and Pepe Jeans, gaining valuable insights into retail operations, consumer behavior, and brand merchandising.

At Symbiosis Institute of Design, he is committed to nurturing design thinkers who combine creativity with business insights. His teaching philosophy emphasizes strategic thinking, experiential learning, and industry integration — enabling students to understand the evolving dynamics of retail and branding in the fashion domain.

His research interests focus on Retail Planning and Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Branding, and Consumer Experience Design, exploring how innovative retail strategies and design interventions can shape modern consumer engagement.

Prof. Shanwar continues to bridge academia and industry through his teaching, mentorship, and research contributing to the evolving discourse on design-led retail innovation and brand strategy. Outside of academia, he is passionate about sports and travel.