Program Development Officer, Creative Industries + External Engagement

Priyanka Poulose (she/her) is a graphic + communication designer, design researcher, and project coordinator with an interdisciplinary practice centered on community-building and advocacy for equity-deserving groups through innovative design solutions. As a forward-thinking designer, she is dedicated to breaking down barriers, fostering empathy, and creating spaces for meaningful dialogue through co-design practices and multidisciplinary collaboration. Priyanka has partnered with reputed organizations like B.C. Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, the UBC Centre for Menstrual Cycle & Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) and the ECU Health Design Lab, contributing her design, facilitation, and organization skills to notable healthcare and community-focused initiatives. Her expertise and leadership have driven the development of 40+ visual identity and spatial design projects at renowned design studios, Opposite and Studio Eight Twentythree, in Mumbai, India. At the Shumka Centre, Priyanka previously served as Project Coordinator for the Creative Horizons Network (CHN), a national grant initiative led by Emily Carr University in collaboration with 25 of Canada’s leading art + design universities, and national + regional arts and community organizations, focused on empowering creative practitioners through entrepreneurial education, mentorship, and resources. She holds a Master of Design from Emily Carr University (2024) where she was recognized with the Governor General’s Gold Medal and the WA Architects Ltd Master of Design Award, as well as a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Mumbai (2015).