MUMBAI: When elephants dance, they leave a mark and Muhammed Farhan just left one for the history books. The 22-year-old art director at Maitri has delivered Kerala its very first Red Elephant at the Kyoorius Design Yatra 2025, bagging the top honour for his packaging design for ITC Foods’ Bingo! festive gift packs. The brief was no small fry. Bingo! wanted festive gifting to feel modern and premium while sticking to a lean budget. Farhan responded with not one but two inventive packs that wowed the jury and stood out in a sea of entries.
Pack A took inspiration from Warli art, a tribal form famous for its geometric motifs. Farhan cleverly wove Bingo!’s beloved snacks chips, nachos and Tedhe Medhe into celebratory Warli compositions. The design used a single strip with a looping mechanism, adaptable to hold varying snack quantities.
Pack B went the nutty route, quite literally. Mandala-inspired and constructed with cashews, almonds, and exotic mixtures, the modular design borrowed from India’s classic tiffin box. Each paper unit clicked neatly together, allowing portions to be added or removed while staying securely locked.
This wasn’t Farhan’s first brush with Kyoorius acclaim. He has already won four Blue Elephants and was shortlisted for the Young Maverick award at Goafest 2025 all without a formal design education. But this Red Elephant marks a historic leap, both for him and for Kerala.
Maitri managing director Raju Menon couldn’t hide his pride: “Farhan joined us at 18, and his meteoric growth has been a delight to watch. We’re all very proud of our young star.” Maitri group creative director Francis Thomas added, “We knew this day was coming.”
Farhan himself called the moment “unforgettable,” adding that representing Maitri on such a stage was an honour he would always carry.
For Maitri, the win is more than just an award. It underscores the agency’s reputation for nurturing raw talent and pushing creative boundaries. For Farhan, it’s a reminder that sometimes the boldest ideas come from the youngest hands and they can carry the weight of an elephant.