1. When and how did you choose to be a graphic designer?
The realization that I want to pursue graphic design hit me when I was around 16 years old. A friend of mine had actually told me about the different career options in Design. Before that, I was unaware of the existence of this field and like many of my friends I had chosen to do my higher studies in the science stream (MPC).
My interests kept changing throughout my life (at one point I even wanted to be a chef!) but art had sort of always been constant to me (something I got from my mom.) I started reading a lot of books when I was around 14-15 and I loved to collect books with pretty/interesting cover designs.
One day it hit me that I'd actually love to pursue a career in designing covers for books and music albums. And yeah, that's where this journey began!
2. What is the role and scope of work for a graphic designer?
Infinite! It's a very diverse field and the career paths absolutely depend on the individual. A graphic designer can work in a firm or freelance to take up projects that involve branding, UI/UX, packaging or publication but it's absolutely not just limited to these.
The scope depends on the skills acquired by each individual. And, personally, I feel like now is the best time to get into the field of design! The world is becoming more and more aware of the importance and need of design.
If one can discover what they're really passionate about, then a good sense of design and a kickass portfolio will take them places!
3. Which are some of the tools & softwares that a graphic designer must be aware of?
I think the softwares that everyone should have at least the basic knowledge of are Photoshop and Illustrator. After that you have AfterEffects, XD, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Rhino etc. and honestly, the list could go on forever.
You will definitely have an upper-hand if you know a lot of softwares. Although something a senior had told me that has always stuck with me is that 'even if you know only two software's, be the most efficient one at using them'. The faster you can move around a software, the better.
The more you work around with them, the more shortcuts and tricks you'll discover that'll improve your workflow and benefit you. Learn your shortcuts and ALWAYS ctrl+s!
4. How in your opinion has this profession changed over the years?
I think just like everything else, the evolution in technology has heavily influenced how graphic design has changed throughout the years. With the rapid digitization of the world, I think graphic designers are trying more cutting-edge innovations.
One thing that's constant about graphic design is that it's never constant!! Graphic design trends often last for a very short period of time and almost always are somewhat inspired by previous trends.
Forex, graphic trends in 2020 are very influenced by the trends that were around in the '80s and '90s! I think the key is to take inspiration from the past and innovate it for the future.
5. Do you often have to keep up-skilling yourself?
Yes, absolutely. It's not so much that I 'HAVE' to up-skill myself but more that I 'WANT' to. You can never run out of things to learn! Taking softwares as an example, my favourite one to work with is Photoshop and I've been using it for around 4 years now and there's still so much I don't know about it.
They're like a world of their own. It's very important to keep practising and teaching yourself new things. The more you practice, the more you learn.
You can obviously be comfortable with what you know and go ahead with your life and not face any problems, but what's the fun in that? Once you start exploring it's very hard to stop.
6. How can one develop a keen sense for design and aesthetics?
I don't think I can give the best answer to that because I myself am learning and developing these skills. But what has helped me the most is observation! We were told to always keep our eyes open to the details around us. That's where all the knowledge lies.
Constantly taking in information from around you is the best way to develop a keen sense of design or aesthetics. Look at other designer's works (but don't plagiarize! just observe their work), read books, watch movies, listen to music, watch people and observe the world around you.
See what stimulates your thoughts and take inspiration from those things. Don't be afraid to get lost in your thoughts, trust me, that's where the best ideas lie (my zoning-out ability is actually a running joke among my batch mates !)
7. Your favourite book and why?
This is the most difficult question to answer! I can never name one. Every time I read a book, it becomes my favourite! However, I can tell you about the book I am currently reading which is Blink by Malcom Gladwell.
It's a self-help (?) book that gives an incredible insight about our adaptive unconscious and it has honestly offered me a whole new perspective.
Some more that I read recently were Norwegian Wood by Murakami, Shortness of Life by Seneca and Metamorphosis by Kafka. All these are honestly beautiful and I recommend everyone to read them if they haven't already!
Interview by - Shamayla
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