Smaran Alva - There's a Feeling, a Sort of High That You Get When You Create Something From Scratch (Designer & Content Creator)

Ever since I could remember I was in love with this idea of "creation" -bringing something into existence.

1. Tell us about yourself and your background.

Hey, I'm Smaran & I make travel films, apart from this, I'm a designer and content creator & my stuff usually falls under the visual-heavy side of things haha!

Ever since I could remember I was in love with this idea of "creation" -bringing something into existence, my earliest memory of filmmaking is getting my grandma to hold a prop gun so I could add some muzzle flashes to them on my old pc.

Since then I was always connected to this art form, one way or another. After graduating from college in Architecture, there was a new sense of direction and a set of skills that would enable me to pursue this in a much-dedicated way.


2. How would you describe your design research and what is your biggest design challenge?

When I started out this journey, there was no much thought given to what I was making, I just had to make them, I feel it lacked a sense of purpose. I don't know if others would agree to this, but that's how I felt. 

Over the years, I learned that imparting a value of permanence into your art was very necessary, telling the right story or adding a certain flare was key to creating thoughtful & original work. 

People today are busy chasing trends, that they've forgotten it's the classics that keep them alive. And that would be my biggest challenge - to create something that will stay, even after I'm gone.


3. What would you say will be the future (or) next milestone of design?

With my experience, I've noticed new technologies passing by like crazy, new ways of filming, new ways to experience art, new trends that come and go, but amidst this, there's always one common thing - a form of expression.

And I have no clue what the future has to offer all of us, but we'll definitely witness unique ways of expressing ourselves.


4. What constitutes a good design and what do you believe makes your outputs successful?

The most important thing that's imprinted in me forever is - Art is about the artist, Design is about the user.

To elaborate, a good design may consist of art in it, but it is primarily problem-solving, a method to solve a human problem, or a solution to a quest. 

Really understanding this has made a huge difference in my work, because usually when creators like ourselves work with other entities, like brands or companies etc. we tend to put in our creative expressions first rather than cater to the question that has been put forward. And that is a recipe for disaster.


5. What are some of the basic software that one must be aware of in your field?

At the end of the day, any software is a tool to tell a story - to people, to a client, to someone you love, to someone halfway across the world, they're only extensions of your body, but that being said our world revolves around them, and awareness of them is a must.

I use Premiere to edit my videos, after effects to do my compositing work, photoshop for my creative imagery & a few others that help me tell my story.

There are tons of software available. A little research on your purpose will give you exactly what you're looking for.


6. Share one of your favourite experiences as a digital creator with us.

If you ask any of the digital creators out there, there's a feeling, a sort of high that you get when you create something from scratch, put it out there to the world, see how they react, and then do it all over again.

It's a process I'm utterly in love with. I still haven't been able to put this feeling in words, or express it rightly, the day I do, you'll see it as a short film from me! :)


- Smaran Alva (Designer & Content Creator)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smaran_alva/


Interviewed By Akshaya Rathinavadivel