We live in an age of 'hyper-communication' that results in information overload, dichotomies, virtual lives, and short and divided attention spans. It is an age of choices, possibilities and expectations on the one hand; and anxiety, low self-esteem and increasing loneliness on the other.
Forms of communication, on most digital and virtual portals, compromise on emotions and moods, thus making our everyday interactions increasingly mundane and robotic. I want to explore the possibilities of using design as a tool to bring back into the virtual world nuances of humanness, humour and comfort. Smartly designed interplays of image and text can not only improve the quality, impact and relevance of messages, but can also draw in much wider participation.
Our virtual connections need a strong, comforting language that helps individuals recognize their value. Consequently, apart from focusing on socio-economic or cultural contexts, my work will take cognizance of the inner world of a person. Designing in this way will help put greater human expression into a mere exchange of information.
I am a young illustrator and graphic designer, currently employed at XXXX, an award-winning design studio. While studying Visual Communication at XXXX, I intuitively began creating work that combines the vibrancy and playfulness of the Indian tradition with the relevance and pointedness that must inform contemporary needs.
An example of this is my Thesis Project, The Gwalior Diary. Commissioned by the city's royal family, this interactive journal narrates Gwalior's oral history and fable visually and verbally. Designed to generate curiosity, it takes us through captivating tales of blue-blooded warriors, cunning dacoits, queer objects and legendary places. The reader is encouraged to participate by co-authoring some of the stories and answering riddles. The humour and interactions make the experience memorable and exciting.
My biggest strength through school, college and now as a designer has been hard work. I feel restless to learn, improve and do more. As a result, I have won a national cartooning contest, received a scholarship for being the most creative student in School and made it to the Delhi State Girls' Football Team. Recently, my illustrations were published in the Vogue India magazine.
I constantly look for opportunities to become better equipped in the fields that relate directly or indirectly to design. I have completed an online course from UPenn in Gamification that explores relevant psychological and design concepts and explains how to apply game thinking effectively in a variety of contexts.
In the MA in Visual Communication at XXXX, I see a perfect blend of guidance and independence. There will be opportunities to develop different skills, immerse myself in powerful ideas and to tackle design challenges in global contexts. It is an ideal multicultural platform offering enormous exposure, understanding and inspiration. Studying at XXXX will help me fulfill my dream of creating a design language that communicates with ever larger numbers, offering people the option to choose from a much wider repertoire of design elements, and thus express their emotions better.
