Master the visual language
Tips for Graphic Design students to make an impact with their work
ration from innumerable artists, storytellers, and conservationists. As an artist, I have been heavily influenced by the work of Genndy Tartakovsky, Gary Larson, Bill Patterson, and Nina Paley. A lot of my work relies on science journalism, and I must name young Indian science journalists who have inspired so much of my work: Aathira Perinchery, Vaishnavi Rathore, and Supriya Vohra. Dr. Nandini Velho, a prolific conservation biologist, has been a guiding light throughout my career. As an illustrator, I derive inspiration from the work of Charley Harper, Brendan Wenzel, Priya Kuriyan, Rajiv Eipe, and Kripa Raghavan.
But no matter how widely you are published as a cartoonist, one faces a blank page when you start work every morning! The creative block is a daily challenge and singing, cooking, long walks with my pets, and birdwatching always come to my rescue. What also helps me to keep going is saying no to uninspiring works, trusting my instincts, and drawing a lot of circles!
When I think of evolving in my career, the most important thing I plan to do is to slow down and prioritise the kind of projects and endeavours with respect to the storytelling that I believe in but I have been neglecting investing time and effort due to my freelance commitments. In the near future, I hope to tell more stories that explore the intricate links between human communities and wildlife.
To all readers, I would just like to say: making an environmental contribution is possible no matter which line of work you’re in, EVEN if you are an official in the MoEFCC!
Sketch. This requires knowing when to let go and allow the emptiness to add depth and breathing room to the composition, often enhanced by clever masking techniques in Procreate.
Software
Mastery of graphic design software empowers students to translate their visions into tangible realities. These digital spellbooks have tools to conjure up shapes, colours, and effects, transforming abstract ideas into captivating visuals. From crafting logos in Blender to conjuring fantastical illustrations in ZBrush, the possibilities are as boundless as one’s imagination. Yet, software is just the brush in the hand; the student’s creative spark infuses the design with life and meaning.
The future of graphic design is not confined to the flat confines of the screen. Virtual Reality (VR) invites students to step into their own creations and crafts immersive experiences that blur the lines between the real and the imagined. Imagine walking through a selfdesigned museum exhibit within your own headset, where every element is powered by engines like Unity, Unreal Engine, or Discord. But, even here, the core principles of balance, contrast, and typography remain the guiding lights.
Collaboration
No design masterpiece is born in isolation. Collaboration is the essence of the creative process, allowing students to share their visions, learn from each other, and push the boundaries as a collective force. Online platforms such as Slack, Trello or Asana are bustling marketplaces of ideas, where critique and mentorship fuel creative evolution. Collaboration is not merely completing tasks; it is about building a community of visual storytellers, each enriching the other’s journey and collectively shaping the evolving landscape of information.