AOD Alumni Thilini Perera; changing the face of Graphic Design

Thilini Perera is a known name among the creative industry in Sri Lanka with her celebrated Visual Communication Design work in the areas of advertising, publishing, and education. Currently working as a consultant for major think tanks, and social and corporate organisations in Sri Lanka, she specialises in visual communication, branding, and creative strategy. She works mostly with local and international non-governmental organisations rooted in human rights/ women’s rights, gender and identity as well as a few design studios and corporate clients such as FRIDA- The young Feminist Fund USA, UNHCR Geneva, World Bank SL, Centre for Policy Alternatives SL, and Colombo Design Studio.

Thilini joined AOD as part of the first batch for Graphic Design and completed her Graphic Design Degree from Northumbria University, UK. In the past, Thilini has worked in editorial design and Graphic Design for RMIT University Saigon South Campus in Vietnam, Echelon Magazine Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Design Festival, and was also a part of the core team of the annual multidisciplinary arts festival Cinnamon Colomboscope as their Communications Manager. She has also been an integral part in productions such as being the Production Manager at Mind Adventures Theatre Company, and the Art Director of The Joyous Farmer, which won Best Short Film at the Jaffna International Cinema Festival in 2016.

How was the experience working in Vietnam?

The 2 year contract in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam was a great learning curve. I spearheaded the branding and marketing department for RMIT University Saigon South campus (Australian Design and Tech University). We had to design numerous campaigns and publications in English and Vietnamese, and sometimes in Korean for the International East-Asian markets. The thinking process and catering to different audiences was fun and challenging. It was balancing the branding identity of RMIT being a fun, progressive high-tech university as well as it being a good choice for a parent to make to send their children there.

How did you get into Visual Communication Design?

I was interested in Design from pretty much the get go, since the local school system really didn’t offer subjects or a curriculum that catered to someone who’s not wired to do great in the basics of math and science.

The 2 year contract in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam was a great learning curve. I spearheaded the branding and marketing department for RMIT University Saigon South campus (Australian Design and Tech University).

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