Hasta La Creative!

Farzeen is a full time illustrator and graphic designer, and part time bird nerd and hoola hooper. You will often find her lurking around the Jaipur Literature Festival under the guise of Design manager, hoping to bump into a beloved author for whom she can illustrate! If she’s not working, she’s most likely lost in her world of bird watching.

Why are you a Graphic Designer?
I feel I’m best able to express my thoughts through visuals. I am always telling stories in great detail and hoping I can create for you a picture as vivid as I see. Graphic design and illustration seem to be a default choice.

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
I attended a Diploma course for Fine Arts over the weekends while I was studying Sociology in Delhi University. Right after, my fingers and mind were itching to learn more art and find the right avenue to be able to express my creativity. So I attended Srishti School of Art Design and Technology for Visual Communication.

You have a distinct style of Design. How long did it take you to develop your style?
I’ve barely scratched the surface I’d say. My style is constantly evolving as I learn and grow and consume more art and design. I always had a love for drawing and craft, but I only took it seriously once I landed in design school. Almost like I was learning from scratch. I remember having to draw a tiger about 50 times, to get it quite right when I started my first Children’s Book Illustration project.

How did you focus so much on illustrations? When did you realise you loved doing it and wanted more of it?
Through my projects at Srishti, I gravitated more towards writing for children, illustrating for children. It was immensely fascinating for me to understand how a child saw the world. Falling completely in love with Quentin Blake’s illustrations in Roald Dahl books, Neil Gaiman’s otherworldly creations, or the beautifully illustrated book The Little Prince, I aspired to create something that would resonate the way these books did with me.
It was when I was working for an NGO called Going to School in 2017, I was in Bihar training Govt. school teachers the story books we had created for their students. That is when I truly understood the power of images in storytelling.
I have been blessed that my first job right out of college at Studio EkSaat allowed me the freedom to explore my style and illustrations in a majority of the projects we did. It was a great stepping stone for me to grow as an illustrator and find the right way of balancing graphic design and illustrations.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
I grew up watching my dad doodle on literally every piece of paper that he came across. His black fountain pen is a constant companion to his shirt pocket, and he scribbles every chance he gets. Be it a bus ticket or a paper menu at a restaurant.
Surrounded by architects and artists growing up, they were naturally my first inspiration. Later as I started to explore this world, I fell in love with stories told through words, drawing, movies. Like Roald Dahl’s books, Tim Burton’s imagination. One of the first illustrators that I was in awe of is Victo Ngai. Even though I’m constantly finding new work to admire everyday, there is something about her work that I will always aspire to create.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in graphic design?
Honestly, my style has not evolved enough to pin inspiration or influence on one particular personality. I have along the way learnt most from my mentors and peers. Seeing them design and learning from their processes.
When I was very new to the world of Design in my first year of learning at college, I stumbled upon Sagmeister&Walsh and immediately formed a liking for their work. Ofcourse Jessica Walsh’s work was tailor made to gain my attraction with all of its bold and adventurous design.

When did you start freelancing?
I started freelancing in 2015, when I was in my final year of design school.
I look back at my first ever freelance project and get this bittersweet feeling, where I’m equal parts appalled by the design work and also proud to have grown so much from then on.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit graphic design?
I wanted to quit graphic design in my second week of design school, in my third class of Layout and Design.

Are many advertising agencies hiring graphic designers? Do you work more with agencies or publishers or direct clients?
Are agencies hiring graphic designers? HELL YES! Now more than ever!
I mostly work with direct clients.

Do you have clients who give you steady work or do you advertise for new clients often?
I predominantly keep myself busy working with The Jaipur Literature Festival which I consider my steady work. In the interim I keep my eyes peeled for exciting projects like children’s books or art based education.

How do you market yourself?
I don’t. I would score myself a 3/10 on my marketing skills. It’s a new year resolution to post as much as I create on my Behance and Instagram pages.

Any other Indian graphic designers who you admire?
• Sam Kulavoor
• Nirupa Rao
The admiration is self explanatory.

What advice do you have for aspiring creative professionals? Would you advise them to take on graphic design as a career option? Do you think Clients are opening up to keeping aside a decent respectable budget for design work? Do you think clients are understanding that they need to invest in Design as a communication tool and also to cut the clutter, and that good design comes at a price?
I would club my answer for the above two questions.
I can’t see a better time for us to pursue graphic design. With the digital world opening up manifold in the last two years, more visuals and more good visuals are in high demand. More good visuals also means more good visual artists on the field. This can be daunting but also inspiring.
With digital marketing multiplying as it has due to the pandemic, clients are understanding the value of design as an imperative tool.

Mac or PC?
Mac

Who would you like to take out for dinner?
This week, Anna Delvey. I’ll make sure she goes dutch on the dinner.

What’s on your iPod? Spotify?
10,000 Emerald Pools By BORNS.

Whats your Twitter Handle? Instagram?
Instagram: z.ee.n