Hasta La Creative!

Prachi, 25, is a scrupulous nerd who has come to Europe to follow her passion and learn more about the gastronomy & tourism industry. She comes from the serene city of Pune, located in the state of Maharashtra, India. A Graphic Design graduate from MIT Institute of Design, Pune and currently studying Brand Design Management: Food, Wine, and Tourism at IED, Barcelona. Life has always been about the finer details for her. As she studies her favorite subjects, wine & art, she finds her world, becoming more and more colorful, inebriating and inspiring.

She primarily works on projects related to Brand design, Strategy, and Marketing. She isn’t thwarted by the unexpected and refrains from developing a distinct personal style. She understands that it is the design problem that lays the dictum to the designer and not the other way round. What she loves about design is that it opens up the possibility to be a different person in a different world, every single day. She has had experience in the UI/UX and advertising industry and has worked on varied brands like LinkedIn India, Marico India, HUL, etc.

Why are you a Graphic Designer?
It has always been fascinating to see how each brush stroke changes a painting completely. Design became more fascinating than painting, because now I could ‘paint’ with more than just a brush.

Graphic Design is more of an emotional and personal process rather than functional and that’s what I love about it. It’s a visual communication tool that expresses a thought or an idea by taking into consideration the sensitivity of people and the society.

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
Yes, I completed my graduation in Graphic Design from MIT Institute of Design, Pune. It’s where I built my foundation and explored my own design identity.

You have a distinct genre of Design in food and drink. How did you choose this area?
I was always keen towards the Gastronomy industry and wanted to learn more about it but never really got a chance. Instinctively, I ended up working on projects related to it and as time passed, I finally decided to dive deeper into the Hospitality and Wine industry and hence, currently I am pursuing my Master’s in this sector.

How did you focus so much on graphic illustrations? When did you realize you loved doing it and wanted more of it?
Being honest, I had always been weak at illustrations because I found them to be extremely challenging. But in the third year of my college, I got an opportunity to redesign the package of Froot Loops which demanded me to do a lot of illustration work and that’s when I realized I loved doing it and have been doing it ever since. This project was featured in Packaging of the World, Design Taxi, Chois Gallery and many other Design Publications.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
I didn’t have any particular role models but I drew inspiration from countless Exhibitions and Art Galleries, especially the ones by Jayesh Sachdev.
I would also say my family as they have always supported me and encourage me to follow my dreams.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in graphic design?
Subhash Kotwal, my mentor and guide, has played an influential role in the start of my career as a graphic designer. I have grown a lot under him. Then, later in my life, my bosses at The Glitch, Aatif Shaikh & Tripti Nagpal, constantly pushed me to raise the bar and I also learned how to be an effective leader. I am most thankful to both of them for shaping my career into something I am most proud of today.

When did you start freelancing?
I started freelancing in college when I realized I needed some extra pocket money and that I should learn how to build my identity and sell my work. It started with working for friends and people I know, and over the years, my clientele has evolved and today, I am handling varied brands from different sectors like FMCG, Lifestyle, Service and Technology.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit graphic design?
Never. And I hope that day never comes because I absolutely love Graphic Design. It drives me, makes me feel peaceful, enhances my creativity and gives me true happiness.

Are many advertising agencies hiring graphic designers? Do you work more with agencies or publishers or direct clients?
Nowadays, the demand and visibility for design has been increasing day by day and it’s becoming a very competitive industry. And hence, there are many advertising agencies who are constantly on the look for graphic designers. Most of my work comes from direct clients but now slowly, agencies have also started approaching me.

Do you have clients who give you steady work or do you advertise for new clients often?
I have clients who give me steady work but I am constantly on the lookout for new clients because I like to take up new challenges. I don’t advertise much, it’s mostly word of mouth and portfolio sites that help me find new clients.

How do you market yourself?
As I said earlier, it’s mostly word of mouth. Otherwise, social media tools and features on various design publications.

What advice do you have for aspiring creative professionals? Would you advise them to take on graphic design as a career option?
One thing that the aspiring professionals should know is to enter a creative field, problem solving and creative thinking is a must. And primarily work for something that involves happiness and passion; it’s long lasting, stress-free and inspiring.
When you work with honesty, compassion, dedication and joy, your life is worth living!

And yes definitely, graphic design is growing and is spread across various sectors. There’s a lot of scope and opportunities so and there’s always going to be a need. People are always going to make products and graphic designers are required to showcase them.

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 think clients have slowly started understanding the importance of investing in design as a communication tool. This is mainly because now many examples show how creative advertising and design enhance the brand image and boost sales.
I think there’s still a long way to go but we have taken a step towards it hence we will see the difference in the coming years.

Mac or PC?
Mac, always!

Who would you like to take out for dinner?
My parents, as I haven’t seen them in a while.

What’s on your iPod?
I listen to everything from indie folk to rock music, it’s always on shuffle.

Whats your Twitter Handle? Instagram?
Twitter: Don’t use
Instagram: @simply.prachi