I started out with graphic design, primarily using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to make graphics for people who requested calendars or icons or backgrounds on Twitter in freshman year of high school. The requests came from fanbase accounts. I didn’t have any classes on these programs or the rules of graphic design until I built my own interest and my curiosity for it. I’ve always been into traditional mediums of art as a hobby, drawing, painting, collaging and even photography if that counts. When I started out as more of an artist less of a designer, my project directives were more subjective and reflective on my identity. I left India at a young age and I’ve always found myself integrating my culture into my work, from a slightly outside perspective. I would say my culture doesn’t consciously affect my personal art and definitely not my graphic design. When it comes to my personal art of drawing & painting & photography I love portraiture. 

Now I stick to 2D visuals eg: posters/banners/invites/advertisements to logo design and UI design for both web and app. I would summarize it as creating good visuals for commercial purposes. Good visuals really depend on each project, each goal each method has to be altered accordingly. When I design, of course visually pleasing is one of my most important aesthetic values, easy to read/follow, creative but still following the rules of good graphic design.

I’m going into Branding/ Digital Experience hopefully. I hope to be able to incorporate creativity and design thinking beyond visuals. I think it contributes a huge part of the world, we are all always on our phones or laptops searching for something on whatever site we’re on, and if the design is pleasing and effective it makes the experience of that search seamless.

Allens Questions:

– Who/What asked you to make the Twitter icons and posts?