1 Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your background.

I am a Creative Technologist. Creative Technology space is a new and emerging field that allows me to play with new tech and find creative ways to use it. After completing my Bachelor of Science in Animation and Multimedia, I have enrolled as a student at Miami Ad School Europe, Hamburg(MASE). The positive and encouraging learning environment at this campus has given me the chance to explore and pursue Creative Technology as a long term career option. I will graduate in December with a Masters Diploma in Creative Technology.

2 What made you become/why did you choose to become a digital designer/artist?

As a child, I was always drawn to technology and my parents always provided me the latest gadgets. I lived in India where the use of computers was not so prevalent back in the days. However, I was lucky that my dad got me a computer when I was 3. Those days, I used to spend most of my time playing with MS Paint. It really helped me explore my creative side. As I grew up I got into coding and tech with PC Logo. It was a simple software for kids to help them learn about basic algorithms and develop coding logic. MS Paint and PC logo acted as catalysts in growing my interest in computers and design. Thereafter I learned Q-BASIC, V-BASIC, Html, C++, and other software languages. I got so deep in coding that I started missing my artistic side. Once I realized that my true calling lies in creativity and artistic design, I decided to pursue my Bachelor of Science in Animation and Multimedia. This course helped me to develop my design skills and learn new techniques to express it. I always wanted to find the right balance between my two passions which I found as a creative technologist.

3 Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.

As a child, I was always drawn to technology and my parents always provided me the latest gadgets. I lived in India where the use of computers was not so prevalent back in the days. However, I was lucky that my dad got me a computer when I was 3. Those days, I used to spend most of my time playing with MS Paint. It really helped me explore my creative side. As I grew up I got into coding and tech with PC Logo. It was a simple software for kids to help them learn about basic algorithms and develop coding logic. MS Paint and PC logo acted as catalysts in growing my interest in computers and design. Thereafter I learned Q-BASIC, V-BASIC, Html, C++, and other software languages. I got so deep in coding that I started missing my artistic side. Once I realized that my true calling lies in creativity and artistic design, I decided to pursue my Bachelor of Science in Animation and Multimedia. This course helped me to develop my design skills and learn new techniques to express it. I always wanted to find the right balance between my two passions which I found as a creative technologist.

4 What’s your favorite kind of digital design and why?

I love working in 3D, which is my favorite kind of digital design. It just opens so many possibilities and adds a completely different dimension to my creativity. I use creations in Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality to make them come to life. Seeing something on a screen is cool but now we have the power to be immersed in a whole new world with Mixed Reality. It is the future of digital design.

5 To you, what makes a “good” design?

There are so many good designs out there. According to me, a

6 Describe your design style and its main characteristics.

I don

7 Tell us about your design process.

I first dive deep into research, explore what is out there to find out the latest expectations. After I gather my findings, I create a new theme that acts as an outline for the new design for my project. The next step in the process is to create a mood board that helps me finalize the colors and other elements. I work on a defined guideline which makes my design process easy and fast to follow.

8 Where do you draw inspiration from?

I love going through the D & AD website for art direction. Instagram, Youtube, Behance, and Pinterest are full of inspiring works too. However, sometimes the best resource is the most neglected one. I often find myself going through google image search. It is such a good place to kick start the creative process.

9 What current trends in digital design (or really anything digital related) are you most excited about?

Flat design is back in the trend. I love flat design, It

10 Congratulations! As the winner of the 2020 Vega Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?

I could not have been happier when I came to know that I won not only one but two golds. My team worked really hard and when your hard work gets recognized, it is the best feeling ever. Winning the Vega awards has provided me an accomplishment, which makes me stand out among the crowd.

11 Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2020 Vega Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?

We entered two projects, Afinity and Mayor. Both of them cater to a niche which makes them even more special to me. Afinity - Virtual reality has not been used to its full potential as an empathy machine. So far, it has mostly dominated a consumer market. We wanted to expand its horizons in the B2B market. Hence, we came up with the idea of making a sensitivity training application for corporates, schools, hospitals, warehouses, etc. Sensitivity training exists as a video in most workplaces. It never makes an impact because it lacks connection. Afinity is a virtual reality application that is used as a sensitivity training tool for workspaces and schools. We make sensitivity training an immersive experience for the employees and students by making them see things from the perspective of a disabled person. Afinity makes them experience the challenges that disabled people face in their day to day lives especially at work. Afinity aims to make people compassionate and empathize with persons with disabilities. Mayor - Touristification of a locale may seem beneficial but locals may not always agree with this idea. Apart from the obvious economic upside, it brings a lot more issues in the city like crowds, pollution, an increase in rates of commodities, etc. All this leads to friction between tourists and locals. To ease this friction, Niantic developed

12 What was the biggest challenge with this project?

During this time of COVID-19, the world is almost at a standstill. All my team partners were in their respective homes in different countries. The distance and the different time zones were the biggest challenges while trying to collaborate with our team members.

13 How has winning an Award developed your practice/career?

Winning an award as a student is the best way to get recognition and let the Industry know about your talents. And of course, recognition like this makes it a bit easy to stand out among a pile of other resumes.

14 What are your top three (3) favorite things about the digital industry?

1. The reach - Due to the digitalization, the Digital industry offers by far the biggest opportunity. With a cell phone in every pocket, your work reaches everyone at a rapid pace. 2. The vast amount of opportunities - With the growth, the number of roles and opportunities for professionals like me have grown too. 3. The transparency - Being online makes all projects open to scrutiny. This makes it almost impossible for someone to copy your work.

15 What makes your country specifically, unique in the digital industry?

Being one of the oldest civilizations in the World, India has a vast pool of creative content in our mythology, history, and our heritage. Being invaded by several cultures in the past 10 centuries has given us an opportunity to pick the best tenets from all those cultures. Digital/computer education started in India in the 90s. Therefore, we have a large pool of young and experienced population thriving with talent. I am sure in the coming years, we will start making a major impact on the creative industry.

16 Where do you see the evolution of digital industry going over the next 5-10 years?

I believe that AI and Machine Learning will play a major role in the future of the digital industry. This will also lead to new innovations in design personalization and open new opportunities for creativity. With the evolution of fast internet and data, I believe that virtual reality and augmented reality will be more integrated into our lives.

17 If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring Vega Award submitter, what advice would you give them?

I am still a student. If I can give any advice to my fellow friends, I would say never give up. Keep exploring and investing your time on projects that let you express your creativity. If you believe in your idea then just have faith in your work and you never know when it will get recognized and bring you success.

18 What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the digital industry?

As a student, I have to budget my expenses. That

19 Tell us something you have never told anyone else.

I always wanted to become a scientist. I had a major interest in science. But My creative side took over and I got into this industry. As a creative technologist, I get to live the best of both worlds :)

20 Who has inspired you in your life and why?

I take inspiration from my father. I have seen him reach new heights from a very humble beginning. He always tells me that there are ample opportunities for you lying around everywhere. You just need to have the right skill and knowledge to grab them.

21 What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?

Persistence plays a key role in my success. My mother always inspires me to try and try until you succeed and that

22 Do you have anything else you would like to add to the interview?

Everything you can dream of is possible and anything can happen if you try for it hard enough. All I can say is that never stop dreaming. Dreams do come true.

WINNING ENTRY

2020
 
SafeScan, Miami Ad School Hamburg - Vega Website Awards Winner
Microsoft

Entrant Company

Miami Ad School Hamburg

Category

Social Campaign & Series - Social - Best Experimental & Innovation

2020
 
Afinity, Miami Ad School Hamburg - Vega Website Awards Winner
HTC Vive

Entrant Company

Miami Ad School Hamburg

Category

Virtual Reality & 360 Video - Best User Experience

2020
 
Body Type, Miami Ad School Europe - Vega Website Awards Winner
Google & HMCT Art Centre

Entrant Company

Miami Ad School Europe

Category

Social Campaign & Series - New Category (Social Campaign & Series)

2020
 
Mayor, Miami Ad School Hamburg - Vega Website Awards Winner
Niantic

Entrant Company

Miami Ad School Hamburg

Category

Social Campaign & Series - Experimental / Innovative

2020
 
Trails, Miami Ad School Hamburg - Vega Website Awards Winner
WWF - World Wildlife Fund

Entrant Company

Miami Ad School Hamburg

Category

Virtual Reality & 360 Video - New Category (VR & 360 Video)