Why are you a graphic designer?
I am a curious animal, always keen about my surroundings. Be it nature, technology, social or cultural I always gain new perspective from each and in that process graphic design is my tool to express. It allows me to decode the world around me. Unbound by rules and regulations and free by my thoughts; graphic design becomes my aid to make a difference and strike a thought.
Every day as a designer is exciting. You wake up and there is a new challenge, a new client, a new brief waiting.

When did you start freelancing?
I started freelancing back in my 2nd year of design school in collaboration with my then batch mate Meroo Seth and ever since then we have been working together. It’s been six years and now we are finally starting our own studio called ‘Mechi Co. Design’. We are ecstatic about it.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit graphic design?
Nope, I have never had a second thought about what I do. Design comes natural to me. I am lucky enough to be doing what I am meant to.

Are many AD Agencies hiring graphic designers? Do you work more with agencies or publishers?
With the growing design industry in India there is ever more requirement of graphic designers today than ever before.
Although most of our clientele is private sector, we still have worked with few agencies, publishers and studios like Paper cats, Kuwait and Trampoline Design, Delhi. But our focus remains on the private sector client itself.

Do you have clients who give you steady work or do you advertise for new clients often?
I believe, our work speaks for itself. Behance has been the biggest platform for us. We are prompt on uploading our work on completion, giving us visibility in the industry. We get most of our clients through behance. Instagram is another lucrative platform for any artist currently. A lot of people appreciate and approach us on Instagram and Pinterest.

Word of mouth and project appreciation is the key factor for our growth. So, I guess our clients do our advertising!

Who was the most influential personality on your career in graphic design?
I am a self-taught artist. My eye for detail and zeal to explore keeps me looking for new adventures. Hence my experiences influenced me the most. Everything I come across everyday adds something to my thought process. I and my colleague, Meroo, share the same ideology and it’s reflected in our work.There is no bigger influencer than daily life.

What’s on your IPod?
I am a music fanatic. If it wasn’t graphic design, you would have caught me on a stage DJ-ing. My music collection is filled with all sorts of genres; jazz, soft rock, minimal, progressive and house. For me, Music and design does hand in hand.

What’s your twitter handle?
I don’t have a twitter handle yet but perhaps real soon.

What advice you have for aspiring creative professionals? Would you advise them to take on graphic design as a career option?
The only advice I can impart is to be true to you. Set up your own style. Inspiration and Influence plays a huge role but to be unique and stride ahead, create work that’s talks about you and connects with people. But never drift away from your roots. Always remember where you belong.
Yes, absolutely I would suggest more people to take up graphic design as their careers. Designers can have a huge impact on societies, economies, culture and emotions and in the world of chaos we live in, we can definitely use more people like these.

Did you attend school for fine arts or design?
Yes, I did Product Design from MIT-Institute of Design, Pune.

You have a distinct style of design. How long did it take you to develop that style?
My true inspiration will always be nature. Form and Space is intrigues me. I like to experiment with the harmony of form, space and color to create something that is relative and emotional. Once sketched, it doesn’t take me long to accomplish what I visualize.

Were there any particular role models when you grew up?
I owe everything I am today to my family. I get my artistic side from my mother, She is an amazing painter; my gentle personality from my grandmother and my practical approach from my father. Hailing from a small town where no one knows what design is made a huge impact on my perception of things. After that it all comes down to you as an individual. You learn and grow. You experience and become.

Who would you like to take out for dinner?
I love the people around me and I am a major food enthusiast, so as long as I get to eat; let’s roll. You see food is the important.

Do you think clients are opening up to keeping aside a descent respectable budget for design work? Do you think clients understand that they need to invest in design as communication tool and also cut the clutter, and that good design comes at a price?
Clients today understand what good design is and what’s it worth in the industry. Everyone wants to make a difference and stand out from their competitions and they are aware that good design comes at a price. Hence they are willing to take a step ahead. It’s easier with foreign clients as their societies and economies are design centric but Indian clients are getting there slowly. Once Indian clients are thorough with every aspect of design detailing, it’s a pretty smooth process.

Any other Indian graphic designers who you admire?
As a Designer I have had the privilege of meeting and working with some brilliant artists and designers across the country. I love the doodle-ish style of Meroo Seth, The color and vibrancy of Shaivalini Kumar’s designs, Gulab Sagoo lost in detail of his elaborate artworks, Crisp compositions and interfaces of Mr. Abhishek Kumar and Rahul Luthra and Wildness of Rahul Pandey’s sketches. There is so much talent in the country that I admire; this interview won’t be enough to name all. Many of them are gonna hate me after this.

MAC or PC?
Being a product designer, I have a knack for gadgets. Both are beautiful machines but it really comes down to personal preferences. I do like the open nature of a P.C. It’s more customizable and a tad bit powerful than a MAC OS.