Sayan Mandal : Graphic Designer, Illustrator

Sayan Mondal is a Kolkata based-creative freak-eccentric guy and a self-claimed graphic designer and digital illustrator. He is passionate enough in art and design and voices out his words through them along with the value-adding mechanism to mankind. In spite of scoring 88% in his board exam with the science stream, he did not pursue any other traditional career option rather moved ahead with his inner calling and chose Graphic Design. Though he did not attend any traditional design school, with the constant effort of self-learning and practicing hard he has acquired the skills of graphic designing and illustration. He loves to be around positive people, creative individuals and empowers others.

Why are you a Graphic Designer?
The Paramount purpose of a communication system is to deliver a meaningful message. Graphic design plays a powerful role in visual communication. Since my childhood, I have always felt an inclination towards observing things, looking at them hours and hours, maybe trying to have words with them. I feel they have their own words no matter they would be animated or non-animated. I’ve always searched for a medium to establish my observations and convey those obscured messages out of them which might add value to mankind. I feel, design especially graphic design and illustration give me the freedom and comfort to ventilate my pent up emotion, those imaginary messages and shape them the way I want. And an unavoidable passion for graphics has always driven me to stick to it and explore more.

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
No. I did not attend any school of fine arts or design.
I’ve attended so many designing workshops. Among them, a one-month online workshop of graphic design by Mycaptain Official is the most fruitful one.

You have a distinct style of Design. How long did it take you to develop your style?
I’ve started sincerely focusing on the discipline of graphic design three and half years back. Initially, I couldn’t come up with good stuff. I kept on practicing and self-learning. I can claim that it did take almost two years to create my own style of design.

How did you focus so much on graphic illustrations? When did you realise you loved doing it and wanted more of it?
When I was in the second year of my graduation, I’ve first sincerely started working on graphic design and illustration. At first, I’ve made my effort to comprehend the basics of graphic design like elements and principles of design, shape theory, color theory, typography, space Theory, etc. I used to spend more time with designing software like P[hotoshop, Illustrator. Like when the other friends of mine would chit-chat or spend time on any online stuff, I would try to make something with the software. Later on, I realized, It became an addiction to me ( Thankfully good addiction ). Whenever I feel low or pulled back, Design has always moved forward to back me up and let me discover more, create more good stuff.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
I don’t remember any prominent role model but I’ve always admired my twin brother for inspiring me more than I expected.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in graphic design?
I`ve always been inspired by the renowned Indian painters ( Like Jamini Roy, Abanindranath Tagore, Raja Ravi Varma) the WPAP Art designer Wedha Abdul Rashid, Semantic typography designer Ji Lee from Korea, London based character designer and illustrator Sam Peet, Denmark based designer Shaivalini Kumar and many others.

When did you start freelancing?
I did start freelancing 2 years back.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit graphic design?
No, I never wanted to quit it. It becomes more obsessive to me day by day.

Are many advertising agencies hiring graphic designers? Do you work more with agencies or publishers or direct clients?
Yes, the advertising agencies are hiring more graphic designers but along with still or 2D designing, if one is well versed in working on videos or motion graphics, it always adds a plus.

I’d always prefer a direct client or advertising agency to work with.

Do you have clients who give you steady work or do you advertise for new clients often?
I have done both.

How do you market yourself?
In terms of marketing, though I feel I lack proper practical knowledge, I try to make it at best. Mouth publicity, Sharing my designing stuff via friends, Public promotion, Social media promotion, direct approach to the companies- These are the things I do for marketing.

Any other Indian graphic designers who you admire?
Yes, I`m so moved by the fusion and unique style of Pune based Animal Illustrator Rohan Dahotre (Worked with the brand, Chumbak, Bhadra Tiger Reserve) and Siddhant Jumde from Mumbai, illustrator of India Today.

What advice do you have for aspiring creative professionals? Would you advise them to take on graphic design as a career option?
Though I’m still so little to advise other aspiring creative professionals, with the help of my experience, I’d say these-
a) The first try to figure out your passion and its feasible career perspective, then just embrace it wholeheartedly and create something valuable out of it.
b) There is no replacement for practice and self-learning.
c) Giving up never be an option at any circumstances in life.
d) Keep your hunger alive always.
e) We are all born creative. Try to make something beautiful our of your aesthetic and creativity.

Yes, surely I`d advise them to take graphics as a career option. The more the digital revolution, new media technology, communication is expanding, the more the people are becoming attached emotionally with the designs, aesthetically concerned, the more the demands of advertisements, social media promotion, graphics, illustrations are increasing. So, if we look at the present scenario, Graphic design is at its peak.

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?
This answer might be a bit biased. As my personal experience helps, though the demands of graphic design are increasing, the clients are not concerned enough and taking care of the fact that design has its own value and respect, it needs to be evaluated properly. In the case of a single client or direct client approach, This problem is bigger but when you work with an agency or house, designers are respected with their deserving and decent amount of salary.

Mac or PC?
It depends on your technical comfort zone. I prefer PC over Mac.

Who would you like to take out for dinner?
May be waiting for that person still.

What’s on your iPod?
Bengali Folk songs, American Pop, the 60s and 70s of Indian and Western music, Some Bollywood picks are on my ipod.

Whats your Twitter Handle? Instagram?
Though I`m not so social media freak. Instagram handle – baldstories, Twitter handle- @SonuFun3

5 thoughts on “Sayan Mandal : Graphic Designer, Illustrator

  1. Ayan Mondal says:

    He’s deep down talented n full of creativity. I wish my luck to him to go ahead full flaggedly.

  2. Sheikh Wasim says:

    Fabulous Sayan, keep going and receive more achievements, Best Regards Raj

  3. Debangshu Chanda says:

    You know what it means to me …
    So won’t tell a lot …

  4. Sam Patel says:

    Hello, Sayan
    These are the best designs and you are a great designer. Thanks for showing your talent. Keep it up!

  5. Jatinder kaur says:

    Co ordination.

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