Sudeepti Tucker is a Delhi based Graphic Designer and Illustrator, and a recent graduate from the National Institute of Design. Her work is a lively mix of visual styles and themes that jump across music, mythology, nature and the mind. She finds herself happiest while lost in details.

Why are you a Graphic Designer?
When you’re small and parents push you to learn a whole bunch of different things, the only one I found myself eager about was art. It was much later that I was exposed to design as a professional pursuit and things fell into place. Design is largely about problem solving and visual design, while immediately suggests surface level engagement, is a much broader discipline. I suppose to sum it up, I’m a Graphic Designer because I enjoy using artistic tools in a deliberate creative manner to solve problems and communicate.

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
Yes, I did my undergrad at National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, in Graphic Design.

You have a distinct style of Design. How long did it take you to develop your style?
Actually I don’t think I do. I find myself doing things as per the requirement of the project. Perhaps if you were to draw out similarities across my work, then attention to detail and diverse use of colours would be what stands out.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
Different ones at different points of time but I have always found people I can look upto and seek for guidance. I have had some excellent art teachers, that first exposed me to the concept of free thinking, of looking at things differently, and I’ve had people whose faith in me has been unwavering. Between my family and teachers through school, college and after, I find myself very grateful and blessed.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in graphic design?
My career has only just begun, ask me a few years further down the line!

When did you start freelancing?
I started in the third year of my undergrad. By then most students are familiar with softwares and basic skills of their discipline, and eager to begin earning. That is also when you have some time on your hands, before graduation projects and other concerns take over.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit graphic design?
Before deadlines, when there is much darkness in my world. I kid, not as yet. I have wanted breaks but quitting feels like an alien thought.

Are many advertising agencies hiring graphic designers? Do you work more with agencies or publishers?
During the last decade design has come to the forefront. Businesses, especially start ups, recognise the need for and the advantage that comes with good design. I do hear about a lot of agencies regularly looking for creatives to join their teams, personally though I’ve worked mostly with studios or independent clients.

Do you have clients who give you steady work or do you advertise for new clients often?
I’m currently working with a Graphic Design and Illustration studio, which brings in a steady stream of work. But otherwise, with enough web presence such as blogs, portfolio sites and social media, finding work in this field is no longer very difficult.

Any other Indian graphic designers who you admire?
I have been very lucky to have either worked under or be taught by most people I look up to! Outside of that, there are many illustrators in the Indian design circuit doing incredible work.

What advice do you have for aspiring creative professionals? Would you advise them to take on graphic design as a career option?
Yes, I think design as a career can be very rewarding. It is a tangible hands on discipline to make changes, create awareness and move towards betterment as a whole. A piece of advice I try to keep in mind is that design is one of those rare professions where you can draw inspiration from anything and anywhere. Which means that you could be riding across mountains, travelling through a village, holed up in a bookstore somwhere, growing a secret garden or spacing out while staring at the sky, all of it, all those experiences and lessons come together to form the pool of knowledge you draw from as a designer. And therefore, it is absolutely necessary to keep that pool filled up and flowing, to keep trying new things, learning and exploring.

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?
While it is understandably difficult to measure the benefits of design intervention in quantifiable terms, I do find that people and businesses are seeing the need because of a rapidly globalising market and are hence willing to invest in design now.

Mac or PC?
Mac.

Who would you like to take out for dinner?
Steve Frykholm. I recently came across his series of annual picnic posters for Herman Miller. I’d love to hear about his years of experience, from doing the very first poster till when they were chosen to be displayed as a permanent collection at MoMA.

What’s on your iPod?
A variety of indie artists, and then some.

Whats your Twitter Handle?
@sudeeptitucker