“It’s fun to create something out of absolutely nothing,” shares Rucha Prashant Kulkarni, Design Executive, Blue Lotus Communications Pvt. Ltd
I did my B.Com, Diploma in 2D animation and film making and completed my Kathak Visharad. I love the arts. I have grown up in a family with an arts background. As a child I have seen my father, who is a commercial artist and teacher make creative designs. This developed the love for art in me. When I cleared the elementary and intermediate grade examinations with good grades, I decided to take up art education and pursue a career in the same field. I completed my graduation in commerce and also attended classes for animation. While learning animation I got to be intrigued by graphic designing. So as an intern in a small designing agency, I saw what design really means. Since then I have developed this love for designing logos, interfaces, brochures, websites etc. I enjoy this thrill of creative freedom and hence decided to be a graphic designer.
I am making a living doing what I really love. It is all about making a difference by creating visual objects. It is fun to create something out of absolutely nothing and bring about some change. I can convey the message using colors, shapes, images and words. While it is possible to start a career in graphic designing without a formal education, a degree always gives you a head start. Having a diploma in an arts field helped me get a good job.
The major advantage of working in a creative agency is the environment. In the earlier days when I started working, the creative environment helped me improve. The competitive surrounding was a positive stimulant and I did not want to fall behind. As I was working on projects during my initial days, I received training from my senior designers and creative director. I understood client needs, the costs, and working with deadlines. I learnt software programmes like Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel Draw and Indesign which are very important in graphic designing. All these have helped me become a professional designer.
I am responsible for creating designs that have high visual impact. The designs required are for products like books, magazines, brochures, posters, product packaging, displays and corporate identity. Along with practicing, continuous study is a must. I started by observing and imitating the work of great designers. Studying them carefully taught me a lot. Techniques of typography, color theories, layouts, started to reflect in my work. A lot of patience, time and dedication are required to produce a good visual impact.
The salary of a fresher depends upon his portfolio and work. In India, a fresher may get up to Rs. one and a half lakh to Rs. 2 lakh annually. There is no specific time period for becoming a professional graphic designer. Being professional depends mainly upon your attitude towards looking at a project, prioritizing work, allocating time, gathering sources etc. As a professional, salaries vary depending on the location, the experience and reputation of the designer. Salaries within in-house design teams tend to be higher than in design agencies, but it is generally thought that in-house work allows less creative freedom and variety. Agency work is carried out for different clients and is, therefore, more varied. Creative and art directors can earn up to approximately Rs. 6 lakh annually.
There is a stability of income when working for an agency. Focus on designing remains constant while working on various projects. One can learn many business strategies and skills if one plans to start anything on their own. There are many schools and professionals from whom you can take proper guidance about the field. An optimistic attitude and a true love for conveying your message through the visual medium will help you stay focused on your career.
As told to Monarose Sheila Pereira