TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2024
Dolcy D’Cruz
One design can set a brand apart from the rest and can create a memory in the minds of the viewer. While it might seem very simple to the eye, there is a lot of brainstorming that takes place with the graphic designer to bring this vision to the logo. Iconic logos are uncomplicated and uses minimal of colours and fonts but the way they are designed, show the importance of a good designer.
Today is the perfect day to celebrate designers who emphasise the importance of design in our everyday lives. World Design Day 2024 which is celebrated today, April 27, focuses on the theme, ‘Is It Kind?’ to make designers realise whether the designs they are creating are kind. Kim Paulsen, VP of the International Council of Graphic Design Associations, first launched the initiative in 1995. The day was established in order to raise awareness about the value of design and to promote good design as a way to improve the quality of life.
Rohit Chari is an artist who mainly focuses on illustration related works like graphic designing and branding. Speaking about the importance of good design, Rohit explains, “Good design plays a crucial role in the field of design and compositions, from products and services to digital interfaces and physical spaces. A good design requires visual appeal, communication, brand identity aesthetics and functionality. Just like in traditional art forms, digital artwork needs to be visually appealing to capture the viewer’s attention and evoke emotions. Good design ensures that colors, composition, and visual elements come together harmoniously to create an engaging and impactful piece. Digital artwork often communicates ideas, messages, or stories. It helps convey these messages effectively through visual storytelling, symbolism, and composition.”
He further adds, “In digital marketing and branding, visual consistency is key. Good design establishes and reinforces a brand’s identity across various digital platforms, including websites, social media, and advertisements. Consistent use of colors, typography, and graphic elements helps build brand recognition and trust. Overall, good design enhances quality visualization, fosters innovation, It is a powerful tool for creating meaningful experience and telling stories in an interesting and impactful way.”
Technology plays a crucial role in multimedia designing by providing tools, platforms, and resources that empower designers to create rich and interactive digital experiences. “Advanced software tools like Adobe Creative Suite (including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Premiere Pro), Autodesk Maya, Blender, and others offer powerful capabilities for creating and editing multimedia content. These tools enable designers to manipulate images, create illustrations and animations, edit videos, and design layouts with precision and efficiency. These are few of the technology innovations which is helping us artists grow Digital Prototyping and Mock up Tools, 3D Modeling and Animation, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), Responsive Design and Cross-Platform Compatibility, Cloud Computing and Collaboration, Data Visualization and Infographics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning,” says Rohit, an alumni of Goa College of Art, Altinho.
One of the most established visual design artists from Goa, Rajan Fulari is currently the Dean of the School of Visual Arts-World University of Design (WUD), New Delhi. He explains the importance of design, “Good design is the bridge that connects ideas to emotions, enabling messages to resonate with a larger audience and help positive change societal transformation. It serves as a catalyst for social change, allowing us to address pressing issues and shape a better future through Visual Communication and Innovation.”
Do students continue to work in the field of design after graduation, “Absolutely, the realm of design is ever-expanding, fuelled by the transformative power of design thinking. Graduates are not only finding avenues in traditional fields but are also pioneering new territories, leveraging design to revolutionize social narratives and carve out meaningful careers across diverse sectors. This burgeoning demand underscores the significance of design education in shaping the next generation of creative visionaries,” says Rajan.
Keeping up with the times is very important for every artist and technology is immensely important for a visual designer that helps aiding design. Rajan says, “Technology, particularly the advent of Artificial Intelligence, has heralded a new era of possibilities in design. It empowers designers to push the boundaries of creativity and efficiency, offering tools and platforms that democratize the design process and make it accessible to all. From advanced rendering techniques to predictive analytics, technology is not only accelerating the pace of design but also amplifying its impact, enabling us to tackle complex challenges with ingenuity and precision. In this digital age, technology isn’t just a tool; it’s a catalyst for innovation, enabling designers to unleash their full creative potential and shape a future where design serves as a driving force for positive change.”
Another alumni of Goa College of Art, Altinho, Rajtilak Naik is a professional photographer but his skill with the right tools have helped him create award-winning graphic designs. Recently, he was on the panel of judges for the state level 48th State Art Exhibition (Student Category) 2023-24. “The design industry is spreading in Goa and many artists who had to earlier move to metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai can now find work in Goa too. Goa is becoming a hub with various events and activities being organised right here and there is a lot of competition too for them to grow in the industry,” says Rajtilak.
Speaking about the immense talent in Goa, he says, “I can see the transition of talent from our early days to what budding artists are doing now. The creativity level is building up and design is a wide spectrum that covers different forms of visual design. It is not only the young artists but also senior artists who keep up with technological updates through so many platforms.”
Another award-winning artist is Kalidas Satardekar, who has explored different mediums to express his ideas. His short films like ‘Save Lives, wear a Helmet’ and another on the importance of voting was selected by the Election Commission of India. “Technology has made things so much easier now. Earlier, we had to draw each movement of a character. Now, one has ready apps at our disposal and we have to only draw the figure and give a command to make the moving motion. With the help of AI, one will not even require an artificial set up,” says Kalidas.
World Design Day also celebrates the designers’ profession and encourages them to continue developing their skills and contributions to society. “People don’t understand the value of a good designer in Goa. They know how to use Coreldraw and Photoshop and they think that’s all that is required for a designer. There is much more to the role of a designer to make an identity of a company or a brand. Right from the table to a car to the packet of a soap to the sachet of a shampoo, everything is designed by a designer,” concludes Kalidas.
