Preface
The process of unseeing Western culture is like getting a “fish to understand that it’s in water.” When Western conventions are centered in design, this means that anything else is seen as ‘different.’ When a homogenous group of people decide what’s “good,” it’s detrimental to the profession, and results in the majority of people striving towards a similar style.
Context
Growing up in India shaped how I see; studying in the U.S. shaped how I make. This body of work explores the friction between high-context and low-context cultures through projects rooted in memory, influence, and process. Each one is a reflection on intuition and the overlooked details that quietly guide how I design.
Second Natures
Second Natures is my BFA Graphic Design Thesis at CalArts, comprising five projects: a map of Chandigarh, a typographic poster, a Bollywood archive, an interview magazine, and a website that ties them all. These projects explore culture, communication, and design through both print and digital mediums.
This thesis isn’t about choosing between two ways of seeing, but about the space in between—trusting gut over grid, unlearning what I’ve been taught, and honoring design that doesn’t always name itself as such.
More Is More
A four-layer screen-printed poster for the typeface Fit Devanagari, reflecting the compositional traits of visual communication in high-context cultures.
Blockbuster
A 144-page hand-sewn publication with a double-sided, screen-printed cover in two colorways. Blockbuster archives Bollywood posters and title cards, exploring visual trends, typographic instinct, and the evolution of South Asian graphic design.
Grass Between The Stones
A double-sided map of my hometown, Chandigarh—India’s first modern city, designed by Le Corbusier after partition. The project explores the tension between its low-context, modernist planning and the high-context culture of the people who live there.
Awaaz Magazine
Awaaz is an interview magazine featuring conversations with South Asian designers—Shantanu Sharma, Ishika Madaan, Sejal Gupta, and Ananya Mohan. Through these dialogues, the publication explores voice, identity, and the nuances of practicing design across different contexts and geographies.
Website
Second Natures, the website is built like a newspaper, replicating the structure and spirit of print in a digital space. It brings all the thesis projects together and houses the full writing—essays, interviews, and reflections—serving as both an interactive archive and a continuation of the work.