From Canvas to Computers

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Introduction

As a graphic designer and professional portrait painter, my journey has been a vibrant and ever-evolving one. It began with the delicate strokes of a brush during my early days in art college, and little did I know that it would eventually lead me to a new canvas — the digital world — where the click of a computer mouse would become my creative instrument. This article shares the story of my career transformation, taking you through the various phases and challenges that have shaped my path.

Here are some of my college artwork. This collection represents my artwork from my time in art college, an era when computer graphics were not yet in existence. During those days, the creation process involved utilising brush strokes and paint to bring every element to life. Moving from brush strokes to digital canvas wasn’t easy.

Advertisement Design of a popular ladies perfume Medium: Watercolour

Advertisement Design of a body cream Medium: Watercolour

From Job to Jobless

In 1998/99, I embarked on my career journey in a small startup where we specialised in building websites and e-greeting cards. Yes, you heard it right, I said start up, it used to exist back in 2000.It was an exciting time of growth and innovation in the digital landscape. However, the burst of the Dot Com Bubble in 2000 brought about a significant downturn, leading to the sad demise of many startups, including the one I was a part of. The aftermath of this bubble burst left me unemployed, questioning my career choice, and bringing uncertainty about the future.

In the wake of this challenging period, I found myself exploring different career paths in an attempt to regain stability. I ventured into sales roles, pursued management trainee opportunities, and even considered positions in the banking industry. I attempted, UPSC, CAT and even CA entrance. However, despite my efforts, none of these endeavours seemed to align with my true passions or provide the fulfilment I sought.

This period of uncertainty became transformative. I reassessed my priorities, refined my career aspirations, and discovered my true passions.

I learned that resilience, adaptability, and embracing challenges were crucial in a changing job market. With perseverance and self-belief, I found an opportunity that aligned with my skills and interests. Well, it was a start up too.

I remember travelling 2 hours by bus everyday to show up at 10 AM, and getting a scolding for not reaching on time to work almost everyday. Life was undeniably tough during those times, but they served as a testament to my determination and dedication.

While I was busy choosing a career path I never abandoned my craft. I pursued portrait painting professionally and it became a lucrative source of income for me. Here are a few examples of my artwork:

Portrait of Late. Sridevi — A Popular Bollywood actress Medium: Pencil

Portrait of Indira Gandhi — Third Prime Minister of India Medium: Oil on canvas

Moving from Design to Coding

While I was designing full fledged websites and graphic for websites I got curios to know how to engineer a website. Intrigued by the possibilities offered by computers those days, I embarked on a journey to learn coding. The transition from traditional design to coding was both challenging and rewarding, as I discovered a new medium to express my creativity.

I started writing HTML codes and basic JS functions and soon took the lead of teaching other colleagues how to write browser-compatible html. Soon I excelled in my new role and got appreciation from many out of which one I still remember coming from a client, “you are an HTML guru”. Such recognition motivated me to push my boundaries further and continue striving for excellence in coding.

Moving from Coding to UX

After transitioning into the role of a front-end developer, I embarked on a journey that led me through various startup experiences. Eventually, I found my place as a tech lead in front-end development at an IT services company. As the years went by, nearly a decade in total, I began to feel a sense of dissatisfaction. The repetitive nature of writing HTML and CSS codes, coupled with adding interactivity through jQuery, left me yearning for fresh challenges and opportunities for growth. It seemed like I had reached a plateau in my learning journey and desired to explore new frontiers.

During this period I became increasingly fascinated by the field of user experience (UX). Recognising the importance of designing intuitive and user-friendly digital experiences, I delved into the realm of UX design. This transition allowed me to combine my technical skills with a deep understanding of human behavior and psychology, shaping digital products that resonate with users on a profound level.

Moving from UX designer to a Design Manager:

Having spent numerous years as an individual contributor as a UX designer, I came to a pivotal realisation in my professional journey. I understood that to ascend to the next level of growth and impact, I needed to embrace the challenge of leading teams.

Recognising the potential for personal and professional development, I embarked on a new path that involved taking on leadership responsibilities. This transition marked a significant shift in my career trajectory. It meant stepping away from working in solitude and venturing into the realm of guiding and inspiring others.

I embraced the opportunity to step into a managerial role. Transitioning from an individual contributor to a manager required me to develop leadership skills, foster collaboration, and empower my team members. Guiding creative talents towards a shared vision became a rewarding aspect of my career journey. As a result of that sometime in 2017 I took up the role of setting up a new design team from a ground up for a US based healthcare company at the Bangalore Studio. Since then I have been busy building teams.

From UX Designer to AI Designer

Pioneering the future now, standing at the precipice of technological advancement, I find myself embarking on a new frontier — AI design. As artificial intelligence continues to shape our world, I am excited to leverage my skills and experience to craft meaningful interactions between humans and intelligent machines. The fusion of design thinking and AI opens doors to endless possibilities, driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.

Closing Thoughts

So far my career has been a transformative one, guided by curiosity and a passion for creativity.

From painting portraits to embracing digital tools, writing HTML CSS and JS I have evolved with the changing times.

Each transition has presented its unique set of challenges and rewards, shaping me into a versatile designer who continuously seeks new horizons. As I embark on the next chapter as an AI designer, I look forward to contributing to the exciting intersection of technology, and human-centered design.