Top Design Student Share Their Journey
Podcast with Khushi
In this podcast with Khushi Bhandarkar, we talked about her background in textile design, experiences at NIFT Chennai and FIT NYC, the challenges of design education, essential industry skills, and her future plans to launch a menswear brand. She offered insights on portfolio development and advice for aspiring designers, emphasizing the importance of passion and discipline in the field.
Guidance from Leading Design Mentors
Podcast with J.Ranjit
In this podcast, we talk with J. Ranjit (Zou), associate director at ISD School of Design. With 17 years of experience, he explains Strategic Design Management (SDM) as a way to help businesses succeed by aligning customer needs with company capabilities. To excel in SDM, you need creativity, tech knowledge, communication skills, and curiosity. It's a versatile field, with good starting salaries and growth opportunities across industries. Zou advises students to stay curious, engage with different people, and enjoy the learning process.
Artist turned Fashion Designer
Podcast with Niti Parekh
In this podcast, we talk to Niti, a successful fashion entrepreneur and founder of Taffy Kids. Niti shares her journey from Fine Arts education at LS Raa School of Arts to fashion design at Sofia College. Her experience working at House of Anita Dongre helped her understand the retail sector's focus on customer needs, fabric knowledge, and construction expertise. She founded Taffy Kids in 2021, which has grown rapidly, offering a range of children’s wear and focusing on making fashion accessible for Indian children. Niti offers valuable advice to aspiring designers on designing for customers and balancing creativity with commercial viability.
Popular Designers on Social Media
Podcast with Ketaki Mahimkar
In this podcast, we spoke with Ketaki Mahimkar, a professional illustrator and designer. Ketaki Mahimkar a graduate of Rachna Sansad in Applied Arts, specializes in illustration inspired by Hayao Miyazaki. She began freelancing during college, securing her first client through a UK podcast, and built an Instagram following of 19,000 through consistent posting. Her career includes working remotely for Burning Light Studio on notable projects like the Indian Army's 225th Anniversary. She also teaches digital art using iPad, Procreate, and Photoshop, highlighting the importance of early software learning and consistent practice. Ketaki Mahimkar aspires to open her own illustrative design studio with a focus on children’s book illustrations.