A graphic designer’s perspective of how Architecture sparks his creativity
I don’t know if this is a coincidence of any sort, but
a majority of my clients are architectural firms, colleges and in some way
connected to Architecture. Every now and then I’m given projects which involve
complementing the architecture or the interior design of a restaurant, college,
school or even a library. And every time I sit down in front of my Macbook,
staring at Photoshop on the screen, I can’t help but wonder how much influence
Architecture as a creative field has on my work.
Even
while in college, most of my friends were studying Architecture while I was
studying Visual Communication. Though my friends from my own department were
always a source of ideas or inspiration, I’d often find myself sitting with my
Architecture department friends, sipping on endless coffees and working on
their laptops in the cafeteria, brainstorming a million ideas on how to go
about designing an eco-friendly hotel, or things of that sort. While I would be
working on a project to design a film poster, they would be discussing the
design of a film theater! It’s out of these sweet coincidences that most of my
ideas are born and serve as an inspiration for most of my designs.
More
often than not, you would find me browsing Tumblr searching for architecture
references. Be it cutting-edge, modern architecture, or ancient Egyptian
architecture, I borrow elements of different architectural wonders and
incorporate them as design elements. One of my biggest inspirations has been
the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, who for years has been the pioneering
symbol of modern Japanese Architecture. He combined traditional Japanese styles
with modernism, and created minimally magnificent buildings such as the Yoyogi
National Gymnasium in Tokyo.
Or even buildings like the Guangzhou Opera House by
Zaha Hadid are other brilliant examples of post-modern minimal architecture.
The streamlined accents, the subtle triangular exterior patterns, the touch of
accented glass, all come together so brilliantly, that one cannot help but to
be inspired. Just 5 minutes spent looking at these structures would form a
surreal image in my mind, and my brain translates it into smooth vectors, and
voila! I have the perfect design ready.
I guess the whole idea behind me wanting to pursue
graphic design was embedded deep into my mind the time I visited the IIM
Ahmedabad campus. I had obviously seen other landmark historical monuments
around the country like the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Amer Fort and the Madurai
Meenakshi Temple, but one look at this campus changed my whole perception about
Architecture and Design. Designed by Loius Kahn, this 60-acre campus was the
perfect setting for a college campus, at the same time being an architectural
beauty. The structure struck an immediate chord with my mind, impressing me
with its blend of modernity and tradition. It captured the quintessential
spirit of contemporary India, and I actually felt myself creatively stimulated
and also a little jealous of the brilliant young minds who fought it out to
come and study there. I always thought of myself as a creative person, but I
didn’t have it in me to become an Architect as that would’ve involved being
very good at science and mathematics. As I sat on the footsteps of that austere
but majestic structure, I began to think that if I wanted to do something I
love, it would have to be related to Architecture and Design in some way. And
hence, at that particular instance, I decided that I want to be a graphic
designer.
From
that day on, I did whatever I could in my power to construct and execute my
dream. My weekdays were spent in college doodling buildings and design elements
on any piece of paper I could find, and my weekends were spent browsing
interior design inspirations, typography or just random buildings. The rest of
the time I spent working on various softwares, experimenting with different
stuff and creating my own minimal design style.
So
in a way, Architecture has been a major building block, the foundation of my
personality, creative process and has made me what I am today. Architecture and
Design go hand in hand; neither is complete without the other. And I thank the
heavens for this beautiful relationship. Architecture literally ‘built’ a part
of my future, and I’m sure it will do the same for you. Till then and even after
that, stay inspired!
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