Meet Gandhar Vamburkar | Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gandhar Vamburkar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gandhar, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My journey with design started with just wanting to try out Illustrator. I started learning by myself and was instantly hooked. This curiosity and excitement led to learning software like After Effects, Blender 3D, Touchdesigner and using creative coding for motion and design on my own. While doing all this, I was working on my Engineering degree. During this time, I got introduced to Graphic Design and Publishing because of being the Secretary of the ‘Literary Club’ of our college. We had published the college magazine, conducted national level literary events and many other activities. I had to put on many hats, one of which was that of a graphic designer.
But what really got me interested in Graphic Design as a career option was when I was building out the UI of the device I was working on in my first job. It was then I realized that I wanted to transition from the technical problem solving of engineering to the visual problem solving through Graphic Design.
To pursue my interest in Graphic Design professionally, I decided to get formal education to excel in the field. And I am happy to share that I got an admit from eight out of the ten best-rated U.S. Schools. I chose California Institute of the Arts and the next three years of my Masters in Graphic Design have been the most enriching, satisfying, and enjoyable time of my life yet.

I worked very hard at CalArts. This involved working on multiple Web Design, Motion Design and Publication projects, taking up Research Assistantships, Internships, getting engaged in student-projects like developing my school’s alumni website and many more; and simultaneously ensuring I performed well in all reviews at School. My seminar thesis is a product of passion, creativity, & genuine sweat and has been appreciated with an award from GDUSA at the 60th American graphic Design Awards. My thesis work delves into my experimentation with traditional storytelling formats where, I have tried to present the close inter-connection between technology, design concepts & dissemination of content; and emphasize the importance of graphic design in building a bridge between the past and the future to create innovative ways of communication in the digital realm.

And I would humbly like to mention that much of my work (including my website, portfolio, thesis and some project-work) has been recognized with 10 international / national awards and respective publications.

Having a studio of my own has always been a long-cherished dream for me. I have earlier executed end to end website design projects of building & launching websites, and headed branding, identity, and motion design projects as a studio designer for two years in India.
I am fortunate to have family and mentors who support my dream. I, therefore chose to take an untrodden path, and started to work as an independent consultant in the USA. In a span of just six months from graduation my client list counts around 10, with a good spectrum of work and client diversity. I specialize in websites and a lot of my work relates to rethinking interactivity and design for the digital medium. However, I also take up assignments for Branding & Identity Building as well as Marketing Collaterals Design.

Now fresh out of grad school, I have the ambition to do big things, take design in newer directions, to make a difference. I also have the humility and practicality to know that I might not be able to. I don’t know if I will change the design world, take design to newer heights or achieve everything I want to achieve; but I will try. I love design, I love experimenting, and I will continue being naively optimistic about the future and about my role in it; and I will continue trying to make a difference.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I specialize in websites and a lot of my work relates to rethinking interactivity and design for the digital medium. My work explores how we think about design for existing digital mediums such as the web and emerging mediums such as AR and VR. We are increasingly spending more time on digital media and as such, it is important to think about the nature of our interactions with these media and whether we are really exploring the extent of what is possible with them.

There are often times when I doubt my decisions and myself too. But then, something happens, an appreciation email from client, an award, a pat from mentors or a hand from friends and I am back again with more motivation.

Another important impediment was not knowing the tricks of trade. I know the ‘Trade’ very well, but the tricks of practicing as a designer are altogether a different horse and I am still learning to ride it.

This journey is not easy. Lots of hard work, moments of anxiety, patience & perseverance and financial uncertainties during the pilot stage do take a toll. But the key to making progress is to simply get to work, and to keep on working slowly but steadily.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is the most touristy thing ever, but Griffith Observatory. I absolutely love that place, especially at night. Everyone I have ever taken there has asked to go again before they left LA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Starting as a freelance consultant, fresh from college, was not an easy task. I did lose a few assignments because I did not know what to quote & how to pitch, or sometimes I was competing against large agencies. Although I was confident that I would be able to deliver, I did not have a ton of previous work to make them believe in me. But then, I was fortunate to have some really great friends and mentors by my side; Joseph Prichard, Stedmann Halliday and Roman Jaster. I will always be grateful to them.

Website: https://gandhardesign.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gandhar12/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gandhar-vamburkar-23556916a/