Meet Manasa Krishnan | Graphic Designer

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

Hi Manasa, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Being authentic and genuine in my approach is important to me. Design is a subjective field, hence, having a point of view makes the work memorable. While it’s helpful to be aware of trends, I think it’s important to be mindful of relying on them as a visual solution. I enjoy drawing from personal experiences and other perspectives to make authentic creative work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My work is systems-oriented and deeply rooted in typography and storytelling. I enjoy writing and I actively seek ways to incorporate language as a hook in my work. Puns, humor and wit are something that I love to explore through different projects. My thesis project was all about celebrating the unusual and overlooked milestones in life such as filing your taxes, quitting a job, getting through braces and so on. It was a rewarding creative process to write content and design satirical yet heartfelt cards for each of these moments.

Finding my voice as a designer was a challenge that I’ve grappled with throughout my career. While I’m still in the process of developing it, I’ve recognised qualities in my work and approach that make it unique. I’ve realized that it’s essential to seek feedback, periodically step away from your work and be curious to grow as a designer. I’d love to be known for creating work that is memorable, fun and relatable. I hope for people to find the easter eggs in my work and engage in the wit.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m currently based in Baltimore. I’d take my best friend for a day out to Hampden, a pretty neighborhood in the north of Baltimore. We could visit the thrift stores, walk around, get lunch at Mona’s Super Noodle and round it up with some ice cream at the infamous ice-cream spot, Charmery. In the following days, I’d take my friend to Inner Harbour and Fells Point, visit a few museums and check out some popular cafes.

I love exploring cafe, historic spots and museums in a new city. I enjoy walking around to observe and engage with the neighborhoods while understanding the geography and transportation.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this shoutout to my peers and faculty at MICA and friends and family back at home in India who’ve been a pillar of support throughout my career.

Website: https://manasakrishnan.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manasakrishnan/