True To Type

Young Bangalore-based graphic artist/ designer, Prateek Vatash has eclectic interests, ranging from typography and geometry to the occult and retro-nostalgia, that find expression in his work

Do you believe in a formal design education?

PV: Design education has shaped me to become the person I am today. I do believe that a lot of growth happens because of the effort one puts in themselves, but the environment they are in is equally important. My time at Srishti Institute of Art, Design & Technology (Bangalore), where I acquired a Professional Diploma in Visual Communication Design, gave me the space and platform to thrive, experiment and make mistakes; to know what works and what doesn’t. It helped me to discover myself, and showed me a way I could take forward. Formal education is of course just a part of the learning. I believe the learning never stops.

Tell us about your current design practice.

PV: My design practice has been rapidly evolving over the past few years, and is still growing into something. I always knew that there were certain elements, shapes, colors and topics that I was attracted to. These have stuck with me from the beginning, and I juggle between them from time to time. Thematically I am drawn towards specific themes and topics, which I try to channelize in a lot of things I create. Over the past few years, I have had my share of working with graphic design essentials, like branding, packaging, and print, and also tried out more experimental things like graphic novels, public art and typographic art.

What is your approach to a new project?

PV: If I’m undertaking a personal project, it usually starts out with a spark of an idea. It could be a visual in my head, or some topic or thought that interests me. Making the idea come to life is the most exciting part, and it is something that I absolutely love doing. Not knowing the outcome is very exciting as well. I have learned to enjoy and appreciate the process as much as I do the final result.