Tiny little Stories

Creating miniature worlds allows Ruchika Nambiar to continue to play childlike games of make-believe

What role has formal design education played in your career?

RN: I majored in Visual Communication from Srishti Institute of Art, Design & Technology in 2014. I was very lucky to have studied in such an interdisciplinary environment that let me experiment across not only art and design but also liberal arts and research. My practice would have been shaped very differently had I studied elsewhere. In fact, it was a completely random diorama-making class in college that first got me started with miniatures. Even my research interests took root at Srishti, when I took classes in cultural studies and political philosophy, and that informs a huge part of my writing today. If I'd gone to any other school, I'd probably be just another graphic designer, but my practice today is full and diverse entirely thanks to my time at Srishti.

Briefly describe your creative journey after Srishti.

RN: I did a few different things after I graduated - for a year, I continued to work at Srishti as a research assistant, during which time I acted as a project coordinator for a public art lab. Later, I spent about six months freelancing full-time as a graphic designer, after which I joined a large multinational design agency. I worked there for three years as a Senior Interaction Designer in their Strategy team. This job really helped me regain a sense of balance, get better at managing my time, and enabled me to get a lot more practical and realistic about my own personal goal-setting.