Design has always been a big part of my life—even as a young child, and even before I knew there was a 'name' for it I suppose. I enjoy designing EVERYTHING—experiences, branding, brand comms, events, information, data, services, products, stories, spaces, collateral—I used to even design my child's special play-dates! I'm passionate about the user/customer interacting with these 'designs', and how their needs and goals are required to be discovered, researched, positioned, launched, nurtured, and iterated, to create choice, distinction, delight, and compelling touch-points for humans engaging with them. It should help them comprehend the complex in simple ways, without friction, and aid with confident decision making. A design's language—both verbal and visual; the associations and memories it can and will trigger; the positive and delightful associations, the prototyping it out followed by testing; the iterations and evolution it needs to undergo; the big idea behind it, the ongoing insights and outcomes, to every story associated to it— are all very interesting and exciting to me. Even through my 25th year in the industry. Having a larger vision of bringing a large and positive impact and results to the products, companies/organizations, people and things I engage with, I seek companies and projects that strive to do the same for their clients and brands.
Some things that drive me:
PEOPLE, CULTURES, PLACES. Around me and around the world.
DEVELOPING GREAT TEAMS and COMMUNITY. At work and in life.
MEANING & RELEVANCE. The connection and what it means to the user.
DESIGN THINKING & INNOVATION, and the need for people to cultivate a culture of inquiry, ideation and innovation to make our world a better place.
SMART, CREATIVE IDEAS and how there tends to be a creative edge to problem-solving that can resolve most issues
TECHNOLOGY, THE INTERWEB, HUMANS and AI in the loop. And everything else yet to emerge.
FLAWLESS EXECUTION. An idea is only as good as its final execution.
THE OUTDOORS. Everything is better when you are closer to the sun and surrounded by nature.
I am told by my colleagues that my thoughtfulness, passion to do the best darn work and strongest of work ethics is something that is highly appreciated. Other aspects I subscribe to as being intrinsic to any successful project is uncovering smart insights, working with a kick-ass and talented group of people, and having a boat-load of fun through it all.
Happy to talk more in person.
Kusum