‘Calligraphy taught me that design is not just about beauty’

She has just wrapped up her graduation degree and is now officially a communication designer and involved in everything that is needed in design to convey a message to the audience. In other words, she is a designer who communicates the client’s vision to others. Meet Ridhi Arora, an alumna of Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, and Founder, Riart.

In a candid interview, she shares her journey as a calligrapher, among other things.

How is a communication designer different from other designers?

There are graphic designers and interior designers, to name a few. Their primary job is usually to design based on the context they are given. In communication design, we focus mainly on the process. A project that a graphic designer might take 10 days to complete may take us at least six months, because we do on-site research, understand the user, make several iterations, and then finalise one product.

How did your journey begin?

What began as calligraphy in my childhood has slowly grown into something much larger. In college, I understood that design is not only about making things look beautiful. It is about understanding the user, the strategy behind the work, and the problem being solved. I was always fascinated by handwriting and kept experimenting with styles in my school notebooks. A workshop in Italy in 2019 changed my view of calligraphy completely. What started with gifts for friends gradually became commercial.

Your company also works with luxury brands. How do you cater to each brand’s style?

Luxury is not just about gifting. We are not just giving people gifts. We are creating a complete experience. As far as design is concerned, every brand has its aesthetic. For example, if it is a cupcake brand, we do something fun and colourful. But for a luxury brand like Gucci, we create elegant and minimal setups.

You have received media coverage as well. What has that meant to you?

When I started, there were not many people in Jalandhar who supported me in the long run. Whenever I received media coverage, it felt like added validation for what I was doing. It also gave me visibility and helped me reach many more people.

How did your art become more than a passion?

It began with an account where I posted my paintings and creative work. After I shared a gift made for a friend, people started asking for similar pieces. Around Mother’s Day during COVID, I received 70 to 80 orders and realised it could become commercial. What started as a one-man show has turned into a team of four today.

How would you like to take this art form to schools?

I would like to introduce calligraphy in schools so that students can learn the art form from its very basics and then gradually move towards letter forms and finished pieces. In my workshops, students of any age group begin with choosing the right pen, understanding strokes, and practising letters and figures. I have taught more than 400 students across India. Within four hours, they create their own artwork.