Anchal Jain, a student pursuing GDP Foundation at Apeejay Institute of Design (AID) is absolutely passionate about creating new things. For as long as she can remember, she has been the one doodling in notebooks, rearranging her room, or trying to find a better, more interesting way to do simple tasks. “I decided to pursue a design programme because I realised that design is more than just making pretty things—it’s about solving problems creatively. I don’t just want to make art; I want to make things that work better for people. I love the idea of using my creativity to make someone’s life easier, more joyful, or more understandable. It just feels like the right place for my head and my heart to be,” the 18-year-old budding designer mentioned.
Driven by her aspiration, the Apeejay student recently won award in International We Care Film Festival and shares her delight about the same:
How did you feel about winning the Wecare Film Festival award? What did you design, how did you plan?
When I first heard the news, I was jumping! It felt surreal to have my art, something I poured my heart into, recognised on such a platform. More than just the award, it was a huge validation that my message and my style resonated with people. It gave me a big boost of confidence to keep painting and sharing stories. I feel incredibly grateful. I know how many talented young artists are out there, and to be chosen was a huge honour. My painting is a vibrant snapshot of traditional village life in India. It shows a disabled man, strong and focused, turning the earth on a rudimentary grinding stone or perhaps a wheel with his legs, a classic scene of labour and sustenance. He’s wearing a bright blue shirt and a signature colourful turban, which represents joy and spirit even in hard work. I included two women in beautiful, traditional brightly coloured outfits (pink and green), taking a break or observing. Their gold jewellery catches the eye, symbolizing the richness and beauty within their simple lives. The background shows the storage of wood and earthen pots, the essential elements of a village home. I used earthy browns and ochres to ground the scene. I wanted to show that the real wealth of a community is in its labour, its tradition, and the strength of the disabled people. It’s a tribute to the unsung heroes who keep our culture and life force going.
My planning process was pretty straightforward, but focused: I started by sketching out different compositions. I knew I wanted the figures to be central and the colours to be bold. I settled on the vertical layout to emphasise the height and presence of the main figure. I decided on a contrast between the muted, earthy background (browns, beige, ochre) and the high-saturation, symbolic colours of the clothing (Rani Pink, Emerald Green, Sky Blue, and the Rainbow Turban). This makes the people stand out as the focus. Then I used poster paints because I love how smoothly they applied and how vibrant the colours are. I painted the background first, using broad strokes to give it a rough, sun-baked texture. Then, I focused on the figures, layering the skin tone and the fabric to give the clothes a sense of movement. The final detail was adding the bright gold for the jewellery and the highlights on the man’s turban and the pots, and then I finally stepped back and looked at the painting upside down (a trick my art teacher taught me!) to make sure the composition was balanced and the colours weren’t jarring.
How did your faculty and institute help you in this competition?
My faculty and institute were genuinely amazing mentors! They provided a crucial support system. My art teacher, specifically, encouraged me to participate and held a few one-on-one sessions with me. They didn’t tell me what to paint, but they asked challenging questions about the symbolism in my initial sketches. For example, “Does the viewer immediately understand the relationship between a normal person and a disabled person, that a disabled person will be able to do anything they want?” This pushed me to clarify my message. The institute provided me with a dedicated space and small suggestions to work with, which made a huge difference in the final quality of the painting. They helped me balance my regular coursework with the competition deadline, ensuring I didn’t get too overwhelmed. Their faith in my ability gave me the confidence to submit my best work.
What are the skills you are building as a design student?
Right now, I’m focused on building a really robust set of skills that go beyond just drawing. Learning to genuinely step into another person’s shoes to understand their needs, frustrations, and motivations. Visual Communication: Not just making things look good, but ensuring every choice (colour, typography, composition) tells a clear, intentional story. Learning to quickly make low-fidelity models—even paper or simple digital wireframes—and, crucially, being okay with failure. The ability to fail fast, get feedback, and make it better is a key design skill. I’m becoming good in my design work. Learning to justify every design decision with logic, not just personal preference.
What are your future aspirations?
My ultimate goal is to become a User Experience Designer who focuses on designing for accessibility and social impact. In the near future, I aspire to get real-world experience, learn a new coding language. I believe understanding the ‘how’ behind the digital tools I design will make me a more effective designer, so I plan to learn the basics of HTML/CSS.
What does design mean to you?
To me, design is a purposeful creation. It’s the bridge between a problem and a beautiful, intuitive solution. It’s not about decorating an object; it’s about thinking deeply about the person who will use that object, encounter that space, or read that information. Design means:
· Empathy in action.
· Clarity over clutter.
· The quiet joy of something that just works. It’s my way of making the world a little less confusing and a lot more enjoyable, one thoughtful detail at a time.