‘I aspire to establish my own graphic design company’

Radhika Arora, a student of Graphic Design Department at Apeejay Institute of Design, has always been creatively inclined since childhood. The Apeejay student was very interested in illustration, cartoons, doodling, and sketching. “Art was always a part of my personality, but I never saw myself pursuing fine arts because I was more attracted to creative thinking and visual communication rather than traditional art forms,” she shared. 

As she grew up, Radhika realised that graphic design combines creativity, concept building, and problem-solving. It allows her to express ideas visually while also thinking strategically. That balance between imagination and logic inspired her to choose graphic design as her field of study. Read edited excerpts of her interview

What made you choose Apeejay Institute of Design? How are the teachers shaping your skills? 

Apeejay Institute of Design has a strong reputation in the design field, which was one of the main reasons I chose it. I had also heard positive feedback about the institute from a family friend who completed his degree here. His experience gave me confidence in my decision. 

The teachers play a very important role in shaping my skills and overall understanding of design. They are extremely supportive, approachable, and genuinely invested in our growth. Regular one-on-one sessions are conducted, which help us clearly understand our strengths and weaknesses. 

Unlike many institutions where teachers evaluate only the first submission and do not focus much on improvement, here we are encouraged to refine and rework our projects. The faculty provides constructive and detailed feedback not just about how the design looks, but about how it communicates. They guide us on what is lacking, how the composition can be improved, how colors can be balanced, and how the concept can be strengthened. 

From the foundation year itself, we were trained to build strong design understanding. We learned the elements and principles of design, perspective, composition, color theory, balance, hierarchy, and visual flow. This helped me understand not just how to create something visually appealing, but how to make it meaningful and effective. 

In the second year, we were introduced to Adobe software. I had zero knowledge of digital tools initially, but with proper guidance and continuous practice, I am now confident in using them smoothly. The teachers ensured that we do not just learn software technically, but also apply graphic understanding while working digitally.

Can you share a memorable classroom project or assignment that challenged your creativity or taught you something new? 

One of the most memorable assignments was during my foundation year. We were given a very unique and challenging task; we were allowed to use only poster colors on a cartridge sheet. We were strictly not allowed to use any design elements such as shapes, lines, forms, or structured composition. The only tool we had was color. 

Our task was to express different specific emotions purely through color so that the viewer could feel that emotion without any explanation. Then we had to design a product with that same texture and exact format of any one emotion.

Initially, it felt extremely difficult because we are used to depending on forms and elements to express ideas. This restriction forced me to think deeply about how colors influence emotions psychologically. I had to study how warm colors create intensity, how cool tones create calmness or sadness, and how blending techniques affect perception. This assignment changed my perspective towards design. It taught me that creativity grows when we step out of our comfort zone.

How do you approach research when starting a new design project?  

When I begin a new design project, I first try to understand the core objective and the target audience. I research the background of the topic, its history if relevant, and the message it needs to communicate. 

I collect visual references, build mood boards, and study similar design approaches to understand what works and what can be improved. I believe that research strengthens the concept, and once the concept is strong, the execution becomes much more effective and meaningful.

What are your future aspirations? 

My short-term goal is to gain practical exposure through internships. I am planning to apply for internships during my summer break to understand how the design industry works in real professional settings. Over the next 1–2 years, I want to build strong industry experience and refine my skills further. In the long term, I aspire to establish my own graphic design company where I can create meaningful visual identities and provide innovative design solutions.