Meet Kavya Sridhar | Visual and Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kavya Sridhar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kavya, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“You don’t notice your progress in life because you are always raising the bar.” This is my all-time favorite quote and I think it says so much about how our progress can be eclipsed by our ambition. Often, our dreams materialize so seamlessly into reality that we barely notice the transformation. The philosophy behind this quote keeps me humble, optimistic, and driven.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Things that interest and intrigue me have changed over time, but my sensitivity and fascination for all things art and design have been constant. As a child, I distinctly remember being drawn towards well designed food packaging at supermarkets while glossing over those that didn’t quite make the cut – my cut! As I grew older, a routine question was, “how can I make this better?” I used to redesign my run-of-the-mill notebook covers and attach my own page dividers, tabs, and folder flaps so that I could insert papers and easily find specific notes. I was always on the lookout for opportunities to leave things better than I found them, and this became an all-consuming hobby.

Coming from a family of engineers meant that I had to carve my own path in unchartered territory. Finding the right resources was initially a struggle given that design education wasn’t quite mainstream in Chennai; the city I come from in India. Enrolling at SCAD was one of the best decisions I ever made, as it exposed me to a world of opportunities and learning unlike anything I had encountered before. However, getting used to a new place, schedule, and excelling academically simultaneously was undoubtedly overwhelming. Yet, with time, I found my stride, and this diverse community now feels like home. The challenges were tough, but overcoming them showed me that I’m more resilient and adaptable than I thought.

Interestingly, the very challenge of being away from home sparked one of my most cherished projects: “A Way Home,” which recently received an IDA Bronze Award. This project took the form of an interactive data visualization website where I meticulously tracked my phone calls, moods, activities done outside my routine, and anything that affected my homesickness. The goal was to gather data to deepen my self-understanding and present the findings in an engaging visual format. Additionally, the final prototype includes a feature allowing users to generate personalized digital postcards containing the infographic of a specific day, perfect for sending to loved ones who are far away. This project reinforced my confidence in the power of design in addressing everyday challenges.

I was incredibly fortunate to land an internship at Inspire Brands’ in-house design studio, Maverick Studios. Given Inspire’s ownership of iconic brands like Dunkin’, Baskin Robbins, Jimmy Johns and Buffalo Wild Wings, I had the extraordinary opportunity to contribute to high-profile projects. It was an absolute dream come true to start my design career with such industry giants. I’ve been working here for close to 7 months and it has been an invaluable experience. 

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a total park enthusiast, so I’d definitely start with Piedmont Park – it’s a must-see for any visitor. A classic Shake Shack snack would be the perfect follow-up. There are also quite a few smaller, hidden parks which are great spots to hangout. I also love introducing people to Indian cuisine, the rich flavors and endless variety is unbeatable. Atlanta’s perfect blend of outdoor spaces and a diverse food scene makes it the ideal place to experience both!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A huge shoutout to the Type Thursday ATL team for creating such an amazing community for typography enthusiasts in Atlanta! I was lucky enough to be a presenter at their inaugural event and have been a dedicated attendee since. They’ve done an incredible job and are truly the heart of the local design scene.

Website: https://www.kavyasridhar.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designbykavya/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kavya-sridhar-6ab04820b/

Image Credits
Photography Courtesy of SCAD