Meet Shamim Shoomali | Media Artist and Design Researcher

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

Hi Shamim, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
Continual observation and understanding when to stop.

One can achieve many things through hard work, but how much effort is enough? What is the standard? How can one evaluate if their efforts are sufficient?

In today’s chaotic world, we often fear missing out and not experiencing enough. This mindset can lead us down a slippery slope; we may put in a lot of effort but head in the wrong direction, ultimately feeling exhausted without achieving our goals.

I discovered two friends when I felt the most lost: a reflection notebook and the courage to avoid battles that are not mine.

Every night, I take a moment to write a simple reflection on my day. This practice helps clear my mind and provides a guideline for tomorrow, giving me a starting point. By consistently observing my progress, I can ask myself important questions: Where am I? How far have I come? Is this path worth pursuing? How happy am I?

If I notice a recurring pattern of failure and dissatisfaction in a project, I consider reframing it and starting over. However, I also need to assess the resourcI’ve’ve invested in that project. It takes courage to reflect honestly in my notebook and acknowledge: this has not been my battlefield, so I must let it go.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am Shamim, a media artist, a design researcher, and, more importantly, a storyteller.

The sound you hear inside your head, what does it tell you? Mine is a narrator. The voice narrates what is happening around me as if I am not present, even though I am. My eyes are observing neutrally, and the voice tells the story. Together, these two create ideas and content for my projects.

As a kid, I always wanted to be a director; there was no question about it. As I grew older, I felt there were too many things I wanted to be: a director, an educator, a voice actor, a writer, a researcher, a painter, and even a truck driver! I gathered all these passions and made a multidisciplinary media artist profession out of them.

I started my academic education in visual communication, where I learned how to form my ideas using visual language. Forms, colors, shapes, and details became my personality. Visual communication became my language, my means of communication. But something was missing; I needed my stories to be seen, and I needed people around me.

Afterward, I pursued a master’s in animation directing, where I discovered that the narrator in my head had a place to reside: within my animated films. Visual communication shaped how I encountered the world, and animation forever altered my brain chemistry. I started seeing every interaction as a possible animation piece. I had turned out to be the person I always wanted to be, but again, something was missing. I needed more involvement from the people who watch my pieces. I needed more interaction. This marked the beginning of my journey as a Ph.D. student at Georgia Tech in Digital Media, focusing on design methods and interactive media to bridge the gap between design, art, and technology.

My art, design, and projects come from my daily interactions with people: my students at Georgia Tech, my family, and my favorite baristas. I am an observer above all; I observe and tell stories, sometimes in the form of animations, sometimes in the form of visual research, and sometimes in the form of teaching design and media. I recently showcased one of my interactive projects, titled “Hair,” in Barranquilla, Colombia. This interactive storytelling piece explores the role of destiny in our lives. Additionally, I am getting prepared for a conference presentation in Bloomington, Indiana, where I will discuss participatory design research and its effectiveness in designing for communities.

These days, I am working on my two latest projects. One is an illustration book of my daily encounters with Georgia Tech life to leave visual documentation for generations after us to imagine how Atlanta and Georgia Tech used to feel. Another is my short animated movie, Paw and Scissors, which is in the sound design process and will be out this year. Where do I get my energy, you might wonder? My students, mainly! I teach Media and Design principles, and engaging in daily intellectual conversations with my undergraduate students fuels my creativity.

But wait, how did I arrive at this point in my career? I have been a student for 21 consecutive years without taking a single day off. I have continuously learned, reflected, created, and repeated this process. While I may not know the key to professional success, I am certain of one thing: we become less afraid when we take action.

Life is a journey, and we all know this. However, when I face obstacles, I focus not on how this journey will end or what the destination might be. I’ve learned that my responsibility is to clearly define my next step by assessing my resources and striving to help as many people as possible along the way.

I am a media artist and design researcher who explores innovative ways to tell stories every day. I combine code with illustrations, create interactive design pieces, and produce 2D animations. I enjoy crafting narratives to remind us of the beauty in our togetherness.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you’re asking this question from the perspective of a PhD student, let’s start with the beautiful Crosland Tower library at Georgia Tech, where you can enjoy a picturesque view of the Atlanta skyline surrounded by tall green trees. After that, I would invite my friend to my favorite café, Momo, in Midtown Atlanta, where we can savor a foamy hot cappuccino along with my all-time favorite croissant, the Choco Citrus.

If the weather permits, I would then take my friend to Piedmont Park, where we can relax by the lake with a book while watching the geese. To wrap up the day, I would treat my friends to a meal at my favorite Spanish restaurant, Bulla, celebrating the colorful and diverse culture of Atlanta with a traditional dish.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my Husband, Kiarash. Who is the guardian of my light and reminds me daily that life is more precious when shared.

Next, I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my mom, Azar, whose name means fire in Farsi. A fire that brings light and warmth, as she has brought me. My mom is a dedicated nurse who has supported my artistic and professional development, and I believe she has not heard as many shoutouts as she deserves.

Website: https://shamimshoomali.wixsite.com/shamimsjourney

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamim-shoomali

Image Credits
All taken or created by me.