On 14th-15th August, two Asian neighbors in the subcontinent will be celebrating their Independence Day simultaneously. Pakistan and then India will mark this occasion with unmatched fervor and zeal, a fact that designers from both sides of the border will be quick to capitalize upon. These two Eastern countries in the subcontinent are brimming with designers who bring an eastern sensibility to their design, proving once and for all that design follows no set rules. Design is every bit informed by cultural trends as well as a mix of local and global influences. Western designers have their own inspirations and techniques to tap into (e.g US designers that are highlighting racism), and it’s the same for Eastern designers too.
So we figured – this was as good a time as any to show the stylistic differences between the works of Eastern Designers from the subcontinent to those from the West. This post will be taking into account the disparate cultural moorings and norms from artists Eastern and Western, as well as a confluence of global design conventions and influences that are present in both of their works.
Pakistani Artists – There’s more to them than truck art
It is said that emotions such as suffering make for a powerful engine for artistic expression. Pakistan is anything if not resilient. Pakistani artists tap into this reservoir of survival and strength in their works, showing the world that creative expression isn’t dead and that Pakistan possesses astonishing talent to rival the best.
1. Adnan Ali
Source: Behance/Adnan Ali
Adnan has always been sketching for as long as he remembers. It was only his passion for drawing characters that made him quit his work in a factory and pursue his art degree. His digital artistry got him noticed by one of the country’s top-notch production houses and the rest as they say is history. A history that Adnan Ali still plans to paint with his canvas.
2. Maha Abdul Alaam
Source: Facebook/Art Of Maha Abdul Alaam
One of Pakistan’s renowned illustrators, Maha Abdul Alaam loves dabbling into anime. Her art style includes Japanese manga style sketching, along with local artistic influences that truly make for a one of a kind artist. Be sure to check out her work.
3. Ramish Safa
Source: Facebook/TheCaricatureShop
Ramish Safa used to run a popular comics page on Facebook called Kachee Goliyaan which also went on to become Pakistan’s first ever mass produced comic book. His gift of the gab and superior sketching skills have made him into one of Pakistan’s beloved artists, so much that now his Caricature Shop brand has become a viable entity of its own. Check out some of the caricatures Ramish has done of characters from popular culture to get a sense of his humorous sketching style.
4. Anas Riasat
Source: Facebook/The Art of Anas Riasat
Few would be able to match what Anas Riasat brings to the table – character design, environments, moody ambience to any scene and more. Anas’ eclectic bevy of design work has made him famous at home and abroad, and he shows no signs of stopping when it comes to his trailblazing artistic output. His work is not to be missed.
Indian Artists – Mad talent from the Land of Taj Mahal
Indians are slowly but surely becoming global titans of industry. They may have made it as CEOs of PepsiCo, Microsoft and Google, but Indians with stellar creative and artistic skills are also getting noticed the world over. Here are some of them:
5. Shivakumar
Source: DeviantArt/Shiveditz
Shivakumar incorporates the themes of nature in his photo-manipulation projects, effortlessly blending scenery with wildlife, man-made objects and more. The editing and digital painting skills evident here put Shivakumar in the top leagues, as no one could discern his photo-manipulated images from the real thing.
6. Bhaskar Dutta
Source: DeviantArt/bhaskar655
Bhaskar relies on two things to make his images come alive – emotions, and environmental moods. His grasp of the digital paintbrush is indistinguishable from someone who relies on watercolors to paint their masterpiece. Be sure to check out his gallery for some stellar and moody design work.
7. RGX Singh
Source: Instagram/RGXsingh
Looking for Punjabi-inspired typography and calligraphy? A collective of Punjabi digital artists from India, Rgx Singh, gives you quite the unique peek into the world of Gurumkhi. Their works are brimming with an all-original style that is dripping with Punjabi culture.
8. Renu Sharma
Source: Facebook/TheDarkRayne
One of India’s most famous and trendsetting digital artist, Renu Sharma’s work speaks for itself. Her virtuoso ways with water color painting is so evocative, so arresting with the breath of emotions that they convey, that they need to be seen to be believed. Check out her gallery right now if you haven’t already.
Western Designers – From the Other Side of the Divide
Designers from Europe, Canada, America and (maybe even New Zealand) reside in developed societies where they are free to explore their artistic canvas. With countless amount of knowledge, research and homework that western designers are sure to pick up when they get to work, their creations are constantly pushing the design envelope in ways that have yet to be discovered. Here are some of them:
9. Felix Pfäffli (Switzerland)
Source: Instagram/Feixen
The Swiss are nothing if not pioneers of design. Felix follows this proud tradition by combining the Swiss way of minimalism in everything he does. Be it photography, typography or graphic design, you’d be remiss to find any extraneous details populating Felix’s works.
10. Jennie Maizels (UK)
Source: Instagram/jenniemaizels
Jennie from UK does illustrations and pop up style books for children that are sure to leave you grinning from ear to ear. Her designs are quirky, yet they still land themselves well to adorn the fireplace, dining rooms, kids rooms and more with their general effusive attractiveness.
11. Stevencandraw (Scotland)
Source: Etsy/Art by Steven Learmonth
Steven describes himself as a Scottish scribbler and it’s hard to miss why. His paintings harken back to a traditional style of illustration, with paint brushes and markers weaving a rich tapestry of history told through a cartoonish protagonist.
12. Matt Parsons (Canada)
Source: Redbubble/Fanboy30
A self-confessed comics geek and artist/photographer/illustrator, Matt Parsons is so not the jack-of-all and-master-of-none types when it comes to design. He takes popular culture icons and remixes them in interesting ways. Check out his gallery to see his zany snapshots and creations.
13. Jacob Cass (USA)
Source: justcreative.com
Talk about a design pro that takes each aspect of designing and crafting perfection out of it. That’s Jacob Cass in a nutshell for you. He’s not just a designer but also a teacher who wants to share his designing tips with those who dare to push their craft forward. Cass has done logos, cards, wallpapers, typography and more, most of which you need to see to appreciate the multi-layered depth of his work.
14. Kris Sowersby (New Zealand)
Source: klim.co.nz
Though not strictly a ‘western’ designer due to geographical factors, the NZ-based Kris is one what you would call a typography maven. If you wanted the one look at some professional typefaces that are timelessly elegant, Kris’ work deserves serious attention for type aficionados present and future.
East or West: Who deserves to take over the Design Throne?
Design is never done. It continues to evolve with the generations that precede and overtake them. The first VCR designs were a marvel of design and engineering, but if someone was to use them today, they’d be derided for being too clunky. This example offers you the clearest insight into how technology, cultural influences and experiences inform our concept of design nowadays. Some might say that the artists from the subcontinent adhere to certain aesthetical moors and norms. But that proves to be equally true in the case of western designers. Or maybe not. Design is a subjective beast after all.
Now that you’ve seen some of the best designers from every corner of the world, how sharply does their aesthetic style compare? If you had to put a finger on it, who would you adjudge as the very best and why?
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