Raising the Design Bar: How Indian Designers Can Cultivate a Refined Aesthetic Sense

As a designer or a design student in India, it’s easy to think that designers abroad have a more refined and modern approach to design. But the truth is, it’s all about the opportunities and environment in which students grow up. Here’s how students in other countries come up with fresh and creative designs, and what we can learn from their approach.

First off, let’s talk about exposure to good design. In many developed countries, students have a chance to see great design from a young age. They’re surrounded by brands, movies, packaging, music, cars, and gadgets that are all well-designed. These everyday things help shape their taste in design, and they naturally tend to appreciate quality.

But in India, things can be a bit different. We’re often surrounded by more bad design than good. From poorly made movies and ads to ugly posters on the streets and ugly car decals, these things become the norm. We’re often confused about what’s good and what’s bad, which leads to the excuse that “design is subjective” or “taste differs.” This can limit a student’s ability to really understand high-quality design.

So, how can Indian design students stand out? The first step is to raise the bar for themselves. Instead of just looking at stuff on Pinterest (or even worse google), they should seek out well-curated design content from around the world. Places like Behance-curated galleries, Abdz, It’s Nice That, and others offer high-quality design inspiration that’s not diluted by the general noise you might find on other platforms. By regularly checking out these places, students can develop a better understanding of contemporary design, which will help them improve their own skills and taste.

In short, the key to developing fresh and creative designs is to expose yourself to well-curated, quality content and to be willing to set your own standards. By stepping outside the confines of local limitations, students can create something truly unique.

_maheshravi