Design, Event, Technology

#StepUpTo24 Sketchnotes from DesignUp Conference

This year’s DesignUp was game changing! Literally as well as metaphorically! Six short panels of 4 speakers each expounding crisply on different themes about the past and the future. Here are my sketch notes –

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Weekend shenanigans

Like I said the other day, I just have to keep up with the scenius. Keep drawing daily, find opportunities to study the form, and keep trying, good or not, as Lynda Barry has said.

One thing we forget with digital media is the material properties of the materials…the organic flow or the way the materials shape the outcomes.

I haven’t any experience with watercolours and so pushing myself out of the comfort zone of flat colors which is what you need in comics but – my friend Raj always complains my drawings look a bit flat.

So tried a bit of depth in last night’s sketch – coloured this on Procreate where inks don’t bleed haha.

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Another day at a Wes Anderson café

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Hanging out with the scenius

Austin Kleon often talks about gathering a scenius, and I have to say – for me that’s @pacificleo @royalbengal @whackonondo & @the_legend_of_raj. We have a group called Wider than the sky. What is great is that my scenius is not just talking, but also doing. They’re constantly making things, churning out ideas, art, films, explorations – so I have no option but to do, and keep up my end!

There’s no way to escape, @the_legend_of_raj even sent me that handy little @sennelier1887 watercolour box!

These drawings are from the weekend, drawing at a street corner outside our little tornado’s karate class.

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Just the usual

I work from home, and often my only social life is to have a conversation with myself in drawing. Here’s a typical one:

Design, Work

3 Ways to Scale Design in Your Team

I typically don’t post my work stuff here on inktales, but tried out a new storytelling format and I think it turned out well!
Creating strategic long-term value can be difficult when we’re fire-fighting with a lean design team. Here are some of my learnings over the last few months.

Life, Reflection, sketchbook

Beliefs and affirmations

I was listening to Affirmations by the Vedanta Society.

Life

Conversations with the anteater, part x

Those who know me, know how excited I have always been about growing old. I cannot stop celebrating the middle ages! But trust the anteater to throw a damper on my happiness –

Event, Life, sketchbook

Welcome to Namma Bengaluru

Big news from me: The brown boy and I now live in Bangalore, our 5th Indian city. This is exciting, I love being able to live in and learn about different parts of India and savoring some of the local culture, not to mention the sweets!

Driving into Bangalore, we were greeted by a double rainbow…

Despite the brown boy’s love for masking tape, things have been busy and chaotic, as we went uprooting our lives and then making new rituals in new spaces.

Drawing, as always is the most grounding ritual for me – to help me really connect to a place and be in the moment.

If you’re around, don’t hesitate to hit me up!

drawing, Life, List, travels

And here we are in April

Life’s been a whirlwind, reader. So much to do, and so many things inspiring me. Grateful for the days when energy and good health can keep up with my intentions! Here are some drawings from the past few months –

A sunrise walk with the brown boy, who tells me that I steamroll across life with my overblown sense of purpose. Good to know that I guess. Anyway, who can be mad at him for long? At breakfast we caught up on gossip we couldn’t share in front of the little tornado (who was in school).

Font: Cantoni Pro

I’m always more prolific in April, maybe because I’m an April girl? And looking through old posts, found some of my favorites

Me meets me (2012)

Paris Cafe (2012)

The Body Rebels (2009)

Here are the original drawings on our wall. I sometimes catch the little tornado showing them to his friends and giggling. And my heart is full.

In April I always posted holiday sketches. Here’s

Rajasthan – Part 1: The Bikaner diaries – Part 2: Jaisalmer (2008)

Rishikesh, lord of the senses (2014)

Sri Lanka (2017) – Part 1 – Part 2

and even, Space Travel (2011)

Birthday posts, of course –

Turning thirty which was my mid-life crisis and I decided to leave my very well-paying job and the lovely brown boy and go study in a remote country for two years.