Tell us about where you studied and some of your highlights and favourite lecturers.
I'm a recent graduate of Birmingham City University studying graphic design! Living near the city, Birmingham has been a big part of me when growing up and I'm so glad that I got to experience the diverse and rich community within it alongside achieving my degree here!
My university experience was crazy yet fun journey as I had learnt a lot and it built me to become the designer I am now and truly proud of. My favourite highlight would be my third year of studying as a whole! I got to be a society president for BCUSU's Creative Exchange society where I planned workshops for creatives and like-minded students. I also worked on my years' grad show, teaming with the most amazing people that are now my lifelong friendships.
Lastly, I got to dive into my skills to art direct and create my own initiative to raise awareness of the lack of diversity within the creative industry. My Noor Publication and building 786 Projects from the ground up with Yumna Zahid are my proudest projects yet. Big thank you to my third-year tutor Gemma Ince who showed incredible support through all of my projects and pushed me to the best of my ability! Shout out to Jane Anderson, Martin Donnelly, Jonathan Griffiths and other tutors who had made an impact throughout my university experience whether it was big or small! <3
What weird and wonderful things are you obsessed with right now that inspires your creative work?
I've been getting into skincare a lot these days and it made me appreciate the packaging and the short journey the consumer goes through from opening the box to using it! I realised that good packaging does not only rely on good design or layout but also on how the consumers can interact with it to make a meaningful, special and exciting experience which can play a big part in a brand. This is something that I want to push further in my projects and go beyond the visual aspect of design!
Favourite travel destinations that inspire you (can be local or global, 3 please and why!)
First, it would have to be Istanbul, Turkey, especially in the Old City area. I've been here twice and I'll never get over it! The nostalgic feel when you walk through the neighbourhoods with hills and vibrant buildings, it feels close-knitted and homely. It is also home to one of the most beautiful mosques, Hagia Sophia, with a very beautiful and intricate interior, definitely worth seeing!
The second destination is a no-brainer, Japan! A country known for both its innovation and the preservation of its ancient traditions and culture. Even though I've never been, I would definitely want to see Mount Fuji and some of Japan's other beautiful landscapes since it looks so pretty and good vibes!
Last of all would be the Big Apple, New York City, every creative's dream place to work! Not only does it have some award-winning agencies residing here but I love how busy it can be. There's just something about the urban skyscrapers, yellow cabs, graffiti on subways and crowds of people just carrying on their day-to-day lives.
Tell us about your tools / what tech, programs, equipment and environment do you do your best work in?
For me, it's my MacBook Pro, SanDisk SSD and sketchbook against the world! Without these essentials, I actually don't know what I would've been doing. My sketchbook allows me to quickly draft up an idea that pops up in my head and visualise in a whole different perspective. To design, I use Adobe Creative suite, mainly Illustrator, After Effects, Photoshop and InDesign! I want to slowly explore 3D so my next software to learn is Blender!
At the moment, I'm freelancing so I can design anywhere and whenever which I love. However, I absolutely HATE working in my room as procrastination hits hard and I don't feel like doing anything. To help me stay motivated, I go out to cafes to do work. Another thing about me is that I love being around people so sometimes I invite my friends to tag along with me or if I'm collaborating with someone, we can work together on a project!
Which 3 creatives do you look up to and why?
Abeera Kamran: As I'm getting older, I'm now trying to embrace my Pakistani culture than ever before and also look at it from a creative perspective. Abeera is a Graphic Designer that I accidentally found through Instagram through her post about Urdu Typography in old newspapers which I loved so much! I never wanted to read Urdu so much, I had to ask my dad what the newspaper was talking about. I love how Abeera talks about the beauty of the Pakistani culture and her deep insights with Urdu and its typography. I'm secretly a fan!!
Samar Maakaroun: It can be hard to find someone in the industry that you can look up to and bring in the representation. Samar is definitely one of those people that I aspire to be! Working at one of the world's best design agencies, being a founder of her own studio and her playful, impactful designs motivates me to do better and gives me the hope that I too can be successful just like her and that there is a space for me in this industry. #Girlboss
Emonee LaRussa: I've always been into making videos and video editing from a young age that creating animations and motion graphics has become my strongest area and something that I enjoy creating! Emonee LaRussa is next level talented!! When she brings out her green screen, I know the outcome is going to be crazy good! I love her unique, wacky editing style and her short tutorials showing that anyone can do the same! I definitely want to try it out one day!
What are your biggest hopes and dreams for 2025, both for the world and your career?
My dream is to become a designer that can be a representation young designers can look up to and be inspired by. I will keep striving and break through barriers within the industry. I also want to plan out and curate another exciting project with the collective, 786 projects, that Yumna Zahid and I have created to celebrate more talent of creatives like us. Lastly, I also want to carry on creating more content and releasing more publications for Noor!
One hope that I have for the world is for people to create a better, more comfortable environment that everyone can enjoy no matter their identity. I also hope that all the wars and suffering within this world would stop and strive for a kinder, loving planet to live in. <3
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