Meet Kishan Doshi, a talented graphic designer with a unique approach to his craft. With a passion for combining creativity and technology, Kishan has developed a reputation for delivering innovative and visually stunning designs that capture the essence of his clients’ brands. Whether working on a logo, a website, or a marketing campaign, Kishan always strives to push the boundaries of what’s possible in graphic design. In this interview, we’ll look closely at Kishan’s creative process and explore his techniques to bring his ideas to life.
What inspired you to become a graphic designer, and how did you get started in the field?
Back in 2019, my interest in photography was purely a hobby. After receiving positive feedback from established photographers, I decided to create a logo to represent my photography identity. Drawing was also a passion of mine, so I sketched countless designs before finally settling on a logo that embodies my studio’s identity. As a fan of black panthers, my logo still reflects that passion to this day. Initially, my focus was not on creating a multinational studio but rather sharing the things I enjoy on a page and following legendary designers. Through divine intervention, I was contacted by a church in Nevada, USA, to create their logo. This was my first commissioned project, and I happily took a week to deliver the final result. The client was pleased with the outcome, and it was a great start to my journey as a photographer.
How do you approach the design process, from concept development to final execution?
I typically begin by asking a series of questions about the project and the brand’s vision for the future, including their brand story. I conduct a full week of research on the brand and its target audience before moving on to the sketching process, which takes about a week. This involves creating hundreds of rough sketches and then fine-tuning them using inverse and reverse methods to ensure the logo works well in both black and white.
Next, I have an in-depth discussion with the clients to get their thoughts on the concept. My approach to logo design is to take 50% of what the client wants and 50% of what my experience tells me is best suited for the brand’s niche. Once the final concept is approved, I deliver a set of files that can be used across various platforms, along with brand guidelines.
Can you describe a project you worked on that challenged you creatively and how you overcame any obstacles?
I once had a project where I had to develop a concept for a yacht designer. The goal was to incorporate the letter K (the designer’s first initial) into the yacht’s shape. Despite creating nearly 50 sketches, I wasn’t impressed with any of them. The meeting was just five days away, and I still hadn’t produced a concept that I was happy with. I decided to walk around the city to clear my head. While out, I encountered a boat wreckage displayed in front of a hotel. By tilting my head at a 35-degree angle, I suddenly had an idea for the project that incorporated the letter “K.” I quickly sketched it out in my notebook on my way back to the office. Once there, I drew 15 more sketches and finally produced an outcome that I’m really proud of and is now one of my best portfolios.
How do you keep up with current design trends and technologies and incorporate them into your work?
I believe that a brand’s identity should be timeless rather than simply following the latest trend. For example, the Apple logo has remained iconic for almost 40 years despite some color variations over time. A logo should be able to work in black and white and then be adapted to 3D or gradients. While current trends can be incorporated into a brand, it is important to maintain a simple and timeless identity.
How do you work with clients to understand their needs and ensure their satisfaction with the final product?
My approach is to involve clients in the process from start to finish without any excuses. This makes them feel like they are a part of the journey and creates a special connection. This approach has helped me achieve maximum success in my work over the years. I welcome creative suggestions and provide my experience to ensure clients understand potential issues. Having completed over 300 projects, I’ve learned the importance of positively accepting criticism. While I may create initial concepts, I find that aligning them with the client’s opinions ultimately leads to a better end result because they know their brand best.
Can you talk about a time when you had to make a difficult design decision and how you arrived at a resolution?
I was once asked to create a personal brand concept representing a model for various future works. As usual, I made several sketches and showed them to the client. However, the client came up with something that was not legible and failed to convey the intended message. Despite explaining why it wouldn’t work, the client insisted I work on it. Although the client remained humble, it was clear that we were not aligning at that time.
Nonetheless, I accepted the challenge and worked on it the next day after our eighth meeting. I worked until late at night and adjusted to boost the icon’s legibility by 50%. The next day, we had another meeting, but the client was still unsatisfied and wanted it to be like their original concept. At this point, I decided to explain to them like a human instead of an artist. I vocalized why their concept would not work and offered my experience. I even promised them a full refund and a new brand identity if my concept failed to reach their targeted audience for the Q1 release of the year. Two months later, the client emailed me to say that the logo had grown on them, and they were receiving positive reviews. Sometimes, you have to trust your instincts and let clients know when they are wrong. Staying calm and humble throughout a project is the key to success.
How do you balance artistic expression with meeting the practical needs of a project, such as meeting deadlines and staying within budget?
“Luck favors the one who is prepared” (Louis Pasteur). When I am approached for a project, I always ensure that I have enough space and time to work on it without any undue pressure. However, in case a project needs to be completed within a tight schedule and a few days, I make sure to inform the client that the outcome may not be the best one but something that can grow on them over time. Typically, it takes me around three weeks to accomplish the desired outcome of a project since I undertake extensive research before starting the sketches. Short deadlines make me a little uncomfortable, but this is subject to the client’s requirements. If they have a preconceived idea, then my process timeline can be shortened. However, my clients usually grant me creative freedom to add my touches to the concept, which is why it takes some time. As they say, good things take time.
If you’d like to connect with Kishan, visit his website or follow him on Instagram.