We were lucky to catch up with Shanmathy Kumaravel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Shanmathy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever worked on is the Baltimore Lookbook, a collection showcasing over 125 local vendors. Growing up in a small, nature-filled village in Tamil Nadu, India, storytelling was second nature to me. With limited access to technology, my creativity thrived on imagination and observation. From crafting my first handmade books to designing for communities, it’s always been about one thing: connecting people through stories.
Moving to Baltimore for my master’s at MICA was like stepping into another world. It was exciting, but I kept asking myself, “Will the stories that shaped me—the ones rooted in my culture—matter here? Can I design something that truly captures Baltimore’s soul?”
When the Lookbook project landed in my hands, it felt huge. I’d only been in the city for two years, and suddenly, I was responsible for representing its creators authentically. Every page needed to radiate Baltimore’s energy—its resilience, creativity, and heartbeat. The pressure was real, and I spent most of the process second-guessing if I was doing it justice.
But then came launch night. Watching people flip through the pages, celebrating the stories, and connecting with the work—it was pure magic. Seeing the city’s creators being recognized and knowing I’d played a role in that? That’s the kind of full-circle moment that reminds me why I became a designer in the first place.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Shanmathy Kumaravel, a graphic designer originally from a little village in Tamil Nadu, India, now living and creating in Baltimore, MD. My work covers branding, typography, book design, and identity systems—but honestly, it’s all about storytelling for me. I design to make people pause, feel, and connect.
Growing up, my creativity was shaped by simplicity. No internet, no fancy gadgets—just me, a pencil, and the world around me. I’d spend hours drawing, making up stories, and observing the little things. Choosing design as a career wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. Coming from a family of teachers and engineers, convincing them that design wasn’t just a hobby but a real career? That took grit.
To be honest, I still can’t believe how I left my nerdy comfort zone to dive into design. My parents weren’t fully on board at first, but I knew they believed in my ability to work hard and make anything shine. And yeah, the “shine” part? That took a while. It wasn’t easy being surrounded by insanely talented peers—I had to stop comparing myself to others and start comparing my old work to my new. Competing with myself became my secret sauce for growth.
After a couple of years in the industry, bouncing between cities for internships and discovering how much design could connect me to people, I realized I wanted more. That’s how I ended up at MICA, diving deeper into storytelling and honing my craft.
At MICA, I fell in love with book design. My thesis, Voice, was a magazine tackling unspoken topics like trauma, therapy, and personal growth. It was a project that hit close to home and let me connect deeply with the stories and people of Baltimore.
What sets me apart? It’s not just the work—it’s the way I see things. I have this obsession with noticing the unnoticed, digging deep in research, and creating designs that feel. My synesthesia plays a big role in that—I literally see emotions as colors. It helps me bring a unique vibrancy and depth to every project, whether it’s a magazine cover or a full brand identity.
For me, it’s never about creating something just “cool.” It’s about creating something that matters, something that connects. And honestly? That’s where the magic is.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

For the longest time, I thought success only counted if it was “perfect” or something huge. I’d see peers landing projects with big names like Apple or Spotify and think, “Am I even doing enough?” Even though I was hitting big milestones—like having my installation displayed at the MICA gallery—I kept brushing them off, feeling like they weren’t “big enough” to celebrate.
Then, during a visit to India, I had this conversation with my uncle that totally flipped my perspective. He told my brother something simple but powerful: “If you don’t celebrate and show off your work, how do you expect the world to notice it?” That hit me hard. It made me realize that every little win is a step toward something bigger, and it deserves its moment.
Working on the Baltimore Lookbook was the moment it all clicked for me. It wasn’t just about the final product—it was about owning the process and celebrating what I had created. I stopped stressing over perfection and started finding joy in making something meaningful. The takeaway? Celebrate yourself. Every win—big, small, or a little messy—is worth sharing with the world.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Grad school was supposed to be the dream—my golden time to grow and explore. But what came after? That was the real adventure. Trying to land a job in a bad market as an international student wasn’t just tough; it felt like climbing a never-ending uphill battle.
After graduation, all my friends scattered across the country for their own job hunts, and I ended up crashing at my brother’s place to save on rent. Living in a house full of engineers who didn’t get what I did? Let’s just say it wasn’t easy. Every dinner conversation somehow circled back to questioning the worth of a designer: “What do you even do? Was all that money spent on school worth it?” And when you’re not landing jobs, those questions hit differently.
Every morning, I woke up with this constant knot in my stomach, questioning my choices, my portfolio, my entire existence as a designer. The rejection emails kept piling up, and I started doubting everything.
But even in that haze, I knew I had to show up for myself every single day. I started working out to stay sane—it gave me structure when everything else felt chaotic. After that, it was straight to the grind: 9–5 of cold emailing, LinkedIn messaging, portfolio tweaking, and job applications. There were days I’d go to bed feeling like I’d moved an inch forward and miles back.
After eight months of this uphill slog, I finally landed a job. And in that instant, everything shifted. My freedom came back, my portfolio suddenly felt like it had a glow-up, and life started to make sense again. That job didn’t just give me a paycheck; it gave me back my confidence, my independence, and my belief in what I do.
Looking back, that struggle shaped me. Job searching is brutal—it forces you to question everything, but it also teaches you resilience. It’s a reminder to trust the process, keep showing up, and know that even when you feel like you’re stuck in the dark, there’s light at the end.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shanmathykumaravel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanmathy_k/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanmathy-kumaravel-0600521b3/
• Other: Behance: https://www.behance.net/shanmathykumaravel.

Image Credits

DOM J. PHOTOGRAPHY