We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Heer Mandalia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Heer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Is there a lesson you learned in school that’s stuck with you and has meaningfully impacted your journey?

When I came to Pratt Institute in 2019 to pursue my MFA in Communication Design, I already had an undergraduate degree in graphic design. Up until that point, my education had been very focused on craft and problem-solving, but Pratt was the first time I truly discovered the storytelling side of design.

The program was very open and organic — it gave students the freedom to grow in directions that felt meaningful to them. For me, that meant diving into reading and writing, which wasn’t something I had previously associated with design. I remember sitting in class discussions where we were unpacking not just the “how” of design, but the “why.” That shift was eye-opening.

This experience taught me that design isn’t just about creating visual solutions — it’s about weaving meaning and narrative into the work. It helped me see that my personal experiences and stories could be part of my visual practice. That lesson has stayed with me and continues to influence how I approach projects today — with both the lens of a problem solver and a storyteller.

Heer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a creative person. That first took shape in 2013 when I joined Instagram and began experimenting with photography. I started out shooting on my iPhone 4 and later borrowed my family’s Sony Cyber-shot camera. Those early explorations sparked my excitement about the possibilities of the creative world. Learning the basics of photography taught me to notice light, composition, and storytelling — lessons that translated naturally into visual and graphic design.

That curiosity led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, where I discovered an entire universe of creative possibilities. Over time, I gravitated toward branding — I love the process of building something tangible and meaningful from a blank screen, creating a visual identity that people can connect with.

Today, my professional practice focuses on graphic design with a strong emphasis on brand identity, visual storytelling, and communication design. I help clients and collaborators translate their vision into clear, cohesive, and memorable identities — whether through logos, brand systems, campaigns, or digital presence. What sets me apart is my ability to blend the precision of design with the narrative depth of storytelling.

I’m most proud of creating work that feels personal yet adaptable — something that clients can see themselves in, but that also resonates with a wider audience. For me, design is never just about solving a problem; it’s about creating meaning, sparking connection, and leaving behind something that feels lasting.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing ideas come to life and take on a life of their own. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about walking past a billboard or hoarding you designed, or seeing a logo you created being used by dozens of people who wear it with pride. In those moments, the work is no longer just pixels on a screen — it becomes part of the world and part of someone else’s story.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wouldn’t necessarily call it a resource, but I do wish I had been taught the importance of writing in design much earlier. Being able to translate your design practice into words — whether through reflection, critique, or simply explaining your decisions — is such a valuable skill. It not only sharpens your own thinking but also becomes essential in the professional world, where communicating ideas clearly is just as important as the visuals themselves. I believe writing should be a bigger part of design education.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heermandalia.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heermandalia/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heer-mandalia-761528141/