We recently connected with Asavari & Shaivalini Kumar and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Asavari & Shaivalini thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Asavari – When I was a kid growing up in India, Shaivalini and I did a lot of creative projects together. We talked about working together when we grew up. Life, however, had other plans. I ended up in Los Angeles and Shaivalini ended up in Copenhagen. As we went about our lives and work, we missed making things together and the idea for Supernova slowly started to take shape.

My background is in film and animation and Shaivalini’s forte is visual communication. When it comes to design and illustration, our skills overlap. We wanted to create a collective that not only presented the breadth of our creative knowledge but also conveyed our ideologies and the energy and passion we put into our work.
When we founded Supernova in 2014, it was just a company on paper. Shaivalini was working full-time in Copenhagen and occasionally freelancing with me on projects here and there. As we both explored our respective industries, got to know people, and built good working relationships, we started to get more opportunities for projects with larger scopes.

Shavalini – I was eventually able to work with Supernova full time and Asavari’s husband Siddharth (who had been helping with marketing and admin work behind the scenes) came on board as the business development manager. In the past few years, we have evolved from a scrappy little collective to a more organized studio that has created award-winning independent and commercial projects for clients like – Google, Adobe, Snapchat, Warner Animation Group, YouTube, Nokia, and Headspace.

Through our professional experience in the tech, entertainment, and advertising industries, despite the BLM and MeToo movements, we’ve noticed more often than not, inclusion and diversity continue to be deep-seated problems that are only tackled at the surface level. Being a studio owned and operated by women of color, we collaborate across timezones and prioritize the hiring of womxn and BIPOC artists. We also regularly take time out of our schedules to work with nonprofits and create independent projects with social justice themes.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Asavari – Supernova is a WOC-owned and operated design and animation studio. We help innovative brands and businesses tell their unique stories in playful and creative ways. Our core team comprises of three partners – Shaivalini Kumar, Siddharth Zutshi, and myself. We work with a diverse international team of artists and employ a multidisciplinary approach to storytelling that draws upon our team’s collective expertise in communication design and animation direction.

Shaivalini – Our mission is to bring ideas to life, invigorate brands, and help businesses grow through empathic storytelling. We use research, branding, strategy, animation, and illustration to create compelling narratives. We cultivate close relationships with our clients and work collaboratively to solve problems and create something that is both functional and beautiful. Check out our brand film to learn more – https://vimeo.com/419837957

Asavari – We recently launched a ceramics brand called ‘ Centered Chaos’. Since both Shaivalini and I love pottery, we thought it would be fun to combine our design and animation skills with ceramics. Inspired by our characters and color palettes, ‘Centered Chaos’ is a bridge between our digital designs and physical products. Currently, we are retailing our small batch of handcrafted pieces at various Farmer’s Markets In Los Angeles and Copenhagen. You can find us online here – https://www.instagram.com/centeredchaosceramics/

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Asavari & Shaivalini – As creative professionals, we firmly believe that building a good reputation, requires much more than just being collaborative, kind, patient, and empathetic – these are essential qualities, but only a starting point. We have continuously elevated our creative skills to keep up with industry standards and push beyond our limits.

It has also been very important for us to continue putting out authentic personal projects that express our unique voices and speak to a vast audience across many different parts of the world. Authenticity and uniqueness are highly valuable attributes that can set professionals apart from the crowd and create a lasting impression. When we create something that is true to ourselves and resonates with others, it not only helps us establish our brand and identity but also builds a strong connection with our audience.

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

Asavari & Shaivalini – As immigrants, we have faced unique challenges when it comes to pursuing our professional goals. Contending with leaving our homes and families in India, has been further compounded by the fact that we live in two different countries, each with its own set of circumstances and opportunities.

Over the past decade, we have encountered numerous obstacles that have tested our resilience and determination. One of the biggest challenges has been collaborating across different time zones, which requires careful planning and communication to ensure that everyone is on the same page. The recent global pandemic has further complicated matters, forcing us to adapt to remote work and navigate the challenges of virtual collaboration.

Moreover, we have had to contend with immigration restrictions and travel limitations that have made it difficult to pursue certain opportunities or attend important events. This has required us to be creative and resourceful in finding ways to work around these limitations and make the most of what we have available to us.

Despite these challenges, we have persevered and continue to strive for excellence in our work. We believe that our experiences as immigrants have given us a unique perspective and set of skills that we bring to the table. We are proud of our journey so far and remain committed to overcoming any obstacles that come our way.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.supernovadesign.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supernovadesigninc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supernovadesigninc/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supernova-design-inc./
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/suprnovadesign

Image Credits
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