Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dee Divakaran. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dee, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My Indian parents’ blend of traditional values and support for my artistic pursuits has been a guiding light in my career in the arts. Their wisdom, encouragement, and emphasis on hard work have allowed me to navigate the challenges of pursuing a creative path while staying true to my passions and principles in life. While Asian education systems may prioritize learning from memory, my parents encouraged creative thinking and expression. They recognized very early on that I have a passion for creativity and nurtured my interests and encouraged me to pursue a career path in the art field.

I am grateful for the invaluable lessons and guidance they provided throughout my life. Their guidance, values, and unwavering support have played a fundamental role in shaping the person I am today. Their positive influence continues to impact my decisions, relationships, and approach to life, and I am deeply thankful for all the things they did right.

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?

My journey leading to the world of motion design has been an exciting and evolving adventure. It all began during my early college years when I developed a deep fascination for design and visual storytelling. I started honing my design and animation skills in the process and found myself captivated by the ability to bring ideas to life through motion graphics.

After completing my education in animation, I embarked on a new journey into the world of visual effects which challenged my technical skills and problem-solving ability. During this time, I gained invaluable experience in various aspects regarding the discipline of 3D design and procedural techniques.

One of the pivotal moments in my career journey was at the beginning of the pandemic. This is when I took on the risk of changing my path for a third time and landed in motion design. In the process I was able to find a community where I felt like I truly belong, and my multidisciplinary background was seen as more of an advantage. I still had a lot to explore and learn about myself as an artist and felt like my career journey has only begun, yet I was excited to jump right into the process.

Throughout my journey, I have always been committed to continuous learning and staying up to date with industry trends and technological advancements. This is why I decided to enroll in a graduate level Motion Media Design program at Savannah College of Art and Design. Additionally, I have attended workshops, conferences, and online courses to expand my knowledge and skillsets.

Even though my creative journey has been a tumultuous one, it has also been very rewarding. I have faced several difficult and interesting challenges along the way. But this did not stop me from having a little fun with the process of tackling these challenges head on. At the beginning of my journey, I had to ask a lot of difficult questions and make even harder decisions along the way. I have had to be patient with myself, giving myself enough time and trust my creative process in order to move forward in my career journey.

In my journey so far, I have honed my skills in creating visually captivating and impactful designs based on dynamic visual storytelling principles. I specialize in art directing and designing visual elements in order to bring ideas and concepts to life. One of my key areas of specialization under 3D is look development which consists of 3D modeling, texturing and lighting. And in 2D I specialize in illustration and design. Coming from a multidisciplinary background of 2D animation, illustration, visual effects and motion design, has helped me expand my knowledge regarding the motion design field and allowed me to contribute to a collaborative environment in more ways than one.

Recently, I had the privilege of working with NASA through a program at my college called SCADpro. I am very proud to have been a part of this team and having contributed to a project focused on spreading awareness about NASA’s ICESat-2 mission. Being a part of this project, gave me the opportunity to learn, grow and become more confident in my skills and ability. And as a science nerd this was a dream come true!

Looking ahead, I am excited to continue evolving as a motion designer, taking on new challenges, and creating meaningful experiences through design and animation. I believe that the world of motion design has endless potential, and I am eager to see where this journey will take me next.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

There is definitely a mission that drives my creative journey as a motion designer. My goal is to use the power of visual storytelling and design to inspire, inform, and connect with audiences on a deeper level.

I believe that every project I work on, I consider all tasks involved as important and treat them as important building blocks to a bigger picture that has the potential to convey a message or tell a story that resonates with people. It is not just about creating visually stunning graphics or showcasing my technical abilities, but it is about ensuring that those visuals communicate effectively and evoke the right emotions. I am passionate about contributing positively to society through my work. Whether I am collaborating or working on my own, on commercial and non-commercial projects, I strive to align my creative efforts with research in order to convey the causes and messages that matter.

Moreover, I am driven by the idea of pushing the boundaries of what motion design can achieve. I am always seeking innovative ways and utilizing my multidisciplinary background to engage viewers and leave a lasting impression. My curiosity and dedication to innovation keep me motivated to explore new techniques, experiment with new technologies, and stay up to date when it comes to industry trends.

Ultimately, my mission is to make a difference through motion design and to create visual experiences that leave a lasting impact, whether it is by conveying a brand’s unique identity, simplifying complex ideas, or inspiring viewers to take action. I see motion design as a powerful tool for communication and storytelling, and I am dedicated to using it to its fullest potential in my creative journey.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In my view, nurturing a thriving creative ecosystem and supporting artists and creatives requires a sensitive approach that acknowledges the importance of arts and culture in society. To start with, prioritize arts education in schools and provide accessible, high-quality arts programs from an early age to encourage creativity and develop the next generation of artists.

I belong to a diverse community and feel fortunate to have the ability to pursue a career in arts. Unfortunately, this is not the case with everyone in this community, so I feel promoting diversity and inclusion in the arts field by actively supporting underrepresented voices and artists from marginalized communities is important as well. I see the words diversity and inclusivity being thrown around as a marketing strategy in any field these days, but I believe if they genuinely encourage diverse perspectives and narratives, especially in the creative field, it could lead to the growth and expansion of the creative landscape, challenge biases, and build a more inclusive and empathetic society.

Another very important aspect is to recognize and address the unique mental health challenges faced by artists. I feel that providing resources, counseling, and support networks to help artists navigate the emotional aspects of their work could promote the overall wellbeing, creativity and productivity of artists.

Finally, just as artists deserve fair compensation and protection of their intellectual property rights, ethical AI practices should ensure that individuals and organizations are fairly compensated for their data and contributions to AI training. I believe that if ethical AI practices are implemented it would encourage more collaboration between artists from various disciplines and further expand the world of art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://deedivakaran.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightsun.art/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deedivakaran/