We were lucky to catch up with Dhruv Patel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dhruv, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
Embarking on my creative odyssey, the genesis occurred amid the corridors of CEPT University, Ahmedabad, where the tapestry of my journey began to unfold. Armed with a Bachelor’s in Interior Design, I traversed the cityscape, filling sketchbooks with the vibrant pulse of urban life and honing my keen eye for architectural intricacies.
Theater beckoned, and I found myself immersed in the world of NatakBaazi, a small theater club during my undergraduate years. Acting, directing, crafting graphic posters, and designing sets became a melange of artistic expressions. These immersive experiences set the stage for my dual fascination with both the limelight and the design intricacies that bring stories to life.
A pivotal chapter unfolded with a master’s pursuit at SCAD, delving into Production Design. From the theater stage to the cinematic realm, my journey expanded. Thesis research became a lens through which I decoded the impact of interiors on cinema, focusing on the whimsical world of Wes Anderson. This academic exploration solidified my commitment to the multifaceted world of design.
Post-graduation, I stood at a crossroads, my soul tethered to both theater and film. The pursuit of scenic design, fueled by an addiction to applause, led me to contribute to noteworthy productions, including “Sense and Sensibility” and “The Play That Goes Wrong.” Yet, a poignant chapter unfolded with my thesis on “Black Comedy,” a play I directed in 2020, forever intertwined with the challenges posed by the global pandemic.
The journey continued with an apprenticeship at Gloucester Stage Company, a crucible where skills in light rigging, scenic carpentry, and painting were honed. The educational arc extended, as did the struggle for international opportunities. Enduring countless job applications and rejections, the tenacity paid off with scenic design gigs in Hartford, CT.
Today, I navigate the challenging realms of a foreign country, finding solace in the pursuit of an elusive goal – the person I aim to become in the next five years. Life, akin to a race, demands unwavering strength. My mantra remains rooted in resilience, chasing a future self that continually evolves. Amidst the hurdles, I find strength, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of artistic growth—undeterred, undaunted, and forever chasing the person I aspire to be.
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.
In the intricate realm of design, my journey has traversed the spectrum—from the precision of Interior Design to the enchantment of Scenic Design. As an Interior Designer, I honed my craft for several years, orchestrating spaces that spoke volumes. My foray into education as a Teaching Associate in India added a layer of mentorship to my repertoire, enriching my understanding of the symbiosis between creation and instruction.
Transitioning continents, I embraced the world of Scenic Design with fervor. In the theater’s embrace, I found a canvas to weave narratives through meticulous set creations. My work extends beyond the proscenium, delving into realms of Music Videos and Short Films. The dexterity required in the film domain led me to wear multiple hats—Production Designer, Gaffer, Boom Operator—each role an exploration, a testament to adaptability in the ever-evolving landscape of storytelling.
Survival, I learned, thrives on adaptability. This ethos led me to a pizzeria, where the scent of baking dough became a metaphor for resilience. Mastery of pizza-making unfolded alongside the acquisition of skills in BTS Photography, Videography, Canvas and Wall Painting, and Illustration Design. From the canvas to the stage, I navigated small-scale theaters, immersing myself in every facet—Production Management, Scenic Carpentry, Scenic Painting, even tending bar.
A recent triumph emerged from the challenging crucible of limited resources and rough weather. In designing and crafting the set for “SISTER ACT,” I transformed constraints into creativity, a testament to resourcefulness and determination. From conceptualization to execution, I thrive in the synergy of creativity and hands-on labor.
Beyond the tangible, I am an Urban Sketcher, capturing the pulse of city life in ink and watercolor. My love for detail extends to crafting miniature-scaled models, adding a tactile dimension to my design process. These miniature worlds mirror the grandeur of the sets they represent, a testament to the meticulous care I invest in every project.
What sets me apart is not just versatility, but an unwavering commitment to embrace challenges as opportunities. My pride lies not only in the tangible results of my work but in the intangible journey—the evolution from interiors to the grand stages, from pizzas to miniatures, a journey marked by adaptability, resilience, and an unquenchable thirst for creative exploration.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In the kaleidoscope of my journey, the most poignant lesson echoes through the corridors of being a trailblazer while embracing the art of differentiation. While striving to be the first in various endeavors, I’ve unearthed the transformative power of standing out in the crowd. This journey of distinction is not merely about being the pioneer; it’s about the audacity to think beyond conventions and to forge a path that others might not have envisioned.
Thinking out of the blue, an endeavor that demands the courage to challenge norms and tread uncharted territories, has been a cornerstone of my evolution. Trusting instincts emerge as a guiding compass, a reliance on innate wisdom that navigates the labyrinth of choices. The inevitability of history repeating itself serves as a stern but invaluable teacher—one that imparts lessons in the crucible of experience, often in the most challenging and illuminating ways.
In the grand tapestry of life, these lessons coalesce into the profound understanding that life, at its core, is a series of cycles and patterns. Learning the hard way becomes an inevitable aspect, a mosaic of experiences that shapes character and resilience. Amidst the twists and turns, the unwavering constant remains the trust placed in the process—a fundamental belief that every challenge, every setback, contributes to a narrative that unfolds with purpose.
Consistency, the most vital ingredient in this recipe of life, is the glue that binds aspirations to achievements. It’s the discipline to persist, the resolve to weather storms, and the commitment to show up each day, regardless of the hurdles. The symphony of lessons harmonizes into a resounding truth: life is a journey of dynamic unpredictability, and in navigating its tumultuous seas, being consistent becomes the anchor that steadies the ship.
As I stand at the confluence of past and present, the resonance of these lessons reverberates—each decision, every challenge, and the relentless pursuit of consistency converging to craft a narrative that unfolds with purpose and intention.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
In the labyrinth of my academic and professional journey, one of the most profound lessons I had to unlearn was the very foundation of my education—each detail and basic ingrained during five years of intense study in Interior Design. This transformative process occurred during the endeavor of writing my thesis on how interiors affect cinema.
The unlearning was not a mere shedding of acquired knowledge but a conscious unraveling of my preconceptions and ingrained notions. Stepping into the realm of cinema, I discovered a kaleidoscopic lens that demanded a fresh perspective—one unburdened by the conventions of interior design. The journey led me to a cinematic odyssey, watching films from diverse genres and lenses, each offering a unique insight into the interplay of space and storytelling.
Upon crossing borders to the United States, my immersion in the art of filmmaking deepened, expanding beyond the frame to trace the historical tapestry of production design. From the inception of theater acts in ancient Greece to the evolution of cinematic storytelling, from Edison’s pioneering contributions to the invention of the camera to the allure of vaudeville, the narrative unfolded.
It was within this rich historical context that I gained an entirely new sense towards cinema, stripping away the constraints of my previous education. Learning the stories behind each performance, understanding the symbiosis of theater and cinema, and unraveling the archetypal foundations of character analysis and placement became paramount.
The unlearning process became a journey of liberation—an unshackling from the confines of a singular design discipline to embrace the interdisciplinary nature of storytelling. This metamorphosis not only broadened my skill set but also fueled a newfound passion for the symbiotic relationship between space and narrative in the cinematic realm.
In essence, unlearning the familiar became the gateway to acquiring a richer, more nuanced understanding of design’s role in storytelling. The process was not a dismissal of my past education but a liberation that allowed me to navigate the boundless realms of creativity with newfound insight and adaptability.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dhruvmpatel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightning_forever/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhruv-design/
Image Credits
1. A film set adapted from a theater script play called Crucible by Arthur Miller: (3D-rendered image) 2. Thesis Project Script: Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer: (3D-rendered image) 3. Compilation of Inktober 2023: (Illustrated and sketched by me) 4. Compilation of another illustrated series named Petals and Personas: (Illustrated and composed by me) 5. Watercolored sketch for a Hollywood Bungalow: (Facade Design and Historical Architectural Elements) 6. Another conceptual sketches for the design process of Black Comedy: (Thesis Project 2023) 7. Photo of a Theater Play The Private Lives by Noel Coward (Summer 2023, Gloucester Stage Company) 8. Photo of a Theater Play Stew by Zora Howard (Summer 2023, Gloucester Stage Company)