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

Meghna, 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?

Initially in my days of undergrad, I had no idea what I wanted to pursue. I had moments where I thought “Oh maybe I should be a Veterinarian because I love dogs.” Of course knowing that loving just dogs isn’t enough to pursue a path like that. I ended up majoring in Computer Science (mainly to fulfill the south asian norm) where I still felt stuck as to what I was passionate about. I would go on trips with friends and family and invested in buying a camera and started making travel videos for fun. I soon realized how much I liked filming and editing footage and switched my major to Film.

Still being on the track of what I’m passionate about, I understood that cinematography is just my hobby, not my passion. I later started taking Graphic Design classes and becoming more familiar with Adobe programs. I did a student internship at my college and met a SCAD Alumni who taught a workshop on motion graphics. After picking her brain on what motion graphics is, I did some of my own research and went down a rabbit hole for a while. After I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Film, I applied for my Master’s degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design and went into Motion Design.

Since these past 2 years in my master’s degree, my interests pique towards Motion Design, Graphic Design, Cinematography, Projection Mapping, and now Art Direction. With all of the projects I’ve worked on thus far, the idea of focusing on look development and creating styleframes makes me the most excited. I’ve now come to terms that professionally, I want to be an Art Director. Coming from a background in Film and making my way towards Motion Design and honing down my design and concept skills is exactly what I think being an Art Director encompasses.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m currently an MFA student pursuing Motion Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design. I’m working towards completing my thesis which is about integrating motion and experiential design to tell a story about immigrant parents moving to the United States and talking about any battles they’ve gone through as an immigrant. Along with my thesis, I’ve been freelancing as a Junior Art Director at Wunderman Thompson to open up my path further as an Art Director. Previously before that, I was an intern there where I spent my summer working on brands like Audible, KitKat, and U.S. Marine Corps.

As an aspiring Art Director, my main goal is to solve big problems while visually telling a story through the means of design and animation. A lot of my inspiration derives from films/tv shows, photography, and just everyday human experiences. My process usually involves spending weeks researching the purpose of the project and then going into an empty miro board and start brain dumping. I’ll find that with new projects, I’ll want to take on a different approach whether that means learning a new program or going outside of my design style to really push myself as a creative. I always like to think that if you’re ever feeling uncomfortable from stepping outside of your comfort zone, it means you’re growing.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During my undergrad when I switched my major from Computer Science to Film, that was a strange time for me. I knew that pursuing Computer Science didn’t convince me to learn it any further. There was hesitation in my decision to switch mainly due to the pressure of achieving a “socially acceptable” job, but I would just be forcing myself into a career path that I don’t enjoy. I think the South Asian community still struggles (even in a progressive society) to take creatives seriously. But I do hope that South Asians can start to feel more encouraged one day to achieve their goals and passions, allowing for more fulfilling careers. Looking back at it now, I’m in a much better place with my career and feel confident to keep striving for that kind of energy. Having to pivot and stepping into the unknown is a great way to claim your space and letting your talent be recognized beyond just your identity.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being able to throw myself into the deep end and figuring it out. It’s challenging, but that’s where I think growth starts to show as a creative. Because I have so many interests, I love learning new things and applying those skills to my projects. I recently have been learning 3D in motion design, and after being so intimidated by it for years, I actually love it now and would want to continue to apply those little nuggets of knowledge into my work. When it comes to working with the concept and brand, I’ve always found myself being attracted to the fun and colorful brands (like most of us are) but I found that sometimes working outside of those niche brands is a great way to visually challenge yourself. You won’t know what to expect when being in different situations but it’s a puzzle that’s satisfying to solve and your work continuously evolves so it’s a win-win.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://meghnashourie.myportfolio.com/work
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghnashourie/

Image Credits
Meghna Shourie