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

Hi Reema, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I have always knew i wanted to be in the creative industry. I love mixing different materials and textures, i am more of an aesthetician (recently learned this word so imma use it) than an artist.

I was so lucky to be born in India and to be exposed to the plethora of arts and handicraft. My parents saw this in me and enrolled me to every possible government subsidised craft class. I want to to be open about the fact that i belonged to lower middle class family where pursing arts in usually not an option because of multiple factors like Financial Concerns, lack of Stability and Security, Lack of Exposure, social exceptions and many more. But my parents were always very supportive and did whatever the possibly with their income bracket.

By the age of 18 i wanted to go to Singapore to study Design but due to the lack of finances i decided to study in India. After completing my studies and hustling for 2 years i finally landed my dream job to work in and adversing agency. Working in the advertising industry in India, I found myself surrounded by peers who seemed to come from privileged backgrounds. Many of my colleagues had access to the best of music, art, and travel experiences. They would casually discuss their trips to international art festivals, their favorite concerts in exotic locations, and their encounters with global cultures.

In contrast, I came from a middle-class background and had not had the opportunity to explore beyond the borders of India. My exposure to the world of art and culture was primarily limited to what I could access within the country. While my peers shared stories of attending prestigious art exhibitions in Europe or music festivals in the United States, I often felt like I was missing out on a significant part of the global creative landscape. It sometimes felt like I was playing catch-up in a race where others had a head start.

However, as time went on, I began to realize that my middle-class upbringing had its own set of strengths. It taught me resilience, resourcefulness, and the value of hard work. While I may not have traveled extensively or attended international art festivals i could always read and keep myself updated with trends.

Over time i was 25 and in India it’s the marriageable age and my mother asked me if i wanted to get married or go study aboard. It took 30 years of savings from both my parents and 8 years of my brother’s hard earned money to send me to Singapore to finally study advertising.

My story is a testament to the power of perseverance, the beauty of resilience, and the unwavering support of family. It’s proof that dreams can transcend the barriers of circumstance. Today, as I reflect on my journey, I see a path etched not just by passion but also by the love and determination of those who believed in me.

I’m an artist, an aesthetician, and a dreamer, defying odds and embracing a world of creative possibilities.

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?

Currently Freelancing based in the Bay Area. Before becoming a freelance unicorn i was working at We Communication as a Lead Art Director. A bunch of enthusiastic hybrid individuals creating digital solutions for B2B tech brands like NCS, SAP, McKinsey and Think with Google. I took care of visuals that support TWG long form articles for Asia Pacific. Before We Communication I have worked with Mullenlowe as an Art Director where I had the opportunity to work with brands like Closeup, Pepsodent/P.S/Signal, Work force Singapore, Pears India, Dr. Ci:Labo, Govtech and few more under Personal Care, Beauty and local Singapore accounts.I’ve also worked with some pretty cool brands including Nokia, Lay’s, Pepsi, Congress, PizzaHut, Spice jet, Airtel, Tropicana and Central Park in India with JWT and FCB.

I’ve excelled the art of making end frames with Thai disclaimers (they take upto 25% of the frame) and do 7 ratios for KV’s so that when our work goes to local markets they can easily adapt without tearing apart the KV. From time to time I can also provide my voice as a place holder VO in English and Hindi. I keep my video on for all my teams meetings including our weekly status meeting on Monday Morning 10am, that’s the amount of confidence I possess.

Moving 2 pixels to the left and right since 1999. But for real, though, please don’t tell me to do that, thanks. Digital is my jam. From just working on a digital brief to animating for games, I have designed, written, and art directed everything from digital briefs to game animations. In layman’s terms, it means I just “get” digital and that’s where your worries end.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is to see people feel something when they see my work. It can be happiness, anger, excitement or just a plain smile.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. My mission is to tell everyone to take a chill pill in the creative industry and i am not kidding. The hustle, the long working hours and no work life balance does not make you a better creative…it actually kills your creatively daily till you burn out. My goal is for people to know that you can be a great creative without overworking yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.reematrehan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reema_trehan/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reema-trehan-8b894334/