The Road Less 'Design'ated

Prologue

​

“I know my fate, my name is yours and so are your famous designs, for someday I would be conscious of something tremendous, a crisis without equal against everything that has ever been believed, demanded or known. Kashish, you call it skill but where you see ideals, I see what’s human, failing to recognize me, your art. Alas, all too human!”

The Road Less “Design”ated

​

“Deaths” Duh! Nevertheless, after dilly-dallying…., I continued to slurp my Dalgona as I read along. Phew, 99.44, woah. Sometimes even what is known, seems so stirring when written eloquently. His coffee turned cold, mine needed a few more whips, fascinating, how the world loves unconventional tastes but still can’t resist it’s love for certainty. Ranks, percentiles, packages, wooh! All to attain knowledge but not ideas, do they realize?

“Yes, they do”, I was startled. But my thoughts were so entangled, I needed answers.

Kashish: Then why don’t they pursue their passion?

Unknown: Needs, Kashish. Passion stands alone, no star to look up to. No coachings to embark upon, no human rooted in paths. To follow is safe, didn’t you opt engineering whilst you were destined for art?

Kashish: I was not aware then, after coming to college magical things happened,  when I was surrounded by people who were passionate and enthusiastic towards a common craft. We

worked for hours together, challenging ourselves increasing the scope of what's possible. The culture of sharing and constructive criticism made me evolve, read up books, practice and take art seriously. My team, Kalakriti made it possible for me to think on these lines. I wish to be a Visual Communication and Interaction designer. I have even got AIR 3 in National Institute of Design Prelims. I am not the conventional one. I will do a Masters in Design, my calling. I am not satisfied with regular stuff.

Unknown: You are not different, I am. Not unless "Different" means the "same".

Somewhat taken aback by this defiance, I looked up  at her.

Kashish: There are two entrance exams for MDes. CEED- Common entrance exam for Design and NID DAT for entry to National institute of Design. MITID and Srishti institute of Design are best institutes in private, they conduct their separate entrances. I got into IIITDMJ, MITID, Srishti and  MICA CCC program which is  wonderful if one wants to have a career in the creative side of advertising, and get into designing, art direction or copy-writing. And you say I’m no different. Who are you?

​

Unknown: I am something. For something is so bad to be so good and for something that I am, so good to be so bad. And me, I know my fate, my name is yours and so are your famous designs, for someday I would be conscious of something tremendous, a crisis without equal against everything that has ever been believed, demanded or known. Kashish, you call it skill but where you see ideals, I see what’s human, failing to recognize me, your art. Alas, all too human!

​

I was moved by the profoundness in the answer, lastly through the haze, stars at night were just behind her or me.

Kashish: So you are my inner designer, my designs emulate you?

Something: To live is rare, most experience it, you design, recall the portrait, made in ninth standard. I am the passion you felt to make a better one than your friends, I’m the realization of beauty to your designing light. The heredity of art from your mother, who redeems her fate in you. Her support, tolerance learnt from younger siblings and named pure, the toil from your father in business. I’m the protest, screamed at this unconventional career.

Kashish: How do you know so much about me?

Unknown: I’m the balance Kashish, your mind, which listens to you without inserting into your reality.

"The shine of your aspiration to live a life of no regrets, getting paid for doing what you love. For every question is not to be answered, I am your window Kashish, I allow you to observe the world without being a part of it."

Her answers were profound, I wanted her to stay but  her reflection started sliding down.

Kashish: You will stay with me always?

Something: Always, and I will travel through the crack,  I am your window remember, that’s how light will travel to you , through me always. I am the designer you design to design. Pursue the love, affect changes you wish, solve problems via your designs and when all is done, I will come back to chat again. You have a tool, powerful one, not the design but your designer. Use it well !

Epilogue

​

Something was wrong, I don’t drink coffee. Why is everything moving, am I, was I sle..?

“Will you wake up son, it’s well past nine, the government is firm on conducting semester exams, get up and start studying”. I protested, “ Five more minutes ma, I slept late last night”. However unlike the government, my mother was affectionate for subjects under her. She went away for other chores. It was a hell of a dream, “That’s the idea, I found it”, I blurted out.

I opened my texts and searched for Kashish Ma’am CE 2020 and sent her a text.

“Good Morning Ma’am, The Whiteboard team wishes to conduct your interview for it’s new series, Atypicals of IET, the inspiring stories of conventional individuals with unconventional talents.  We will be extremely grateful, if you can spare us some of your time”.

She replied instantly, “Morning kid, I will be more than happy too. But you know what’s weird, I had this surreal dream,......... “