With a large majority of YSYF volunteers based in Canada, you might be asking how Shreyansh, 10 and a half timezones removed from our team, came across YSYF. He learned about our work through a former YSYF team member, with a wide network. He explains that “the greatest thing about the age we live in is the ability to connect with anyone, anywhere without any restrictions. That means if I love graphic design, I can connect with other people who also love the same and are experts in their respective industries.”
As a keen pupil of history in his early secondary school years Shreyansh was sensitized to the processes and terrors that were and continue to be the colonization of Africa. Decolonizing and communicating knowledge through social media graphics will no doubt be a defining moment in our history. As a result Shreyansh wanted to channel his artistic prowess through a greater good.
Hoping to continue studying math and sciences in university, I had to ask Shreyansh, ‘what about design?’. “I learned design because I personally had an interest in the subject and when I want to study something, I don’t want any restrictions. I feel the design world is constantly changing and the systems to teach design are rigid in universities.”
Indeed it’s generally more acceptable to get a medical or engineering degree than to earn the equivalent in arts. “If you say to someone that you are a UX designer or a brand designer their reaction is mostly, ‘Umm… But what is that?’”
The societal pressure to choose a respected career path is a universal dilemma. Although Shreyansh doesn’t have many creative role models around him, he is determined to continue his practice by challenging himself. “Being a part of different design communities gives me the opportunity to learn from others and improve my design skills. Also, this opens a whole new world of networking and connecting with fellows.”
Ammarah
November 30, 2021Very well written! I enjoyed reading this. 🙂