Design x Shyam Shahu Shrestha
Freelance Designer
Interview conducted by Nirvaya Subedi on August 21, 2022
To kick things off, tell me a bit about yourself.
My name is Shyam Shahu Shrestha, I’m a freelance UX Design professional from Nepal. I have been involved in the design industry for around 8 years in various roles including graphics design, illustration, and UX Design. I also love comic books and movies. To summarize it, I consider designing my passion and profession.
Tell me about your journey to becoming a designer.
To look back at my interest in design, I need to go back to my childhood. I was particularly fascinated by the designs in comic books and movie posters. When I would stumble upon a cinema poster in magazines, on the streets, or on the television, I’d be so captivated by them, I’d dream of making my own movie posters. So I used to draw my own designs and show them to my friends and family.
Yet, throughout my school and college days, I actually never thought that design could even be a career option. I got familiar with the professional concept of design around 2013 when I actually dropped out of engineering and had plenty of free time to seek new career options. At that time, seeing my random sketches and designs, my friend recommended I explore design as a profession. So I ended up as a beginner freelance graphic designer and then gradually took on other design responsibilities in marketing and social media. I learned various aspects of design, the ins-and-outs, and broadened my design skills along the way.
My understanding of the concept of design was different every time I learned new things. It wasn’t just randomly assembling images, texts, and colors, branding, and catering to clients’ needs. For me, it was a way to connect everything. I stumbled upon UX design by way of a friend who was already working as a UX designer at a tech company. This introduction to the world of UX changed my perception of design completely. It was a whole new multiverse out there. The design wasn’t just a way to connect everything, it was an entirely new field that works to solve user needs and problems via problem statements, research insights, understanding users and their psychology, listening to them, empathizing with them, design thinking, accessibility, and so on. I was fascinated with how digital products had taken over in recent years and how good UX design makes users' lives and day-to-day work easier.
Describe to me the moment you discovered you wanted to do design?
I would spell out two moments that played an important role in shaping my interest in the field of design. The first was when I was around 10 years old and I would participate in and win art competitions at my school. The idea that my artworks were so appreciated by others instilled the belief in me that I had a talent for art. The second important moment was becoming aware that design was a career option after dropping out of engineering. After pursuing science in my higher secondary school course, I tried to get into engineering. But because of some personal and family circumstances, I ended up dropping out of the course altogether. In the first two months after dropping out, I started exploring other options that would help me pursue a more fulfilling career option. Since I was already free, I would spend my days freely exploring and creating designs on my computer. That was the first time that I realized that design could even be a career option. Soon after, I also got my first paid gig designing a logo for a friend, and the rest is history.
So I would say that those were the two major moments in my life that planted the idea that I was destined for a career in design.
“The longer you spend in a place, the more nuances you discover, and the more open you become to learning about the people, their culture and perspectives.”
Can you guide us through your professional career and how you transitioned through different jobs? What were some good and bad memories through this journey?
I started in 2013/14 as a freelance graphic designer and later took on other marketing and social media-related roles that also included design. After working as a freelancer for some years, I later joined GadgetByte as a full-time employee to design their digital marketing assets and handle their social media posts. After being there for a couple of months, I took on the role of Lead Designer at SastoDeal which was one of the top e-commerce platforms in the country. Then I later joined Fusemachines which is one of the biggest multinational Tech ventures in Nepal. Then later I joined Leapfrog as a UX Designer in November 2020, which I would call one of the few Design Centric companies in the country. However, after facing health issues related to severe back pain, I had to resign and cease all design-related activities for almost 7 months. While recovering I was strongly focused on learning and updating my skills.
“Even in those moments when things felt down, it came to become a good learning experience that ultimately ended up giving me more confidence.”
I wouldn’t say I have any long-lasting bad memories from the places I worked, although there were ups-and-downs. In retrospect, I consider the overall experience as positive. Even in those moments when things felt down, it came to become a good learning experience that ultimately ended up giving me more confidence.
So you are currently working as a freelance designer. How is the experience of being a full-time design professional under an organization different compared to being a freelancer?
Having worked in a few big organizations in Nepal, I feel that the working culture of every organization is different. Some organizations are easier to work with and are design-centric, while others aren’t as design-centric in their approach. Yet, in an organizational setting, the procedures are fixed and design ideas tend to be kind of routine. In freelancing, although it appears that we have our own time and schedule, one individual needs to act like an entire team, and it can be very demanding. Still, it allows for a more flexible approach to life and one can get a lot more done. As a design professional I feel that continuing the process of learning and updating your knowledge is very important, no matter where you are. Of late, because I have been freelancing, I was able to schedule my time to complete some courses that I hadn’t been able to work on when I was a full-time employee. Over the past few months, I finally managed to complete a couple of design courses from Google and Interactive Design Foundation.
Are there any differences between working with South Asia-based clients compared to international clients? If so what are they? How do you respond/navigate the cultural differences in working relationships?
Compared to the western world, the design industry in Nepal is still in its infancy as it is still growing and evolving even though it has been here for decades. I personally feel a major difference in the awareness of design and the work culture in that regard. In South Asia, it’s common to find clients that tend to consider design as a light-effort activity and don’t take things as seriously as they are supposed to be taken. A lot of them therefore tend to pay less than the work deserves and that ends up demotivating a lot of aspiring and professional designers. This situation is changing to some extent, over time. In terms of work culture, Western clients often feel more rigid about deadlines and design specifications, while South Asians are less rigid about deadlines as long as the work is good.
I acknowledge that each client is different and comes from a different culture, so I try to incorporate this knowledge in setting expectations for them. Although many of my clients come from my home country, I have worked with clients outside the country and made an attempt to understand and research their perspectives.
What topics in the design industry do you find particularly interesting right now?
At present, I’m most interested in the concept of UX Design. The idea of UX Design feels very transformative and user-centric for everyone.
“From the days when the most thoughtful design was reserved for the privileged, we are now embracing an age where design is thoughtful towards people whose needs were overlooked in the past.”
The concept of accessibility has also been touching me a lot. From the days when the most thoughtful design was reserved for the privileged, we are now embracing an age where design is thoughtful towards people whose needs were overlooked in the past.
What are some of the challenges designers are facing today, especially in the context of being a professional based in a developing region like Nepal?
As I said earlier the design industry in Nepal is still in its infancy. From my own experience in Nepal, we are yet to establish a design-centric culture that respects and acknowledges the hard work that designers put in. It’s also common for clients to demand international quality output for very low pricing. The situation has been improving over the years, but we will have to put in a lot of work and introspection to reach the levels that the developed markets have reached.
You’ve been involved with local movements that protect cultural and natural heritages. Tell us about these causes, and what motivated you to join them.
I didn’t give much thought to these movements in the past, but later I realized that my contribution to activism could be very meaningful. I realized I could use design to spread awareness about the causes that meant so much to me. ‘Save Nijgadh’ fascinated me. For the Save Nijgadh cause, I built a series of posts that highlighted the problems and why it’s crucial to solve them. Campaigning for the protection of natural and cultural heritages means so much to me, as I really appreciate the ecology and culture of the country I was born in and where I have lived all my life.
“Design is a bridge that connects everyone and everything”
Do you believe that art and design can contribute to positive changes in society? What can we do to bring more changes through design?
This is a broad question, but yes, I do believe that design and arts are the forces of positive change. A good design can do so much to bring meaningful impact to people’s lives. For example, incorporating an accessible design on a mobile app can make that app a lot easier to use for anyone. For someone who knows only a language like Nepali or Nepal Bhasa, having an app feature that incorporates those languages would make a world of difference to those people. For someone with color blindness, an accessible design would be less confusing to use. Design is a bridge that connects everyone and everything. From arts to business to technology. It does its job to solve problems and as well as impart information.
For bringing more changes through design, we will need to give more thought to putting practical application of designs in real life. The awareness that design can add more practicality and better functionality can make things better and simpler for many.
How would you describe your leadership style?
I wouldn’t call myself a leader necessarily. Yet, after having spent years in this profession, I have met people who told me that they look up to me as an inspiration. This really led me to take the initiative of preparing the next generation of designers, by guiding and mentoring them. I prioritize having an empathetic leadership that accounts for diversity and accessibility.
What advice would you give to fellow / junior designers?
Always be very open to learning. Despite being in this sector for all these years, I still feel I have so much to learn, and that’s one of the major things that drives me toward being even better. So if you are new, always be ready to learn, and when you make mistakes, try to learn from them. Another important thing is to be humble. Finally, I would also suggest you don’t overwork and always put your health first.
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Exploring good food, comics, movies, TV series, documentaries, reading history, exploring design articles and resources.
What is your favorite book or podcast?
Although I love many books, if I had to name one book, it would be “The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman.
What or who inspires you?
It’s a broad question, but I have a broad answer too. I am inspired by everything and everyone: from an old building to a comic book; from an old person to an infant.
If you could live anywhere, where would that be? Why?
I would choose Madhyapur Thimi, Bhaktapur, Nepal, my native and ancestral place. Then I would choose San Diego, California, where I could attend a Comic Con.
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Hungry. Dedicated. Good - A human who strives to be good.
