Meet Devyani Mahadevan

We recently connected with Devyani Mahadevan and have shared our conversation below.

Devyani, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I most definitely have not overcome imposter syndrome, but what helps is breaking tasks down into smaller steps and hyper-focusing on completing them as a way of distracting myself from my the final outcome and how it is going to be perceived by others. Taking a break from Social Media has also been really helpful in the past, although it hasn’t been an option lately because of the job hunt. Ultimately, the goal is to enjoy being a beginner, keep trying new things without constantly feeling inadequate and enjoy the process so much that the outcome becomes less significant—but I know that’s still a long way ahead.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

As a multidisciplinary designer, my work focuses on thoughtful storytelling across various mediums. I spent four years working in-house and at studios before moving to Baltimore for my master’s at MICA, where I refined my skills in branding, publication design, UI, and typeface design, while gaining hands-on experience through internships. My time at MICA was everything I had hoped for—it helped me improve my skills and gave me the space to explore the subjects I was truly passionate about. Street View, my graduate thesis, was one such project.

What excites me most about graphic design is the opportunity to blend different disciplines to visually narrate the simplest stories around me. Recently, I have been deepening my focus on typeface design and experimenting with AI tools for motion work, which has been both fun and challenging. My hope is to continue learning and creating good work.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three most important qualities that have shaped my journey so far are:
1. Curiosity: I have always been that annoying person with too many questions but that has really helped me learn and grow. 2. Attention to Detail: Though still a work in progress in my design practice, focusing on small details around me has changed the way I understand the world and it really grounds me during overwhelming times. 3. Rigor: While I may not claim extraordinary talent, I work hard and strive to do my best with every opportunity I get, and I believe this quality has helped me push myself to keep doing better.
Apart from these qualities, I have been building my technical skills in typeface design which is something I have always wanted to pursue. Additionally, I have been exploring AI tools, especially for motion work, which has been an exciting and fun learning experience. There is still a long way to go, but I hope to keep growing while holding on to these qualities.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Several people have played a crucial role in my journey so far, starting with my parents and close friends who have been my strongest support system. I am also extremely grateful to the senior designers and industry experts I reached out to at different points in my career. They have generously offered their guidance and continued to support me over the years. Most recently, my professors at MICA played a significant role in building my confidence and helping me improve my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://devyanimahadevan.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devyanimahadevan/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devyanimahadevan/