Reshidev RK
Senior Designer • Wieden+Kennedy.
Reshidev Rk is an artist, illustrator and Senior Designer whose work involves collaborative thinking and providing visual solutions for various global brand campaigns. Today, as a Senior Designer at Wieden+Kennedy in Portland, OR, Reshidev’s unique strengths are his striking illustrations that are inspired by contemporary discourses and rendered in the colorful style of his home state in India.
Photo Courtesy of Reshidev RK
Every project comes with its unique hurdles; I always make room for those hurdles in my mind so they are easier to tackle.”
It was while pursuing sculpture that Reshidev realized his passion for illustration and decided to take a chance entering the advertising industry. During the years following his graduation, he landed a lot of freelance projects for feature fIlms, magazines, and branding campaigns, which gave him the momentum to take on more work. He built up his career on his unique style, securing early stints with Happy Advertising in Bengaluru for clients like Lee and Diesel. His next stop was Wieden+Kennedy Delhi, beginning as a Junior Art Director and eventually moving to his current position as Design Director. After spending over seven years at the company, he was offered an opportunity to transfer to their headquarters in Portland, where he currently works as a Senior Designer. During this time at the company, he has worked with clients such as Coca Cola, Old Spice, IndiGo Airline, Make In India, Royal Enfield and Nike. Reshidev has received awards in advertising from The One Show, and has had his work featured by publications like Buzzfeed and Vogue.
Reshidev in a t-shirt he designed.
Photo courtesy of Reshidev RK
PERSONAL HISTORY
Google Doodle designed by Reshidev RK to celebrate India’s Independence Day.
Photo courtesy of Reshidev RK
Artist at an Early Age
“I was born in Kannur, Kerala, India. While growing up, I discovered a passion for art very early in my childhood. I enjoyed watercolours and clay modeling the most. My father was quick to recognise where my interests lay, and was very supportive of the idea of me pursuing arts seriously. My teachers also encouraged me to enroll in competitions and opportunities at school that gave me some means to portray my skills. It was only natural that I chose art for higher education and graduated with a degree in sculpture.”
A Happy Accident in Advertising
“Advertising happened by accident. While pursuing sculpture, I found a growing interest in illustration and took the leap into the industry. Since then, I’ve worked on building an individualistic style. With time, I realised that sculpting may not be a viable career option straight out of college, since it required a lot of setting up and initial investment. I moved to Bengaluru, Karnataka, which was hot for design work at the time, and I started freelancing and eventually joined an advertising firm as a visualiser.”
A New World of Design
“From here on began my journey into graphic arts in a more professional capacity. With brands like Diesel, Lee Denims, Levi’s and several others, the exposure was great. After three years, I moved to Delhi to join Wieden+Kennedy as a Junior Art Director. This introduced a whole new world of design and opportunities for me. It taught me to tread away from a defined approach to work and think independently. I thoroughly enjoyed the work and the mentorship I received there, and in 2016 I was assigned the role of Design Director.”
Sources of Inspiration
“There are plenty of people who have been a part of my journey; I am especially thankful to V. Sunil, one of the most noteworthy creative leaders in India, for his unique perspective and for encouraging me as an artist. I have also found the work of Gustav Klimt to be highly inspiring to me. And finally, of course, the vibrance of my hometown, which has been a constant source of inspiration and influence in my work and will continue to be.”
Illustration titled “Belong Salon” by Reshidev RK.
Photo courtesy of Reshidev RK
Belong is a series of new experiences that come with moving to a new city. It fills you up with an inert urgency to get familiar. It is an explorative process — not just for the physical world around me, but a way of looking inwards. The very ordinary things, chores and activities, become your first companions. There’s an effervescent hope within that is constantly coaxing you to do something with the time you have in this place. In this series, I am a part of the scene and I am also the observer — like an out-of-body experience of watching myself adapt.
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