Aswanth A’s connection with the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) organised in Thiruvananthapuram, goes beyond a cinephile’s love for movies. It was in 2017 when he moved to the city to pursue a bachelor’s degree in fine arts at the College of Fine Arts. As someone who believes that he had spent his entire life restricting himself, Aswanth’s choice was driven by his desire to explore the world beyond his home in Kannur. For someone who considered movies to be “just a form of entertainment”, IFFK was a thing of beauty and a joy he cherishes.

“It was something emotional for me. I didn’t know much about the IFFK and I also didn’t watch many movies either. To me, IFFK was a cultural space where like-minded people came together and there was a beauty in that. Every day, there would be new movies, new people to meet, new ideas in movies, culture and technique with which they were made,” he says. 

Aswanth, now 26, is a visual designer and the brains behind the logo for the 29th edition of the IFFK set to take place in the second week of December in Thiruvananthapuram. The festival, which spans eight days, has chosen “Intersectionality” as the central theme for its logo and brand identity concept this year. 

Logo of the 29th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK)

“There are many factors that decide a person’s position in society like religion, caste, gender, race and so on. Thus, different layers, when combined, determine whether they are privileged or oppressed in society. The same goes for movies, you cannot just look at them in one way,” explains Aswanth.

After having worked as a designer with different firms in Bengaluru and Delhi, Aswanth is currently pursuing a master’s degree in fine arts from RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, Kochi.  

Aswanth has designed the logo for the 27th edition of the IFFK.  Earlier this year, he designed the logos for the Women’s International Film Festival held in Kochi and the second edition of the Happiness International Festival held in Kannur. He also designed the logo for the 15th edition of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival held in Thiruvananthapuram last year.   

Logo of the 2024 Women’s International Film Festival designed by Aswanth

Aswanth credits his repeated appearances at film festivals for his style combining design and art. He believes that he has more ideas to communicate on a deeper level which people would turn their eyes to at a large platform like the IFFK. He adds that more conversations should take place on how to make the world a better, convenient place through design.  

“A design’s value is not merely commercial; it has the power to bring a change in society. For example, the changes we bring in the textbooks for students in Kerala — the visuals to be included in it, how their classrooms should look like, even how they should sit. The changes these decisions can bring is big,” says Aswanth. 

He adds, “Design culture in India is not discussed much. It deserves value as art does.” Expressing the desire to start a design community in the country, Aswanth says a community is imperative to use design as a tool for social and political change. “Currently, design communities are mostly equated with architects... Despite India being ahead and diverse in art, culture and architecture, there is very little discussion on design and even those discussions are very recent in Kerala as well,” he adds. 

All About My Window, an illustration series by Aswanth | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Aswanth, who considers Austrian graphic artist Stefan Sagmeister and American graphic designer David Carson as his inspirations, points out how things are engineered in our country but not designed.

Moving forward, Aswanth says he wants to design more works with a universal appeal wanting to make the world a better place.