Interview with Kasun Wadumestri
Who Am I & Why Am I Relevant?I am a multi-disciplinary creative strategist and designer who bridges the worlds of commercial narrative and fine art.
Design Legend Interview
19 March 2025
My professional design journey began after completing my GCE Advanced Level. I then pursued a Graphic Design NVQ Level 04 certificate at the National Vocational Training Institute in Sri Lanka, which laid the foundation for my design career.
I’m not entirely sure how I became a designer, but I’ve always had a natural inclination toward visual expression. From childhood, I was constantly visualizing and creating in my own world. At first, I aspired to be a cartoon artist, and although I didn’t pursue that path, my love for creativity eventually led me to design without fully realizing it at the time.
I consciously chose this path as my career. It was a decision driven by my passion for creativity and design.
I enjoy designing and creating work that resonates with me on a deeper level. I’m particularly drawn to sensitive topics, whether they relate to social issues, animals, humans, or nature. These subjects inspire me to explore meaningful design that can spark awareness and emotion.
I don’t consider myself a design legend, but if someone aspires to make a lasting impact, I’d advise them to follow their heart and create work that feels true to who they are. Immerse yourself in your art and allow others to experience your creative world. Remember, art isn’t just for the artist—it’s meant to be shared with the world.
"Good" refers to many, while "great" refers to few. And "few" means rare—something hard to find, which makes it valuable. Value comes from the strength of the idea, and ideas are born from imagination. To be great, you need to continually expand your imagination—keep pushing boundaries, keep expanding... keep expanding...
"Good" is a relative term, and what makes a design truly great is its ability to bring about a meaningful change. A really good design has the power to create a positive impact, whether that’s through solving a problem or shifting someone’s perspective. Its effectiveness lies in how it transforms the way we think, see, or interact with the world.
Good design goes beyond aesthetics; it adds value by making things more intuitive and efficient for everyone, not just a select few. By investing in good design, you can create lasting impressions and build meaningful connections with your audience that endure over time.
As I mentioned earlier, I would focus on designing for society, nature, and animals. These are areas that deeply inspire me, and I believe design can make a meaningful impact in raising awareness and fostering positive change.
I prefer not to reveal my dream projects until they’re realized. But stay tuned—the best is yet to come.
The secret ingredients of my designs are nature, society, culture, and life itself. These elements inspire and influence my work, helping me create designs that are meaningful and impactful.
To be honest, I draw inspiration from anyone around the world who offers new knowledge. Since my focus is on visual communication, I explore a wide range of art and design.
As of 2024, my most impactful design is the "Masterpiece of Abuse" campaign for the Women in Need Organisation. The campaign shed light on the year-round issue of abuse faced by women, rather than focusing solely on International Women’s Day. It introduced "Ewa – The Masterpiece of Abuse," a statue crafted from newspaper stories that documented instances of abuse over the previous year. Ewa was displayed in public spaces, symbolizing the hypocrisy of celebrating women’s empowerment for just one day while ignoring the ongoing struggles women face throughout the rest of the year. The campaign ignited important social conversations and garnered widespread media coverage.
The core insight behind the campaign was the contradiction between Women’s Day advertisements celebrating empowerment and the news stories about women’s abuse published alongside them. By using these real stories of abuse to create Ewa, the campaign exposed this hypocrisy and highlighted the disconnect between the messages of empowerment and the persistent challenges women continue to face.
The core insight behind the campaign was the contradiction between Women’s Day advertisements celebrating empowerment and the news stories about women’s abuse published alongside them. By using these real stories of abuse to create Ewa, the campaign exposed this hypocrisy and highlighted the disconnect between the messages of empowerment and the persistent challenges women continue to face.
To become better designers, people should continually study and challenge their own thinking patterns and preferences. This ongoing self-reflection and learning process is key to growth.
Sometimes, will be a creative writer or a teacher.
Design is anything that involves thought and intention. Without thinking about something as a design, how can we truly recognize or introduce it as such? Design has no limits, no boundaries, and no specific space—it can exist anywhere, at any time. While this might not be the conventional view, it’s how I see it.
colleagues of mine
Before becoming a design master, I struggled with understanding who I truly was. It took two to three years of self-discovery to recognize my potential.
More than a designer, I see myself as an artist. Every artist has a unique way of presenting their ideas, and similarly, designers should present their work in a way that reflects their vision. Ultimately, the audience connects with the artist through the design.
When designs are of a high caliber, people will value them. If they don't resonate with the audience, they will be overlooked. As an artist, I plan to focus on creating more designs that address societal issues in the future. This is what people ultimately expect from both artists and designers.
Good designs will awaken the eyes of the society.
The "Masterpiece of Abuse" project brought me the most satisfaction because it involved significant contributions from both society and my friends. The collaborative effort made it deeply meaningful and impactful.
In the coming years, I’d like to see new technologies being leveraged to raise awareness about social issues in the design industry.
Believe in yourself and never give up.
I believe it's a dynamic relationship where both design set trends and trends influence design.
The role of technology depends on the specific design and its requirements.
I don’t think there’s one specific book that had the most effect on my design. I typically read novels and poetry, as they nourish my mind and fuel my imagination.
I believe it became clear to me that I would be more of an artist than a designer.
Designer Interview
14 March 2025
Imagination has always been a passion of mine, even from a young age. I've always loved visualizing dreams and ideas. My journey as an artist began in 2011 when I started my career as a Junior Graphic Designer. Joining a well-known advertising agency was a pivotal moment in my life, and it truly shaped my path. I strongly resonate with Picasso's quote: "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." To me, it's about staying true to that childlike wonder and simplicity, because it's that same curiosity and creativity that made me the artist I am today.
To be honest, I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist, but I wasn't certain about the specific role I’d take on. Sometimes I find myself as a storyteller, other times as a short film director, or even as a visualizer. I’ve also dabbled in acting in theater, creative writing, and teaching. For me, being a designer is just one aspect of my creative journey. It’s more than just designing—it’s about embracing all these different roles and expressing myself through various forms of art.
To be honest, I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist, but I wasn't certain about the specific role I’d take on. Sometimes I find myself as a storyteller, other times as a short film director, or even as a visualizer. I’ve also dabbled in acting in theater, creative writing, and teaching. For me, being a designer is just one aspect of my creative journey. It’s more than just designing—it’s about embracing all these different roles and expressing myself through various forms of art.
For me, design is anything that involves thought and intention. Without thinking about something as a design, how can we truly recognize or introduce it as such? Design has no limits, no boundaries, and no specific space—it can exist anywhere, at any time. While this might not be the conventional view, it’s how I see it.
I tend to design works that address sensitive topics, social issues, or draw from personal experiences. These themes often inspire me to create art that resonates deeply and conveys a meaningful message.
For me, there’s no single material, platform, or technology that I prefer when designing. It all depends on the purpose and message I want to convey. It’s like asking, "What do you want to say, and how do you want to say it?" The choice of medium ultimately depends on the artist and the context of the work.
When I design, my main focus is on maintaining the quality of the work, rather than the quantity. I believe that the impact and integrity of a design matter far more than how many pieces are produced.
It depends on the work.
The most fulfilling part for me is knowing that, through my work, something positive can happen in society or for others. It’s a feeling of pure pleasure that words can’t fully capture.
A design becomes 50% successful if its purpose is clearly defined before starting the work. The remaining 50% is determined by additional factors such as the core idea, dedication, determination, patience, and endurance.
When judging a design, I first consider what it is intended for and how well it aligns with the main design purpose.
From my perspective, the responsibilities of a designer toward society and the environment are the same as those of any human being. As designers, we are part of the natural world, shaping it and being shaped by it. We have a duty to create with awareness, considering the impact of our work on both society and the environment. By doing good, we should contribute to making the world a better place.
The design field is evolving rapidly, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence in design. While AI can create designs, I believe human thinking and creativity are still more advanced. However, the challenge lies in humans not fully utilizing their brain and heart in the right way. Designs will continue to be created, but the value of a design will depend on the time period we’re living in and how well it resonates with the world around us.
My design inspiration primarily comes from nature, society, and culture—these are the key sources that fuel my creativity.
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