AT A GLANCE
Alaka Kavallur
Area of Practice: Community Art Projects, Pedagogy, Design Education, Illustration, Curatorial Practice, Craft Documentation, Photography, and Visual Culture
OVERVIEW
I am a designer, artist, and educator from Kerala, I am currently engaged in design practice at Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design, and Technology in Bangalore. In addition to my work at Srishti Manipal, I also operate a design studio, Anpu Design and Research, where I engage in art, design, and illustration projects. Prior to my current roles, I taught at the School of Arts and Design at Woxsen University in Hyderabad. My educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Visual Media from Amrita Institute of Arts, Science, and Technology in Kochi and a Master’s in Aesthetics and Visual Cultures from Srishti School of Art, Design, and Technology in Bangalore.
Throughout my professional career, I have had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects including pedagogy, illustrations, visual design, exhibition curation, theatre, and heritage documentation, primarily in India. I have also served as an assistant professor at Avani Institute of Design in Calicut and as an Instructional Designer at Artville Academy in Bangalore. In my practice, I prioritize collaboration with communities and other individuals and organizations as a means of advancing a larger process of humanization.
I consider myself to be in the process of refinement and every day as an opportunity to identify myself through my creations and collaborations.
EDUCATION
B.Sc Visual Media from ASAS Kochi Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Ettimadai, Tamilnadu
MA in Aesthetics and Visual Cultures from Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore, University of Mysore, Karnataka
WORK EXPERIENCE
2022 – Present
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art Design and Technology, Bangalore
Faculty & Design Practitioner
2022 – June – October
Artville Academy, Bangalore
Instructional Designer & Faculty
Curriculum Design, Facilitation, Academic Framework & Overall coordination of the Art and Design Foundation Program
2020-2022
School of Arts and Design, Woxsen University, Hyderabad
Assistant Professor & Program Chair of B.Des Foundation Program
Curriculum Design, Academic Framework & Overall coordination of the program
Courses Mentored: Elements and Principles of Design, Elements of Form, Space and Structure, Visual Arts, Photography, Material Explorations, Illustration
Internal Quality Assurance Cell Head
Member of Board of Studies Committee
Chief Editor of College Design Journal
Mentor of academic and personal wellness of students
2018-2020
Avani Institute of Design, Calicut
Assistant Professor
Formulating academic framework for the integrated studio (2018-19, 2019-20)
Courses Mentored: Integrated Studio Semester 1 & 2 (Basic Design, Visual Arts and Presentation & Model Making )
Program curator for multiple workshop including Uruvam Community Art Project (2018-20)
2018-2019
Avani Art Initiative, Calicut
Program Coordinator
Mentor and Guide for Avani Summer Art Program
Program coordinator for multiple art exhibitions and workshops
Visual Designer
2017-2018
IIT Hyderabad, Hyderabad
Project Assistant
Photo Documentation of Qutub Shahi Tombs
Digital Archiving to curate the 10 year anniversary coffee table book for IIT Hyderabad
2014
Coralframe Technologies, Ernakulam
Creative Designer
Visual Designing
Commercial Branding and Visual identity
Social Media Management
2013
Abhayan Smaraka Kendram, Kottayam
Editor and Visual Designer
Editor and visual designer of all the publications from the trust ASK
2012
Theater Hut, Kottayam
Designer and Creative Coordinator
Program coordination for Multiple performances
Visual Design
INTEREST AREAS
Community Art Projects, Pedagogy, Design Education, Illustration, Curatorial Practice, Craft Documentation, Photography, and Visual Culture
CURRENT PRACTICE AT SRISHTI
Facilitating Design Practices in Visual Communication and Strategic Branding and Foundation Program
TEACHING PORTFOLIO
2022 – Present
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art Design and Technology, Bangalore
Faculty & Design Practitioner
2022 – June – October
Artville Academy, Bangalore
Instructional Designer & Faculty
Curriculum Design, Facilitation, Academic Framework & Overall coordination of the Art and Design Foundation Program
2020-2022
School of Arts and Design, Woxsen University, Hyderabad
Assistant Professor & Program Chair of B.Des Foundation Program
Curriculum Design, Academic Framework & Overall coordination of the program
Courses Mentored: Elements and Principles of Design, Elements of Form, Space and Structure, Visual Arts, Photography, Material Explorations, Illustration
Internal Quality Assurance Cell Head
Member of Board of Studies Committee
Chief Editor of College Design Journal
Mentor of academic and personal wellness of students
2018-2020
Avani Institute of Design, Calicut
Assistant Professor
Formulating academic framework for the integrated studio (2018-19, 2019-20)
Courses Mentored: Integrated Studio Semester 1 & 2 (Basic Design, Visual Arts and Presentation & Model Making )
Program curator for multiple workshop including Uruvam Community Art Project (2018-20)
CREATIVE PRACTICE & OUTREACH
Solo exhibition: Home and the Ocean at Artville Gallery, Bangalore
Conducted Bandhini Workshop at Artville Academy, Bangalore
Coordinating and Facilitating Uruvam Community Art Project at Janakeeya Vayanasala, Ponkunnam Public library, Kottayam, Kerala
Second Prize Winner in Wiki Loves Monuments Photography Contest organised by Wikipedia community
