Introduction

I design; therefore I am

Hi, my name is Aftab, I’m 26 years old and based in Greenwich, London. I was born and bred in the UK, but grew up in a south asian and middle eastern environment.

I am a Graphic and Web Designer, Photographer and Videographer.

I currently work at Lastminute.com as a UX Designer and have, in the past, taught City & Guilds level Photography and Web Design at the Institute of Music & Technology. Tutored young adults in design and have held workshops teaching branding at The Albany Theatre, London.

I have also been Head Designer at Primal Spark, a multi-disciplinary visual communication studio, where I have worked with clients such as London Councils, London Southbank Centre and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

I am the founder of Search the Skies – an online travel booking website and of Patisserie Universelle, offering a luxury range of vegan patisserie suitable for people with different dietary requirements. I have a passion for all things creative and love to travel and experience new cultures and food. I have also successfully starred in BBC Masterchef 2010.

I also regularly write for Photoshop Creative magazine (printed version).

Contact me if you’d like to find out more.

Ambition

‘All that we are is the result of what we have thought’ (Buddha)

My strengths lie in the aesthetics of things, I believe if something is to be created it must be functional but beautiful. I always work from my heart, therein, I believe, lies the secret to all success. My ambition in life is to excel and succeed at all that I do, no matter how small. I’m not afraid of failure as I feel it is an important and vital step to success.

My ambitions in life include:

• Travel the world and get paid for it.
• Author, produce, photograph, illustrate and design books related to food/cultures/travel.
• Become a designer
• Become a photographer
• Travel the Silk Route by road
  
• Teach my skills to students
• Start a business
• Design my very own home based on architecture of The Alhambra.
• Design. Design. Design.
• Become fluent in Italian, French, German and Arabic
• Adopt a baby cow and produce my own range of cheese
• Set up a cafe/restaurant inspired by the world and cultures
• Experience my 15 minutes of fame on national television
• Build an orphanage in memory of my parents
• Start collecting items of antiquity and build a museum.

I don’t seek praise, just constructive criticism which will help me improve and learn. If you do have some about my website or my work, please get in touch, I value your advice.

Interests

‘Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art’ (Da Vinci)

My whole life revolves around my work, which ensures I enjoy everything that I do. I have an eye for design. Interests in Architecture/ Art/ Fashion/ Design/ Photography/ Illustration and Gastronomy. I’m a keen learner and passionate about everything I do.

I’m philosophical. I speak many languages, including Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, German, and little bits of Italian/Spanish. I’m currently studying French. I never cease learning; I never tire of giving up old ideas.

I also love to cook – I’ve successfully starred in a British tv cooking competition (BBC Masterchef UK 2010).

If you find my work interesting and would like me to work on a project of yours or would like to collaborate, please do get in touch.

Skills