︎





bio
—

︎︎ is a filmmaker, photographer, communication designer, researcher, and educator. Driven by experiences in design, journalism, research, and business,︎︎’s process-oriented interdisciplinary practice seamlessly combines traditional visual communication with transmedia narrative and spatial thinking to craft bespoke communication strategies and solutions that defy easy categorisation. ︎︎ has worked with clients based in the USA, UK, Sweden, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Oman, India, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

Situated at the confluence of research, art, and technology,︎︎’s personal work draws on the practice of critical design and new aesthetics along with post-digital craftsmanship. A co-creation enthusiast, ︎︎’s frequent collaborations with experts such as academics and artisans result in enhanced engagement with content and context.︎︎ uses data, words, audio, photographs, video, graphics, illustrations, codes, spaces, and diverse materials to create artefacts and scenarios that trace entanglements, question assumptions, and reveal the unseen.

︎︎ lives and works between Zurich, Switzerland and Calcutta, India.





bio
—

︎︎ is a filmmaker, photographer, communication designer, researcher, and educator. Driven by experiences in design, journalism, research, and business,︎︎’s process-oriented interdisciplinary practice seamlessly combines traditional visual communication with transmedia narrative and spatial thinking to craft bespoke communication strategies and solutions that defy easy categorisation. ︎︎ has worked with clients based in the USA, UK, Sweden, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Oman, India, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

Situated at the confluence of research, art, and technology,︎︎’s personal work draws on the practice of critical design and new aesthetics along with post-digital craftsmanship. A co-creation enthusiast, ︎︎’s frequent collaborations with experts such as academics and artisans result in enhanced engagement with content and context.︎︎ uses data, words, audio, photographs, video, graphics, illustrations, codes, spaces, and diverse materials to create artefacts and scenarios that trace entanglements, question assumptions, and reveal the unseen.

︎︎ lives and works between Zurich, Switzerland and Calcutta, India.
































education
—

2022 - Present
Doctor of Philosophy in Typography & Graphic Communication
University of Reading

2019
Master of Arts in Design, Visual Communication
Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)

2012
Diploma in Photojournalism
ACFJ, Ateneo de Manila University

2008
Master of Arts in Journalism & Mass Communication
University of Calcutta

2006
Diploma in Database Programming
West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation Limited

2006
Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) in Accounting & Finance
Goenka College of Commerce & Business Administration

work experience
—

May 2017 - Present
Communication Designer
Freelance

May 2012 - Present
Filmmaker
Freelance

Nov 2009 - Present
Photographer
Freelance

July 2019 - Dec 2019
Wissenschaftlicher Assistent (Research Assistant)
Institut für Designforschung. Zürcher Hochschule der Künst

Oct 2008 - Oct 2009
Freelance Journalist and Photographer
The Times of India

May 2007 - Sept 2008
Intern (Financial Reporting, Feature Writing, Copy Editing, and Page Design)
The Times of India



teaching
—

Sept 2022 - Dec 2022
Guest Faculty
B. Des., Fashion Communication. National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata

Sept 2020 - May 2022
Visiting Faculty
Bachelor Design. École Intuit Lab, Kolkata

Sept 2018 - Dec 2018
Lecturer (with Dr. Björn Franke)
Bachelor Design, Vis. Komm. Zürcher Hochschule der Künste

July 2014 - Feb 2018
Guest Faculty
B. Des., Fashion Communication. National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata



courses taught
—

Photography
Graphic design, Presentation techniques
History of art, Graphic culture
Culture & identity, Societies & politics, Perception & aesthetics



workshops conducted
—

Moving the eye: composition and visual literacy for photographers
Placing shadows: lighting and ambient light portraits
Killing darlings: photo-editing and narratives
Prepress: colours and printing for photographers
After photography: IP, copyright, and entrepreneurship
Natural light cinematography
DSLR filmmaking and post production



worked with
—

BBC, Financial Times, Le Monde, Forbes, Marie Claire, British Council, Deutsche Bank, ThyssenKrupp AG, Stop TB (Italy), Save The Children (UK), Rotary International, BBC Good Food, Open Magazine, Femina, Elle Decor, The Indian Express, The Times of India, Asian Paints, Without A Trace (Sweden), American Jewish World Service, HOPR, ETH Zurich (ETH4D, Aether)
expertise
—

Branded Docs
Photojournalism
Editorial Portraits
Strategic Brand Design
Web Design
Presentation Design
Video Editing
Translation & Subtitling (Bengali/Hindi to English/German)



softwares
—

Photoshop . Illustrator . Procreate . Fresco . Lightroom . Indesign . XD . Figma . Powerpoint . Keynote . Final Cut Pro . DaVinci Resolve . Audition . Aftereffects . OBS . Inqscribe . HTML . CSS . Processing . Cinema 4D . SketchUp . Fusion 360 . Substance 3D Stager . Scrivener . ATLAS.ti . Excel . Tableau . Datawrapper



language proficiency
—

Bengali (Native)
English (Bilingual)
Hindi  (Professional)
German (Working, B2)
honours & grants
—

2019
Zürcher Hochschule der Künst & Avina Stiftung
Projektfonds für Studierende, Dossier Internationales

2012
Sony World Photography Awards
Save The Children Photo Competition (Finalist)

MFI Yes Bank National Press Photo Contest
Art and Culture (Honourable Mention)

World Press Photo
The Joop Swart Masterclass (Nomination)

2011
Ateneo de Manila University
Konrad Adenauer Asian Center for Journalism Fellowship

Forward Thinking Museum
JGS Quarterly Photography Contest (Third Quarter Winner)

Media Foundation of India National Press Photo Contest
Daily Life, Singles (Honourable Mention)

2009
Angkor Photo Workshop
Selected Attendee As One of 29 Emerging Asian Photographers



︎ to download the cv as a pdf click here
copyright © 2023 chhandak pradhan =︎︎ unless otherwise stated.
impressum + dsgvo | currently in zürich, switzerland (cet = utc +1 hour)