Akangksha Sarmah
akangksha.com / @thetwistedtooth
Pronouns: She/Her
Where are you from? Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Race/Ethnicity: South Asian
Languages: English, Hindi, Assamese
Where do you currently work at?: Ex-work at Penguin Random House India. Currently a freelance book cover designer.
If you transitioned out of the industry, where did you work before? How long did you work there?: I used to work at Penguin Random House India, for four years. Now, I freelance for both Penguin India and Ulysses Press and looking to expand my circle. I am currently a Visual Designer at Adobe India.
One favorite book you've designed and why?: Oh, It's so hard to choose just one. However, if I have to, it will be Ritual by Vasudha Rai. This was one of the first books where I truly got to experiment. I had the chance to understand and debate the author's vision and we decided to create a book with two covers. One side with a rising sun, embellished in gold foil and the other, the shining crescent moon, dipped in silver foil when flipped. A single book with two sides was an exciting approach. And I saw the audience engage like never before.
How did you get into design?: I had a massive love for crafting as a kid. Anything I used to find, whether it be scraps of paper or mom's stitched pieces of clothes—I used to make some bizarre thing out of it. I loved the idea of mixing and matching. Over time art was fun, but when I was introduced to design, I felt right in place. I started my design journey in college, where I studied Communication Design and with a pinch of luck, I landed my first internship at Penguin India. This opened doors to a new world of design.
What do you like about being a book designer in publishing? : One of the best things I like about designing covers is that it's always NEW. Every single book project is different from one another. You get to explore fresh cover briefs, discover new genres, and fall in love with the stories. I enjoy the challenge of translating the book into a single imagery and creating a cover that catches the reader's eye.
Tell us a surprising fact about you?: It's both a surprise and a not-so-surprising fact about me. I have a very common name in India, however, my spelling is spelled so differently, that it turned into a really unique name. The best thing is, I never have an issue getting a username or website by my name.
What's one goal you have for yourself in this industry?: To be able to create a niche for myself. I always wanted to be known and recognized for the approach or style of my designs. It is definitely a 'work in progress' and I hope one day I get to leave my mark.
How do you overcome a creative block?: To get out of a creative block, I always need a clear head. What helps me is usually a small walk outside or a nice cold shower. I prefer to work during the middle of the night when everything is quiet outside. That's the time I work the best creatively.