Mustaali Raj is an independent art director and graphic designer with a multi-disciplinary practice. Being both a third culture kid and an avid traveller, his sense of belonging extends well beyond geographic boundaries. This multi-faceted sense of belonging and experiences play an important role in exploring intersection of identities through his work.
As an engineer turned designer, his creative process is a cohesive blend between left and right brain thinking. He is a circle, living in a square, drawing triangles.
#CurrentWorkspace — Vancouver, Canada.
Mustaali is an independent art director and graphic designer with a multi-disciplinary practice. Being both a third culture kid and an avid traveller, his sense of belonging extends well beyond geographic boundaries. This multi-faceted sense of belonging and experiences play an important role in exploring intersection of identities through his work.
As an engineer turned designer, his creative process is a cohesive blend between left and right brain thinking. He is a circle, living in a square, drawing triangles.
#CurrentWorkspace
— Vancouver, Canada.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION:
NOTABLE CLIENTS:
AGENCIES I HAVE WORKED WITH:
123w / Briteweb / C&B / Carter Hales / Cossette / Digital Handloom / enginedigital / Full Punch / mckinley studios / Monday Creative / Partners & Hawes / Rally Rally / Rethink / WAX / will creative
PRESS:
CBC / Asian Heritage Month
The Message / Heinz Taylor Swift
RGD UltraBold Feature
Daily Hive / i OF THE TiGER
UC Brand New / Friday Likes 87
CBC / Indian Summer Fest
Georgia Straight / ISF Festival
Featured Artist — ISF
CBC News / Cards for All
Vancouver Arts Review
CNN News 18 / LOC Project
Instagram Feature / 30 DR
RED FM Radio — Interview
5X Press — 30 Days Project
2018 Design Trend Report
Hey There/ Design Feature
CBC Radio / Mosquers Feature
Sea of Glass / Divers Mag.
PUBLISHED:
Slanted 36 Coexist
Designers Against COVID
Uppercase 47 — Feature
Gallery Mag. Vol.28 + Vol.36
Gestalten / "You're Invited!"
Capilano Courier Feature
Art Power / Fairy Tale about Love
Communication Arts (multiple)
Applied Arts (multiple)
EXHIBITIONS:
Free Gaza / Gul Gallery (2024)
Burrard Arts (2023)
HOPE / Two Rivers (2023)
YVR Banners (2022)
Science World (2022)
COEXIST / Platforms (2020)
JAALI / ISF (2020)
Cartographic Anxieties (2020)
Indianama (2019)
Tota Project (2019)
BUILD Creative Pulse (2018)
Watershed+ (2017)
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
RGD Roundtables (2023)
RGD Designthinkers Panel (2020)
Salazar Keynote (2020)
ISF Artist Interview (2020)
GDC Practivism Keynote (2020)
Type Brigade №47 (2019)
Capilano University (2018-2024)
EUCAD (2018)
PICA Conference (2014)
JUDGING:
Applied Arts (2023)
Marketing Awards (2021)
Jim Rimmer Awards (2020)
One Show Portfolio (2020)
HOSTED WORKSHOPS:
Burnaby Art Gallery Workshop (2024)
RGD DesignThinkers (2023)
CIMA Workshop (2020)
Spiritual Arts Workshop (2019)
VCC + RBC Workshop (2019)
HOSTED WORKSHOPS:
Burnaby Art Gallery Workshop (2024)
RGD DesignThinkers (2023)
CIMA Workshop (2020)
Spiritual Arts Workshop (2019)
VCC + RBC Workshop (2019)
"At a time when our industry is struggling to come to terms with the Western European aesthetic that has governed our stylistic tastes, Mustaali's work stands out for its quality and effectiveness in ways quite apart from the traditional industry mindset. Cultural expression is not always a safe or appreciate space in the mainstreams of design. However, I hope other young designers will see that it is appreciated and that there is great value in exposing design from non-dominate cultures to new and wider audiences. Mustaali's work most definitely identifies him as Ultrabold!
— Angela Bains | Acting Associate Dean, Faculty of Design | OCAD University
"At a time when our industry is struggling to come to terms with the Western European aesthetic that has governed our stylistic tastes, Mustaali's work stands out for its quality and effectiveness in ways quite apart from the traditional industry mindset. Cultural expression is not always a safe or appreciate space in the mainstreams of design. However, I hope other young designers will see that it is appreciated and that there is great value in exposing design from non-dominate cultures to new and wider audiences. Mustaali's work most definitely identifies him as Ultrabold!
— Angela Bains | Acting Associate Dean, Faculty of Design | OCAD University