The Nagpur Dream: How Motifo Design Academy is Building a Creative Revolution from the Ground Up

For years, from their vantage point at Wesually Design Studio, Co-Founders Viraj Jaulkar, Virag Jaulkar and Kaustubh Shukla saw a recurring pattern. As entrepreneurs in Nagpur's burgeoning creative industry, they interviewed countless aspiring designers. The city was brimming with raw, undeniable artistic talent. Passion was everywhere. But a crucial piece was often missing: the bridge between that passion and a sustainable, professional career. They saw artists who could create beautiful visuals but struggled with brand strategy, illustrators unfamiliar with client workflows, and talented individuals who lacked the industry-ready skills to turn their art into a livelihood.

This persistent gap wasn't a critique of the talent; it was an observation of a need. It sparked conversations, then a concrete plan. What if they could build that bridge themselves? What if they could create a space in their own city that didn't just teach software, but molded the next generation of design professionals? This was the seed from which Motifo Design Academy grew—not just as a business, but as a solution to a problem they knew intimately.

A New Blueprint for Design Education

From its inception, Motifo was designed to be different. Guided by their own professional journeys, the founders laid out a simple, yet powerful, three-part goal that would become the academy's soul:

• Every student must be skilled enough to make his/her own living.

• Students should be empowered to explore, experiment, explain, and express themselves in the field of art.

• The ultimate aim is to make Nagpur a thriving hub for digital artists.

  
  

This wasn't about creating another certificate mill. It was about forging careers. This philosophy directly confronted the biggest fear on the minds of aspiring artists today: "Will AI take my job?"

In seminars held at colleges across the region. Their answer is a confident "no," and this belief is woven into the very fabric of Motifo's curriculum. They teach that AI, with its ability to generate stunning artworks, logos, and digital paintings, is a powerful assistant, not a replacement. The academy introduces students to leading AI tools like Midjourney and DALL-E 2, not as a threat, but as a collaborative partner. Motifo’s curriculum is built on this principle: master the timeless fundamentals of art and design, and you will always be the master of the tools, including AI.

Learning from Those Who Do

What truly sets Motifo apart is that its students learn directly from seasoned professionals who are active in the very fields they teach. Virag Jaulkar brings his deep expertise in UI/UX Design and Brand Identity Design. Viraj Jaulkar offers his mastery of Illustration and Advertisement Campaigns, with a portfolio that includes work for global brands like KFC, Spotify and Coca-Cola. Kaustubh Shukla provides his specialized knowledge of Animation Film.

This isn't theoretical knowledge from a textbook; it's practical, up-to-the-minute wisdom from the industry trenches. Students get direct insight into creating compelling ad campaigns, building intuitive user experiences, and developing strong brand identities because their mentors do it every day. This model ensures that what is taught in the classroom (as seen in photos of the academy's collaborative sessions) is directly relevant to what clients and top companies are looking for right now.

The success of this approach is reflected in the careers of its alumni. Students like Vaishnavi Deval, now an Illustrator at the global consulting firm Deloitte, or Sarang Bhagat, a successful freelance photo manipulation artist, exemplify the academy's mission. They didn't just learn a skill; they learned how to build a career.

The story of Motifo Design Academy is still being written, with every student who walks through its doors. It's a story of transforming passion into a profession. It’s a bold, ambitious project to build a creative ecosystem in the heart of India, proving that you don't need to leave your hometown to build a world-class career in design. You just need the right mentors, the right mindset, and a place to begin.