Jon StojanDesign surrounds us whether we realize it or not. Often, it is intended to be subtle, slipping under the radar of perception. Still, many people recognize how technology and design transform and improve the functionality and appearance of the world around us. Aryan Sachdeva has a keen eye for such detail, appreciating how these features interplay and enhance daily life. More than that, he sees possibilities beyond what currently exists, offering a unique perspective on potential and what could be.
Image credit: Aryan Sachdeva
A Transcontinental Journey into Design
Sachdeva had a lengthy and somewhat unusual journey into the world of design. From a middle-class family in India, the Senior FX Artist initially studied computer science before realizing he wanted to pursue a more creative path. Sachdeva says that he became interested in filmmaking and visual effects while growing up and enjoying Hollywood movies. Turning mere interest into focused intention, Sachdeva immigrated to the United States to study digital media and motion design at the Otis College of Art and Design, becoming well-versed in visual effects and motion graphics. While in college, he mostly focused on 3D Motion Graphics and worked on getting proficient in tools like Houdini, Maya, and Unreal.
Sachdeva received the Otis Merit Institutional Scholarship and the Janet C. Tucker Scholarship and was also the recipient of the Spiegel Family Fund Donation. In addition, he was an ambassador of the Team International Student Outreach (TISO) program and a member of the Campus Board.
In addition to his academic career, Sachdeva also developed many hobbies. He loves to travel and is an avid photographer. He is also into his physical fitness, plays tennis and pickleball on the weekends, and loves to work out whenever possible. “I believe it is super important to have a creative hobby that encourages you to leave your comfort zone. As an FX Artist, I am in front of a screen for like 10 to 12 hours a day on average, so having that desire to go out and touch grass is essential,” he states.
However, Sachdeva also notes that it is helpful to have a hobby that helps grow your knowledge and skill set over time. Instead of reading, he has gravitated more toward listening to podcasts while working or taking a walk, which helps him keep up with what is going on in the tech industry. This has led him down the path of “Vibe Coding,” which is having a code editor like Cursor and then connecting it with an AI model of your choice. Then, he can prompt it repeatedly to generate code according to his constraints.
Another hobby Sachdeva has is keeping up with the stock market in his free time. “I have traded a bit, but mostly, I am a long-term investor, and I love to keep up with what’s going on with the companies I have investments in.”
Career Development
Not long after completing his studies, Sachdeva accepted an offer to work with Technicolor Group’s The Mill. Now a Senior FX Artist, he spends much of his day collaborating with creative minds and executives from well-known brands like Apple and Disney, providing the talent and skills necessary to bring their imaginative ideas to life with his team.
With an entrepreneurial spirit, Sachdeva continues building on his passion outside of work, offering freelance user interface/user experience (UI/UX) services to higher education groups through Honor Education, where he designed UX Prototypes for them and also contributed to the development of complex features using Figma, Principal, Lottie and After Effects, ultimately giving back to the next generation of students and serving as a creative thought leader.
Excellence in Creative Advertisement
Perhaps his unorthodox journey informed his innovative designs, which garnered a wave of praise and fascinating projects in their wake. Sachdeva uses immersive technologies like Houdini and Unreal Engine to create the graphics and visuals used in the advertisements. The advertising world has taken notice, with Sachdeva’s work contributing to Super Bowl LIX’s commercials, including one aired just before the most-watched Halftime performance to date.
Sachdeva is honored that so many eyes have seen his work and is likewise honored by the awards and industry recognition he has received. Notably, he collaborated with Unknown T on Hocus Pocus, which received a bronze at the Clio Music Awards, and FX’s Snowfall teaser, which won a gold Clio Entertainment Award.
Still image credit: Unknown T, Unknown T – Hocus Pocus ft. Loyle Carner
Still image credit: FX Networks, Snowfall | S6 Official Teaser – Finish Line | FX
In Clio’s sports division, his work on Frito-Lay’s FIFA Women’s World Cup commercial received gold. Sachdeva also contributed to Tonal’s Stop Working Out in the Past ad campaign, which appeared on the British Arrows Shortlist. On the coveted Webbys shortlist, the technical artist contributed to Amazon’s Joy Ride, a moving ad campaign that tapped into collective memories of past holidays enjoyed with loved ones.
Innovative Designs for the Future
Enjoying the success of these creative endeavors, the Senior FX Artist is excited about what may lie ahead. Sachdeva has continually embraced the challenges, noting that the rapidly shifting industry requires near-constant innovation and flexibility. Taking nothing for granted, he values each of his unique experiences. Whether working in a cafe or contributing to one of the most prominent ads in the U.S., he recognizes the connection and how each experience has shaped him.
For Aryan Sachdeva, the future looks bright. He plans to continue leading, developing, and innovating what comes next in VFX design and tech.