We had a great discussion about art, branding, and the entrepreneurial journey with Devanshi, founder of De RefleQtion. Devanshi's path has been nothing short of inspiring—from doodling on tissues in her school days to building a personal brand and managing multiple businesses today. Her story is a testament to creativity, resilience, and the evolving nature of personal branding in the digital age.
Devanshi began her journey with small yet meaningful moments. During grades 10 and 11, she started doodling, a hobby that taught her patience and consistency. Her first client arrived when her family shared her work on WhatsApp, landing her a project for just ₹500. This small success sparked something bigger: at her mother’s insistence, she launched her Instagram page De RefleQtion, marking the formal beginning of her creative career. Although Devanshi pursued psychology after school, life took a turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those months of introspection allowed her to experiment with blogging and graphic design, but not without facing 7-8 rejections. Social media became her tool for exploration, where she began crafting a unique digital presence.
When discussing personal branding, Devanshi emphasized the importance of understanding people, emotions, and psychology. Her first major design project—her mother’s bakery logo—became the stepping stone for her creative identity. For Devanshi, personal branding is about accessibility, self-perception, and authenticity. She noted that interacting with people authentically allows brands to connect deeply with their audience. From colors evoking emotions to thoughtful logo design, she highlighted how every design element contributes to a brand's identity. Mood boards, another critical part of her process, help establish a visual narrative by focusing on colors, images, and emotions that align with a brand’s core.
Devanshi also shared insights into her artistic and branding perspectives. For her, doodling is a spontaneous and liberating form of expression compared to traditional painting. When it comes to branding, authenticity and staying filterless amidst trends are key. Her process for brand development is understanding users, creating unique color palettes, and focusing on a brand’s core identity which has allowed her to manage 15-18 brands simultaneously, prioritizing trust and excitement.
The journey, however, hasn’t been without challenges. Devanshi reflected on the lack of mentorship, hiring struggles, and issues like plagiarism. She shared her philosophy on work-life balance, calling it a myth in entrepreneurship. Despite these hurdles, she believes in building strong connections, saying network marketing is crucial for trust-building. As someone who navigates the privilege and accessibility of Gen Z, she emphasized the importance of enthusiasm, persistence, and feeling uncomfortable to foster growth.
Concluding the conversation, Devanshi shared her thoughts on AI and the future of branding. While AI aids personalization and efficiency, over-reliance has made people complacent. Her advice was clear: focus on relationships, never stop doing what you love, and embrace discomfort. Success, she believes, stems from consistency, trust, and the willingness to step out of your comfort zone. Devanshi’s journey serves as a guide for budding entrepreneurs and creatives, encouraging them to blend passion with perseverance in a constantly evolving world. For more such inspiring podcasts, follow Filterless for more!
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