about
VARUN VACHHAR

Varun Vachhar is a designer of interfaces and interactive installations. Originally from New Delhi, India he is, at present, a student of Interactive/Media/Design at the Dutch Royal Academy of Art. Varun uses programming as a design tool, with a belief that it helps in providing users a more intuitive and holistic experience. He recently completed an internship at INTK, an Utrecht based studio focused on developing online strategies. Previously he has completed a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta, Canada.


Mostly in Toronto and sometimes in the Hague.



RESUMÉ

EDUCATION:

  • Interactive/Media/Design (2009 - 2012)
    Royal Academy of Art (KABK), The Hague, Netherlands

  • B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering (2004 - 2008)
    University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

  • International Summer School: On the cutting edge of sustainable energy (2007)
    Technical University of Freiberg, Germany

MOBILE & WEB DESIGN/DEVELOPMENT:

  • iOS App for What’s Your News TV Show (Currently in Progress)
    What’s Your News

  • Web based project management and invoicing app (Currently in Progress)
    Queue Media

  • Greentrikes.nl website design and development (2012)
    Ecotrike-BG

  • ‘Now In 3D’ project website (2012)
    Now in 3D.org

  • ‘unCloud’ identity design and application development assistance (2011)
    INTK (http://www.intk.com/uncloud)

  • ‘What’s In a Motor’ project website (2011)
    Self Initiated

  • Dorian Pitch iPhone App (2011)
    Menno van den Berg

  • HTML toys for portfolio website (2011)
    Vincent Kranendonk

  • Backend development for I-Arise.com (2011)
    I-Arise

  • Flash Banners and various website elements (2011)
    Queue Media working indirectly for New Balance

  • F#KX Wordpress and Tumblr Theme package (2011)
    Self Initiated

INSTALLATION:

  • Tethered Motion (2011- Currently in Progress)
    Nuit Blanche Toronto (To be presented at the 2012 edition)

  • New Balance Multitouch Table Application (2012)
    Queue Media and New Balance

  • Centrifugal Force (2011)
    ‘Gravenhacker

  • Invisible Forces (2011)
    In collaboration with Menno van den Berg

  • Interaction designer/technical consultant for the ‘We Feel U’ dance performance (2011)
    WildLife Collective (Dutch Artist Collective)

  • Interaction designer/technical realization for a kinetic sculpture (2011)
    Victor Zwiers

  • The OVNA Project (2011)
    Dutch Royal Academy of Art Open Day Exhibition

  • Programming/conceptualization for Attracted (2010)
    In collaboration with Mark Ridder for PICNIC event in Amsterdam

  • Ergonomics Designer for Formula SAE race car (2005)
    University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

GRAPHIC DESIGN:

  • Cover Art for FM Belfast’s album titled ‘Underwear’ (2011)
    FM Belfast

  • T-shirt design for 2BOP (2010)
    2BOP (South Africa based clothing company)

  • Console Font (2010)
    Designed the font (freeware) and a t-shirt for Teefury

VIDEO/MOTION GRAPHICS:

  • Animated Menu Boards (2011 - present)
    Queue Media working indirectly for KFC

  • Web Commercials (2010)
    Firefox (Student Project)

  • Chaos Theory (2010)
    Self Initiated

ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE:

  • Design Engineer (2009)
    Horton CB&I, NOTL, Canada office

  • Field Engineer (2008 - 2009)
    Horton CB&I, SUNCOR Firebag project and Shell Albian Sands project, Canada

  • Design Engineer (Graduation Project) (2008)
    CCI Thermal Technologies, Edmonton, Canada

  • Engineering Internship (2006)
    Hero Honda Motorcycle’s production plant, Daruhera, India

  • Teaching Assistant (2006)
    MATH 116 course at University of Alberta

AWARDS AND MEDIA:

  • Nuit Blanche Open Call Project Grant
    Toronto City Council

  • Chaos Theory featured on studentshow.com and Motion Served
    Behance Network

  • Typography work featured in Digital Artist magazine (2010)
    Digital Artist, Issue 12

  • Console font featured on several major technology and design blogs such as:
    Gizmodo, Engadget, Kotaku, Public School, Typography Served, etc. (2010-2012)

  • Energy Studies Award (2007)
    University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

  • First class standing in academic year (2004 - 2006)
    University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

  • Talisman Engineering Scholarship (2005)
    University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

  • Dean’s list for the academic year (2004-2005)
    University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada