Ravi Vasavan is an artist and designer. Creating beautiful, unique and impactful art, brand and digital experiences for the new era. Currently, he spearheads design and strategy transformation at Convo, where his passion for melding design with technology and his dedication to social impact converge.
Previously he worked at Koto, for six years, an “optimistic group of designers, strategists, and writers helping the world's best brands become even better.” They have offices in Berlin, London, Los Angeles and Sydney. (Ravi worked in the London one.) During his time there, he's had the pleasure of working with a mix of startups, established brands and artificial intelligence.
Born deaf to deaf parents, Ravi grew up in Australia immersed in deaf community, which has influenced his perspective and worldview. He knew two sign languages before English. You could say that Auslan (Australian Sign Language) is his ‘mother tongue’ — or perhaps ‘fingers’? (Semantics.)
Being visually oriented by nature, he was attracted to art and design early on, which led to his current career and practice. In his work, he is able to bring a deaf perspective, particularly when it comes to (often hearing-oriented) accessibility, inclusivity and strategic thinking in art and design.
In 2020 he was part of the first cohort at Rare with Google, a program for underrepresented future creative leaders who wish to fundamentally change the creative industries for the better. He gives talks on the intersection between deafness and design, and the importance of preserving your own unique perspective.
When not doing any of that, he spends his time making perfectly leoparded pizza dough, biking across the vast Australian landscape, or camping with his partner and dog, Emma & Joey. Ravi collaborates with deaf creatives on various deaf-led initiatives and he is actively involved in many IRL and online communities, and serves as a founding member of Deaf Arts Residency, an Australian based collective with the aim of nurturing and growing the deaf arts scene in Australia.
Born deaf to deaf parents, Ravi grew up in Australia immersed in deaf community, which has influenced his perspective and worldview. He knew two sign languages before English. You could say that Auslan (Australian Sign Language) is his ‘mother tongue’ — or perhaps ‘fingers’? (Semantics.)
Being visually oriented by nature, he was attracted to art and design early on, which led to his current career and practice. In his work, he is able to bring a deaf perspective, particularly when it comes to (often hearing-oriented) accessibility, inclusivity and strategic thinking in art and design.
In 2020 he was part of the first cohort at Rare with Google, a program for underrepresented future creative leaders who wish to fundamentally change the creative industries for the better. He gives talks on the intersection between deafness and design, and the importance of preserving your own unique perspective.
When not doing any of that, he spends his time making perfectly leoparded pizza dough, biking across the vast Australian landscape, or camping with his partner and dog, Emma & Joey. Ravi collaborates with deaf creatives on various deaf-led initiatives and he is actively involved in many IRL and online communities, and serves as a founding member of Deaf Arts Residency, an Australian based collective with the aim of nurturing and growing the deaf arts scene in Australia.
Shows (Past & Upcoming)
Mosaic Art Award, group show @ Hauser & Wirth, London, November 2023
Deaf Gain, group show @ Kerry Packer Civic Gallery, September 2023
Flow Festival, group show @ Darebin Arts Centre, September 2023
.MPG, group show @ The Motley Bauhaus, February 2023
DARE, group show, January 2023
Mosaic Art Award, group show @ Hauser & Wirth, London, November 2023
Deaf Gain, group show @ Kerry Packer Civic Gallery, September 2023
Flow Festival, group show @ Darebin Arts Centre, September 2023
.MPG, group show @ The Motley Bauhaus, February 2023
DARE, group show, January 2023
Talks (Past & Upcoming)
Nexus Gallery, Adelaide, September 2023
WeTransfer w/ Christine Sun Kim, Amsterdam, November 2021
Mozilla Festival, Online, March 2021
Australian International Documentary Conference, Online, February 2021
Unmasking Accessibility's Future with Ava.me, Online, December 2020
World Congress of Science and Factual Producers, Online, December 2020
Farewill, London, August 2020
Nexus Gallery, Adelaide, September 2023
WeTransfer w/ Christine Sun Kim, Amsterdam, November 2021
Mozilla Festival, Online, March 2021
Australian International Documentary Conference, Online, February 2021
Unmasking Accessibility's Future with Ava.me, Online, December 2020
World Congress of Science and Factual Producers, Online, December 2020
Farewill, London, August 2020
Features
‘Ravi & Emma’ @
Australian International Documentary Conference (March 2022), SXSW (March 2022), IDFA (November 2021), Mozilla Festival (March 2021) and Australian International Documentary Conference (February 2021)
Awards
‘Ravi & Emma’ @
26th Annual Webby Awards Honoree, SXSW Innovation Awards Finalist, Walkleys Innovation Award and IDFA Special Jury Award for Creative Technology
‘Ravi & Emma’ @
Australian International Documentary Conference (March 2022), SXSW (March 2022), IDFA (November 2021), Mozilla Festival (March 2021) and Australian International Documentary Conference (February 2021)
Awards
‘Ravi & Emma’ @
26th Annual Webby Awards Honoree, SXSW Innovation Awards Finalist, Walkleys Innovation Award and IDFA Special Jury Award for Creative Technology
Publications
Indeed Design, May 2021
Dense Discovery 127, Mar 2021
Give both ways, Dec 2020
Creative Review, June 2020
Text Radio, May 2020
Earshot, March 2019
Indeed Design, May 2021
Dense Discovery 127, Mar 2021
Give both ways, Dec 2020
Creative Review, June 2020
Text Radio, May 2020
Earshot, March 2019
Ravi lives and works in Naarm (Melbourne, Australia), on lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people. Ravi acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this land and pays respects to Elders – past, present and emerging. Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people have nurtured this land, its waterways and community for more than 65,000 years and continue to do so today. Ravi pays the rent and you should too.
Ravi is currently open to a select amount of projects starting from January 2025. If you’re interested in collaborating or simply want to get in touch, get in touch ︎︎︎ ravi@ravivasavan.com
↳ Instagram ↳ LinkedIn ↳ Threads ↳ Are.na
Ravi is currently open to a select amount of projects starting from January 2025. If you’re interested in collaborating or simply want to get in touch, get in touch ︎︎︎ ravi@ravivasavan.com
↳ Instagram ↳ LinkedIn ↳ Threads ↳ Are.na