For someone who is self-taught, Karan Shah knows the importance of a good online course. Why? Because all that he knows today he has learnt online. And we think you can call creative institute VioletDB a payback of sorts. Today, the 25-year-old runs his own creative branding and design agency 8FX in Hyderabad. It was in 2017 that he thought of VioletDB and executed the idea just before the lockdown was announced.
But before we understand what VioletDB is all about, we quiz Karan about 8FX and the strategy he applied to bring it to where it is now. "Basically, in 2010, I just announced on social media that I will be offering my graphic designing services, including logo design and all of that, for free. I learnt a lot and then started charging a nominal fee. Then, I launched 8FX in August 2014," says the youngster and adds, "I was able to survive because of the skills I learnt online and realised that there is a need for such a teaching." And that's exactly how VioletDB was also born one month before the lockdown. From the basics of design to web designing workshops, the TEDx speaker has taught at least 300 students so far through VioletDB. Now, his goal is to work on pre-recorded videos so that the classes are not a strain on him. "Whatever I have learnt, I have learnt on my own by trying and failing and trying again," expresses the alumnus of IACG Multimedia College, Hyderabad, who did his Bachelor’s in Visual Effects.
After his class X, Karan took classes via Skype, the video-conferencing app, and last year as well he conducted an offline workshop to understand his own style better. Now, he offers four different courses via VioletDB and the key is to provide it at affordable rates. "Even during work, I believe that understanding is much more important than money and I apply the same principle while teaching," says the youngster. While all the classes happen on Zoom, follow-ups and doubts are taken care of seamlessly as well. Not just this, these are certified courses as well. Karan, who has been a mentor for various start-ups, is running a one-man show — developing the curriculum and delivering it as well. The plus is that you get a lot of additional benefits. Take for example the Design Basics and Creative Tools course, you'll get cheat sheets for social media designs, 30 social media templates and so much more. So, are you ready to learn the new way?
Courses and what come with it:
- WordPress Workshop: You will get premium themes and Plugin downloads, WordPress Resource Packs and more
- Photoshop Workshop: 100 plus downloadable resource packs, premium fonts and graphic PSDs and so on
- Social Media Marketing: Various case studies for the Indian market, 30 social media editable PPT templates
For more on it, check out violetdb.com
